Iodine - Too Much or Not Enough?

In the latest issue of a well known equine publication, an article on thyroid dysfunction suggests that "...most equine diets of hay and pasture grass (other than in the Pacific Northwest) contain far more than the daily required level of iodine...", and, in a sidebar, cautions that supplementation of iodine could worsen a suspected thyroid issue. Also overlooked here is the small but important role selenium plays in thyroid function.

Iodine deficient soils in the United States

Let's look at some of the facts about iodine.

The National Research Council (NRC), based on the best evidence availablle, suggests a dietary requirement of iodine for horses as a range and recommends using the average of that range as a minimum target.

Suggested range 0.1-0.6 mg Iodine per kilogram of drymatter (DM)
Average of range (0.1-0.6 mg I/kg DM) 0.35 mg I/kg DM

This can also be expressed as a weight-based requirement, presuming the horse has a daily feed intake at 2% of its body weight (BW), which works out similar to the above average.

Maintenance requirement 0.007 mg/kg BW
For a 1000 lb horse,  455 kg x 0.007 = 3.18 mg Iodine/day

For a 1000 lb (455 kg) horse taking in 2% of BW (9.1 kg DM) using the "range" above

low   0.10 * 9.1 = 0.91 mg Iodine (NRC questions if this concentration is sufficient)
avg  0.35 * 9.1 = 3.185 mg Iodine
high  0.60 * 9.1 = 5.46 mg Iodine

(Pregnant or lactaing broodmares have a higher recommended requirement of 0.4 mg I/kg DM.)

The maximum tolerable level for iodine has been set at 5 mg I/kg DM, or 45.5 mg for a 1,000 lb (455 kg) horse.  In a few instances (AZ horses on CAP water, high nitrates in hay, which I now always check in Southwestern hays and other grass hays with high protein levels) I will double the NRC recommendation but otherwise stick with the mid to high range.

From NRC - "Iodine toxicity [seen as goiter] usually results only when iodine is oversupplemented or when animals are receiving feeds containing unusually high amounts of iodine such as some types of seaweed." but toxicity in mares receiving as little as 40 mg a day has been reported.

Iodine concentrations in most common feedstuffs range from 0 to 2 mg/kg DM (equivalent to 0 to 18 mg in 20 lbs or 9.1 kg of hay) depending on the iodine concentration in the soil in which they are grown.  As with other minerals, many conditions can affect forage uptake of iodine from the soil and different farming practices may deplete or concentrate available levels.

Depending on free-choice intake of iodized salt to supply iodine requirements has been shown to result in iodine deficiency in pregnant mares resulting in leg abnormalities in foals, and even when iodized salt is directly added to the feed, the amount may not meed NRC requirements.

Without going overboard, ensuring an Iodine intake level equal to the standard NRC recommendation of 0.35 ppm up to the "high" range of 0.6 ppm might also provide insurance against uptake of the [very] low levels of I-131 detected by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) monitoring and other environmental "insults".

It is unlikely that using even the higher suggested range would tip your horse over the maximum tolerable level even if your forage contains a fairly high level of iodine. But we should also keep in mind that there is little direct equine research on iodine; without this it's difficult to consider levels higher than those which have been documented to cause goiter in studied horses - 5 mg I/kg DM, or 45.5 mg for a 1,000 lb (455 kg) horse.

Iodine testing for hay and forage is not readily available at most forage labs in the US; when it is the cost may be prohibitive.  For example, at Cumberland Valley Analytical Lab, the price for their Iodine test is $75. On the other hand, if your horse is experiencing issues you feel may be related to excessive iodine intake, the cost may be a worthwhile investment.

Iodine serum level testing (Iodine Total and Iodine Inorganic) is offered at the Michigan State Diagnostic Center. From their Iodine Testing document :

Total serum iodine and particularly serum inorganic iodine reflect the current dietary iodine consumption. Serum inorganic iodine is a good short-term measure of iodine consumption and will reflect excessive iodine supplementation, when present.

