Cutting-Edge Equine Nutrition

Sheila Schils, Ph.D. Equine Nutritional Consulting Sbschils@pressenter.com

Moldy corn poisoning, e. Coli and Salmonella are all words which horse people know could be troublesome for their horses. Unfortunately, horses seem to be more vulnerable than most other livestock to even low levels of these toxins.

Molds are generally found in both grains and hays. Most molds are not dangerous but a few emit poisons called mycotoxins. Feed companies and mills do a good job of screening for these toxins. However, certain environmental conditions, which may be present once the product leaves the store, make it very difficult to prevent mold growth. In addition, it is suspected that 80% of the molds horses are exposed to come from hay. Round bales tend to have a higher possibility of mold contamination than small bales, but all hay is vulnerable to mold growth under the right circumstances.

E. coli and Salmonella are "bad" bacteria that are shed in the feces of animals. These bacteria can be shed by carrier horses which appear otherwise healthy. Gastrointestinal problems can become severe once the horse is exposed to these bacteria, and for foals the results can be deadly. Salmonella has developed resistance patterns and is becoming harder and harder to treat with antibiotics.

If the horse is exposed to these contaminates, symptoms may include; anemia, breathing problems, colic, elevated muscle enzymes, poor immune system response, liver problems, neurological problems, poor quality growth and allergies. The severity of the symptoms is generally related to the level of exposure to the toxin. In most situations, the horse can overcome a minor exposure if they have a healthy immune system. However, with higher exposure levels, even healthy horses can become victims. Generally, young horses, especially foals, are the most susceptible and lower exposure levels may cause serious health problems and even death.

Fortunately, there is some good news about all these toxins in the horse's environment. There are now products which have been developed to bind to the mycotoxins and bacteria, transporting them out of the horse's body before they can cause harm. These binding agents are not absorbed by the horse, so there is no chance of any "side effect" from feeding them.

In Europe, antibiotics can no longer be used in livestock feed. Binding products have been substituted for antibiotics and the health of the herds has not been affected. In addition, the binders are certified organic.

The binders are produced through the division of the yeast cell into two parts; the outer wall, and the inner components. Interestingly, the divided cell has quite different properties than the complete cell. The outer cell wall binds to the harmful bacteria and the inner components bind to the mycotoxins from the molds.

One important point to remember is that these products must be fed on a daily basis. The product passes through the horse's system quickly and because you are never sure when the horse may be exposed to a toxin, the binders must be fed daily.

I have always had an interest in looking for new ways to improve digestive health in the horse. About a year ago, Drs. Choice Supplements contacted me for suggestions to improve their product line and we began to discuss the addition of binding agents. As an independent nutritional consultant, I have recommended Drs. Choice products to clients nationwide because of their high-quality standards and I was very interested in working with such a reputable company. The company has now added binding agents to their probiotic called Daily Start, which is a lactobacillus acidophilus product in a yeast base. Now, with the addition of the binding agents of this newly formulated Daily Start, Drs. Choice Supplements is on the cutting-edge of the newest developments in equine nutrition and is leading the way toward the goal of having horses live longer, healthier and more productive lives.