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Nutritional
Aids - Help through the maze
Over the last few years more and more nutritional aids
have arrived on the market - vitamin supplements, mineral
licks, prebiotics, probiotics, yeasts - the list goes
on and on. All seem to claim their product is essential
for the welfare of the horse, so www.HorseIT.com asked
Michael Ponting BVSC MRCVS NDA MRAC, the company veterinary
surgeon for Nelson Veterinary Ltd for a guide to help
us through the maze.
MINERALS
Although important for a variety of functions, minerals
constitute only a small fraction of the body weight
of the horse and the amount of nutrients needed in the
diet. On a weight basis, the horses body consists of
approximately 60 to 65% water, 30 to 35% of the energy
source nutrients protein, fats and carbohydrates and
4% minerals. This 4% is composed of major (macro) minerals
such as calcium, phosphorous, sodium, chlorine, potassium
and magnesium and trace (micro) minerals such as selenium,
ioidine, copper, zinc, manganese and iron. The only
minerals generally of concern in feeding horses are
calcium, phosphorous, salt (sodium chloride) in some
geographical areas selenium, and for growth copper and
zinc. Other minerals are unlikely to be present in inadequate
or excessive amounts in most commonly fed diets.
VITAMINS
Vitamins are organic compounds required in trace
amounts to promote and regulate a multitude of body
functions. They are classified as fat or water soluble,
a property that affects how they are absorbed, stored
and excreted. The fat-soluble vitamins are A,D, E and
K; the water-soluble vitamins are the B vitamins and
vitamin C. All but vitamins A and E are produced in
the body. Vitamins D, C and the B vitamin niacin are
produced by the horse; all the other B vitamins and
vitamin K are produced by the microbes in the caecum
and large intestine. Since fats and therefore substances
soluble in them are poorly excreted from the body, the
excess intake of fat-soluble vitamins A and D can be
detrimental. In contrast, since water and water-soluble
substances are readily excreted, an excessive intake
of water-soluble vitamins is rarely harmful. Since vitamins
A and E are not produced by the body, they must be supplied
entirely by the diet and green forages (grass or hay)
are good sources of these vitamins.
There
is no doubt that a correct programme of supplementation
of vitamins and minerals, or nutraceuticals, can improve
performance, prevent injury / illness and speed recovery
times. Nutritional causes for, and treatments of, disease
in horses in not a new concept, for example poor hoof
quality is treated with biotin, methionine and zinc;
tying up can be treated and prevented with vitamin E
and selenium, bleeders controlled with vitamin C and
bioflavanoids and infertility in mares has been linked
to problems with vitamin E. Suboptimal nutrition will
have deleterious effects on virtually every organ system
and function of the body - reproduction, bones, joints,
tendons, muscles, lungs and even the personality of
the horse.
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are naturally occurring microflora that can
be administered by mouth or in feed, to improve the
balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract.
Horses populate their intestinal tract with millions
of organisms, picked up from the environment and exposure
to the manure of other horses. Probiotic products contain
one or more specially selected beneficial strains of
bacteria that promote the health of the intestinal tract.
In horses, sickness or a change in routine can cause
considerable stress and one of the first casualties
of stress is the digestive system. When given in these
instances, probiotics will help to restore the balance
of healthy gut flora thus ensuring efficient digestion
and a resilient immune system. Probiotics can also suppress
harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or E.Coli though
a process of competitive exclusion and aid in the production
of essential vitamins. Probiotics also aid in the digestion
of coarse plant materials and assist in the breakdown
on non-digestible components of feeds. The end result
is better digestion of feed leading to decreased manure
production, more firm manure, less gas and fluid retention
in the bowel, improved weight gain and improved utilization
of nutrients. Probiotics should therefore be used after
sickness or injury, surgery, athletic competition, travelling
and changes in diet. Older horses who tend to suffer
from reduced absorption of nutrients will also benefit
from the addition of a daily probiotic supplement.
PREBIOTICS
Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates (FOS) which act
as an energy source for beneficial bacteria (such as
probiotics.) They act by enhancing the growth of beneficial
microflora and when given together with probiotics,
they can be said to be a 'lunchbox' for the probiotics.
Technically, combinations of probiotics and prebiotics
have become known in the scientific world as synbiotics.
Together they aid the restoration of normal digestive
function in the horse. Prebiotics are now being added
to a variety of human foods, such as childrens breakfast
cereals and these products are known as 'Functional
Foods.'
YEAST
Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) improves some aspects
of digestion and absorption of nutrients. It is particularly
active in the large bowel where it enhances the digestion
of dietary fibre.
Therefore
it appears that nutritional supplements fall in to a
number of categories. There is a huge range of vitamin
and mineral supplents, but these rarely, if ever, contain
probiotics, prebiotics or yeast and these may be purchased
separately. Some prepared feeds now contain probiotics
- Allen and Page and Saracen both include them in some
of their diets. The inclusion of prebiotics and probiotics
in ready prepared diets is no cause for concern, as
provided these products are licensed for use in horses,
they can be fed ad lib. Topping up is in fact recommended
if the horse is elderly, sick or under stress. However,
it is possible to over supplement with some vitamins
and minerals, so if you are adding these to your horses
feed never exceed the manufacturers stated dose!
For information on the products available from Nelson
Veterinary, please visit the website www.nelsonvet.co.uk,
email:info@nelsonvet.co.uk
or telephone 01285 821826
Nelson Veterinaryıs Acti-range of probiotic products
are distributed by Trilanco, Tel: 01253 888188
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