Often overlooked when considering possible thyroid dysfunction is selenium deficiency - selenium is necessary for conversion of the inactive hormone T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3 and selenium deficiency together with high iodine intake may result in low T4 levels and other thyroid issues.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9187638  Selenium level testing in whole blood in horses is readily available and also easily included in forage testing (generally under $40).

In summary, iodine is but one element of an overall mineral balanced equine diet. As with any other mineral or supplement, targeting just one nutrient without taking into account how all nutrients interact with one another is not likely to produce the desired results.

Don't throw away the iodized salt or iodine supplement but do make sure that protein, calories, major minerals and other trace minerals are balanced and appropriate for the horse's age, weight, work and reproductive status.  Check that any kelp or seaweed products you use contain guaranteed levels of iodine. "Sea salt", despite the reassuring name, often contains only minute traces of iodine and can't be relied on as an iodine source.

The next time your vet draws blood consider having her check a selenium level - especially if it's been suggested to add a "thyroid" supplement. It makes little sense to use a drug to correct a basic trace mineral deficiency - adding the NRC recommended levels of iodine and selenium may help normalize thyroid function test results.

Warm regards,

Patti in monsoon flooded Vail Az
Don't forget the salt!


Links
Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Sixth Revised Edition  (NRC 2007) Pages 91-92.
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11653

My previous post about iodine - not much has changed
http://desertequinebalance.blogspot.com/2006/10/iodine-requirement-in-equine-rations.html
and thyroid (including links to Dr. Eleanor Kellon's "Understanding Thyroid" article in Holistic Horse)
http://desertequinebalance.blogspot.com/2013/02/understanding-thyroid.html

Cumberland Valley Analytical Services
http://www.foragelab.com/Lab-Services/Forage-and-Feed/Price-List

Iodine Deficient Soils Map
http://www.goatworld.com/articles/nutrition/iodine.shtml

Michigan State Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Bin/Catalog.exe?Action=Test&PAGE=12&Id=2236
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Bin/Catalog.exe?Action=Test&PAGE=12&Id=2920
http://www.animalhealth.msu.edu/Sections/Nutrition/WEBCD.Nutr.REF.003.pdf

Chromium - AZ CC now available with or without

Many horse owners are unsure if AZ Copper Complete with chromium is right for their horse.

This has been a popular supplement to use when hay can't be tested for more precise balancing or in boarding situations.  Developing this mix was done with the insulin resistant (IR) horse in mind on a diet of mainly Southwestern hay which is likely deficient in chromium.  Because chromium can provide antioxidant support, providing this mineral in small amounts can also be appropriate for horses which aren't IR, or consume hay or pasture in other regions of the country.

But there are some circumstances where we might not want to add chromium to the diet. Horses with PSSM/EPSM can be insulin "sensitive" rather than insulin resistant, so we may want to avoid ingredients such as chromium which can improve insulin sensitivity.  Soil in many parts of the US are not chromium deficient and some may have high levels as a result of "industrial fallout".

As I've had many requests about the availability of AZ Copper Complete without added chromium, I checked with Rod Johnson at HorseTech, where AZ CC is manufactured and sold.

I am happy to announce that you can now purchase AZ Copper Complete without chromium!

As most of you know, this supplement has always been available only directly from HorseTech, with no "middle man" or reseller charges, and I receive no remuneration from the sale of AZ CC. This ensures HorseTech is able to keep the supplement available at the most reasonable cost to you and that the product you receive is at its freshest. And, like everything they sell, it is covered by HorseTech's 100% satisfaction guarantee.

To order AZ Copper Complete without chromium, call HorseTech at 1-800-831-3309 or send an email to Service@HorseTech.com and request AZ Copper Complete without chromium.

The supplement will have a different "MS" number on the label; if demand is high enough then it can be added to their Popular Custom Products order page.  You can still order AZ Copper Complete with chromium at the Popular Custom Products order page as you alway have.

You can find out more about AZ Copper Complete here and view or download the label and a spec sheet.  If you have questions about including AZ Copper Complete, a custom supplement mix or another HorseTech product in your horse's diet, you can email me at desertequinebalance@gmail.com.

Best regards,

Patti Woodbury Kuvik
in monsoon soaked Vail AZ
Don't forget the salt!

Links

• AZ Copper Complete information http://www.desertequinebalance.com/az-copper-complete
• HorseTech - Awesome Supplements, Amazing Service http://www.horsetech.com
• HorseTech Popular Custom Products http://www.horsetech.com/popular-customs.html
• Metabolic Conditions http://www.desertequinebalance.com/nutrition-basics/metabolic-conditions

Feeding My Underweight Thoroughbred

In Beet Pulp II - How to Soak and Feed Anonymous wrote:
Hello! I just recently bought a five year old thoroughbred gelding in june. He was in rough, rough shape. Bad case of rainrot, and a bag of bones. I have put about 50lbs on him. His teeth were done in june, he was dewormed in june, and a vet had checked him before, also in june. I just recently slowly started switching his grain over to Legend Equine Senior Feed and Beet Pulp. He gets fed 2x a day. 4 flakes of hay in the morning, and turnout in the evening until the morning at 8 a.m.

I was curious to know around about how much I should be feeding him? I gave him 3 qrts of senior feed, 2 qrts of his previous feed, his supplements, and I gave him about 1/4 of 3 qrt scoop of beet pulp. I mixed it all together, then soaked it. Should I do this 2x daily? Or beet pulp mixed in with feed only in am, and then regular senior feed in pm? He needs to gain weight, like badly. So, please help! :)

 Good for you for seeing the potential in this young horse and for spending the time and effort to find out how to bring out his best.

For safe weight gain, we want to feed to his "ideal" weight - which, for an adult Thoroughbred we expect to be between 1000 and 1200 pounds.   The foundation of his ration should be forage - hay, pasture, beet pulp, hay pellets - at least 1.5 to 2.5% of his ideal body weight, using the upper range for weight gain.  If he should weigh 1100 pounds, then he should be getting a minimum of 22 to 28 lbs of forage.  Because we can only estimate how much he consumes when he is turned out in pasture at night, at least half to two thirds of that  (11 to 18 or more pounds) should be hay, spread out over the day.  If he comes in from pasture seeming really hungry in the morning, he should be getting more hay.

If the hay and pasture are good quality, they will provide most of the protein, energy (calories) and major minerals that he needs.  If a portion of it is alfalfa, which has high protein and calcium levels, he might not even need supplemental "feeds" unless he is working. If this is the case, then all that is needed to be added would be a quality supplement that supplies generous levels of trace minerals and plain salt - 2 to 3 ounces/day.

Fish Scale from Walmart

You should be weighing all his feed - nutrition requirements are based on weight and volume measurements (quarts, cans, etc.) are not accurate.  The weight of a "flake" or "leaf" of hay can vary considerably depending on the size of the bale and how tightly it was packed.  With different varieties of hay in my barn right now, I have some "flakes" weighing as little as 4 pounds and some weighing as much as 9 pounds.  One of the best (and least expensive) investments you can make is a "fish scale", available in sporting goods departments of stores such as Walmart and Target for under $10.00. This can be used to weigh hay - in hay nets or in a muck bucket - and to accurately weigh concentrate feeds and grain.

If at all possible, spreading his hay feedings over more than just the morning meal will also help your horse gain and maintain his weight. Using small mesh hay nets can help smooth out his hay intake and help avoid any lengthy periods when he is without forage in his stomach.  We tend to think of using these to help lose weight but they work as well when your horse needs to gain.

Supplemental concentrates and grain are generally used to take up the slack if forage and pasture don't meet all the horse's requirements for calories and protein.  I tend to be a fan of using "straights" - grain such as oats or barley plus a quality supplement - instead of premixed feed concentrates. This lets you keep the vitamin and mineral supplementation separate from energy and protein supplementation.  Vitamin and mineral requirements tend to remain fairly stable while energy and protein needs can vary more depending on work level and other factors (age, pregnancy, etc.).  But pre-mixed concentrates can contribute quality protein and energy sources.  They tend to target basic calorie, protein and mineral requirements for a specific class of horse (senior, growth, performance, pasture ornament, etc.) and the main differences are in the amount of processing and level and type of carbohydrates.  

Senior horses often can't chew well and produce less saliva so can benefit form more highly processed feeds - this helps make up for their poorer digestion.  Senior feeds are often designated as "complete" feeds and need to be fed at high levels if you're counting on them to supply vitamins and minerals.

Pre-mixed concentrate feeds need to be fed at levels specified by the manufacturer to provide the vitamins and minerals needed by your horse.  If fed at lower amounts, his ration could become deficient in essential nutrients. One way I compare feeds is to see how much needs to be fed to supplement a desirable level of copper - 125 mg per day for your 1100 pound horse.. 

 It would take about 7 pounds of the Legend Senior (pelleted) to provide the daily requirement for copper. Legends Grow & Perform would require about 5 and a half pounds.  You would only need 4.6 pounds of the Mare & Foal pelleted feed to meet the copper requirement.  Concentrates should be spread over two or three meals when possible.

To really optimize his ration, having hay analyzed and supplementing based on the hay test results provides the best, and usually the most cost effective way to form a feeding plan.  This can be done together with using a concentrate feed as most feeds are "balanced to themselves".   When using both a supplement and a fortified feed, you need to watch that the total levels of selenium, vitamin A and vitamin D aren't too high.  This isn't a problem when using "straights" to boost calories and protein.

Finally, although "high fat" has been the latest fad, fermentable fiber (hay, beet pulp) still remains the best way to provide calories for weight gain.  But when you do add fat, make sure it's not just empty calories - make it count nutritionally.  Stabilized rice bran and stabilized or fresh ground flax  can add fat calories plus provide essential fatty acids (Omega 6 and Omega 3) and boost protein.  Rice bran is high in Omega 6, so make sure you provide an equal or larger amount (by weight) of flax, which is high in Omega 3.  

Best regards,

Patti in Vail, AZ


Links:
Southern States Legends feeds http://www.southernstates.com/catalog/g-179-legends-horse-feeds.aspx 
Walmart - Berkley Fish Scale http://www.walmart.com/ip/Berkley-Scale-with-Tape/16637411
Article Small Mesh Hay Nets  http://www.desertequinebalance.com/articles/small-mesh-hay-nets
NutraFlax http://www.horsetech.com/nutra-flax.html
Omega HorseShine http://www.omegafields.com/equine-products/omega-horseshiner.html
Analyzing Hay and Feeds http://www.desertequinebalance.com/articles/analyzing-hay-and-feeds

Updated Info on Southwest Regional Supplements

Website update - I've added Sally Hugg's California Trace supplement  to the SW Regional Custom supplements article on my website so you can now compare it to the three "Arizona" supplements I developed - AZ Regional Mix, AZ First Balance and AZ Copper Complete - manufactured and sold by HorseTech).
Even if you don't plan to use one of these four supplements, reviewing the charts in the article will give you an idea of some of the things to look for when comparing supplements.

• What levels of minerals and vitamins does it contain?
• What is the "base"?
• How much do I need to feed?
• Do I really need all the ingredients in the complete supplement or do I only need the basics?
• Do I need to add a lot of extras to the supplement?
• Do I want to pay for the convenience of having the "extras" included?

As you can tell by comparing the cost, analyses and suggested "add-ins" of these supplements, there is a wide spread between the "basic" supplements and the more complete mixes.  While it may be easier to simply buy the product with the most ingredients hoping to cover everything, I try to discourage horse owners from spending money on nutrients they don't need.  Sally's California Trace is perfect for a horse on quality pasture providing good levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E, or the owner who wants to purchase and grind their own flax seed.  The more intense support  of AZ Copper Complete might be the choice for the horse which never sees a blade of grass, whose hay quality is highly variable or the owner with little extra time available for "tweaking" their supplement.

The ideal is, of course, analyzing your hay (and pasture) to ensure you're meeting your horse's requirements and to give you a basis for filling in the gaps (or balancing excesses).  But when that is not possible, take the time to choose your supplement wisely, spending on the nutrients that will count for your horse.

Best regards,
Patti
Desert Hoofprints in very warm Vail AZ (99 F - don't forget the salt!)

Links -
SW Regional Supplements http://www.desertequinebalance.com/Files/regional-supplements
California Trace http://www.californiatrace.com/
HorseTech http://www.horsetech.com/

Immune Boosters

A question was posted the other day on a local equine group discussion forum:

I am hearing a lot about immune boosters for both people and animals.   Does anyone out there have any experience with them?  Any suggestions for brands and where to get?

Thank You,

DiAnne

Responses included recommendations for APF  from http://www.auburnlabs.com/ and Total Immune Health - a Chinese herbal mixture from FLOTH http://www.forloveofthehorse.com/total_immune_health.php.

Hi DiAnne ~

APF (Advanced Protection Formula) is a concentrated tincture of three ginsengs, which are in the group of "adaptogenic" herbs.  These herbs tend to "normalize" body systems - an example might be calming a hyperactive horse and improving alertness in an exceptionally laid back horse. 

This article from the APF site http://www.auburnlabs.com/documents/Gastric%20Ulcers.pdf provides some interesting information but doesn't really explain why adaptogens work.

This Wikipedia article gives a little better idea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptogen

Canadian ginseng powder will give similar results; good sources are 

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/ginseng_root_american.php (currently out of stock)

http://www.raineyginseng.com/ginseng-powder-capsules.html and

http://www.mybesthorse.com/productinformation/ginseng.html

If looking for immune support for a specific condition, you want to differentiate between an immune "stimulant" (something that boosts immune response, like adjuvants in vaccines do) and an immune "support" product (substances that allow the body to modulate the source/cause of inflammation).  You want to avoid immune "stimulants" if treating an autoimmune related inflammatory condition (for example Transfer Factor is an immune stimulant).  

Many immune "support" supplements act as anti-inflammatories through a variety of mechanisms - 

Spirulina acts on leukotriene receptors (similar to the human asthma medication Singulair) to reduce production of histamine

Duralactin (and other milk protein, whey protein or colostrum-based products) appears to block cytokines to inhibit neutrophil participation in the inflammatory response http://www.duralactin.com/products_equine.htm

Chondroitin has anti-inflammatory action not only on joints but on many other body systems at a cellular level (making it very useful for sterile urinary tract inflammation in cats along with skin "allergies" in horses). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9743814

Anti-oxidants play a strong role in supporting the immune system in horses - vitamin E, Omega-3 from flax, selenium, grape seed extract (http://purebulk.com/grape-seed-extract-95), along with balanced minerals and vitamins.  

IMO, if you start out with quality feed and hay, (preferably mineral balanced), provide a good level of anti-oxidant support including flax and vitamin E for horses not on pasture, avoid excessive iron, and provide lots of exercise you generally won't need pricy "immune" products except for periods when your horse is exposed to extra stress. For travel, competition, new experiences, etc. I'd reach for the APF or ginseng.  For "allergic" (inflammatory) responses, I'd look to vitamin E, flax, Spirulina and chondroitin, and consider whey protein, colostrum or Duralactin as a next line of defense. I also feel it's important you have an idea of what results you expect from a nutrient (product, herb, etc.) before spending a lot on something.

A lot of people indicate they've had success with the FLOTH herbs - I feel they can be a bit pricey and not always useful if the basics haven't been covered first and I'm not well versed enough about TCM (traditional Chinese medicine) to comment on the specific herbs used in the formulas.  As with any herb, if they're potent enough to be effective, they're potent enough to have undesired side effects if used incorrectly.

ECIR Group NO LAMINITIS! Conference Registration

Registration is now open for the First Annual

ECIR Group NO LAMINITIS! Conference.

Attendees may register via Pay Pal or by mail.

When: August 5, 6 & 7, 2011

Where: Syracuse, New York

Featured Speakers :

• Eleanor M. Kellon, VMD
• Robert M. Bowker, VMD, PhD
• Members of the ECIR Group Support Team

Registrations received by June 5 qualify for an Early Bird ticket discount price of $150.00. Registration after June 5 will be $175.00

Many plans have been finalized including the Friday Night Meet and Greet and a Saturday Night BBQ thanks to our Gold Benefactors, which currently include Auburn Labs - APF, HorseTech Equine Supplements, Triple Crown Nutrition and Uckele Equine Nutrition.

Please say thanks to these companies next time you contact them.

The NO LAMINITIS! Conference is being hosted by DeMario Farms and Black Horse Consulting in Chittenango, NY. A block of rooms has been set aside at the Days Inn about ten minutes away from DeMario Farms - let them know you are with the ECIR Group when you make your reservation for a ten percent lodging discount. Check out the Where to Stay button for this and other options including camping areas.

Complete conference details are at NoLaminitis.org

ECIRHorse.com - your reference source for Insulin Resistance and Cushing's disease

The ECIR Group - help and support for you and your horse

You can also visit the ECIR Group on Facebook.

"Allergies" - breaking the inflammatory cycle with a proprietary blend...

I don't often reply/post on many of the on-line groups I'm subscribed to as I'm not often able to get back to follow-up. But recent discussions on "allergies" and herbal remedies (for "allergy" and other inflammatory conditions) on the EC/IR group and other groups caught my attention.

The discussions on allergies made me think of my asthma - I really think many horses are not "allergic" but simply get caught up an inflammatory response - if the inflammatory cycle can be stopped, the "triggers" will cease to cause problems (or not as much). I didn't initially understand why I wasn't "allergic" to all the stuff that caused breathing problems, red eyes, runny nose and itching - my allergy tests were all negative. But, working with the allergist, I learned that "triggers" are not the same thing as allergies and I found these triggers (ranging from perfume to dust to cold to kitties to pollens, etc.) don't affect me as much if I take care of the baseline anti-inflammation stuff - like taking my

magnesium and Singulair (which is very similar to Spirulina in the way it acts), staying hydrated, getting enough rest, eating a balanced diet. If I do all these things I can stay off the inhaled steroids. In fact when I really pay attention to what I eat and drink and get enough rest I can actually pet and play with the barn kitties without turning into a mass of itchy red eyed sniffles.

Flax, spirulina, chondroitin etc (in addition to the baseline mineral balanced diet) all help improve the inflammatory threshold so the horse doesn't respond to triggers by mounting a major inflammatory response. But once an inflammatory cascade is started it seems more and more things will act as triggers until our horse is in a bubble of inflammation - with many systems affected. It can take something fairly significant (such as steroids and antihistamines) in large enough doses taken for a long enough period of time to stop the inflammatory response spiral and hold it off long enough for the immune system to regroup.

I think this is why some of these herbal concoctions are successful - if you put a large enough variety of herbal ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties in a high enough potency to stop the inflammatory cascade plus some adaptogens to help improve circulation, etc., something's bound to work. The "proprietary blend" or, IMO, "kitchen sink" approach.

If someone uses one of these blends and it works, the cost and accompanying rhetoric is irrelevant and we become a fan. Few of us actually take the time to figure out what made it work. If it doesn't work, we tend to just walk away and start searching for something else - we rarely go somewhere to discuss the downside - that it may have gotten in the way of appropriate diagnosis and resulted in the wrong treatment for the wrong thing.

At times some people have seemed to feel that the main Equine Cushings list is "anti-herbal". It isn't but the group has always advocated:

• Knowing and understanding what you're giving your horse; what it is and what is it meant to do.
• Being responsible for what gets put in your horse's body.
• Understanding that any herb or homeopathic that is potent enough to effect change is potent enough to possibly produce side effects or toxicity, the same as any other "medicine".
• Understanding that "natural" does not equal "safe".
• When you give "kitchen sink" mixtures, you have no idea what worked and what didn't.
• If it looks like magic, there's probably some sleight of hand involved, especially if it costs a lot (this is my personal opinion).
• Any medications - western, non-traditional, herbal, energy modalities, etc. need to be administered after a sound nutritional base is established; often the appropriate balanced nutrition provides a sound base and some conditions that previously required medication are eliminated.

It's necessary for the EC main list to remain tightly focused so in depth discussions that aren't directly related to EC/IR are referred to EC Horsekeeping - that doesn't mean they are "anti-xyz", just that it may be distracting for many newcomers.

There are a lot of herbal resources on-line and in bookstores - where you can look up an herb, see its properties and what it's expected to do and determine if this is something appropriate for your horse. You don't need a pharmacy or medical degree to decide if you want or need to give your horse something that will cause him to pee more or make his liver work harder or if a mild anti-inflammatory will make him more comfortable after work - many of these decisions are simply common sense; you may want some guidance to determine if you want to give your horse an immune stimulant or something that supports his immune system (a vast difference).

If you really want to get a handle on changing the course of the inflammatory cycle, check out Dr. Kellon's Nutrition as Therapy course.

Nutrition and Hoof Quality

My hoofcare provider (Courtney Vincent) emailed me to ask about a product she recently encountered:

I trim 2 horses, same place, same feeds, 3-4 year age difference, both QH, both on 5oz AZ Copper Complete.
Then [someone] gave her a sample of something called hoof armour or something like that - it is a yeast supplement for feet, very expensive. Have you heard of it? Anyway, she put the one horse on it and did not put the other horse on it.

I went back to trim and the horse on it had zero separation and foot looked good overall, the other one looked horrible, had terrible separation and just overall not good.

I had briefly looked at Kombat Boots some time ago and felt that, given the cost, I would just try HorseTech's Yeast+.

I took a closer look at it this morning, and also some other things I feel might affect hoof quality, especially in an older horse.

Yeast

Kombat Boots appears to me to be an expensive version of saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. http://www.kombatboots.com/.

Based on the information on their web site I don't see any advantage for this product over basic Diamond V http://www.diamondv.com/products-core/ or Yea-Sacc http://www.yea-sacc1026.com/yea-sacc/about.htm.

I've been using Yeast+ from HorseTech (which is Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast from Diamond V) http://www.horsetech.com/yeast.htm.

You can order bulk bags of Diamond V yeast at some feed stores or from here http://triangleh.com/category/diamond-v-yeast-order/ (I've never ordered here so don't know the level of service).

Yea-Sacc is available in SmartPaks http://www.smartpakequine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=3706

If you do a comparison, Kombat Boots claims "100 grams of natural yeast in an 8 oz. serving". This is about 12.5 grams per ounce so I presume there is some kind of filler to make it pelleted. HorseTech's Yeast+ is 28 grams of yeast per ounce or 227 grams in 8 ounces. No filler. Same for basic Yea-Sacc or Diamond V.

Kombat Boots' web site says "other" products "...use yeast cultures, yeast extracts..." implying they don't actually contain yeast. The products I looked at above do contain "Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast..." or "Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and the media on which it was grown..." - this certainly indicates that these products do contain yeast. I don't know how yeast might be grown except on a culture medium of some type so any yeast might be considered a "culture", even if it is removed from the growth media.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast will act as a probiotic and to help older horses (and younger stressed horses) with B-vitamin support, and is thought to help with utilization of feeds - improved fiber digestion in horses hasn't been scientifically proven but is claimed in other species and in horses anecdotally.

Forage

Another thing I'd look at for an older horse (or any horse with hoof problems) is the crude protein (CP) and digestibility (ADF, NDF) of their hay, and if the energy level (DE) is sufficient to keep protein from being diverted to energy use. If the hay is not really good, even extra amino acids (AA's) in the supplement might not be enough. Horse's digestive systems weren't really meant to support horses living this long (how many horses over twenty or twenty-five survive in the wild?) - some that aren't doing well on the "basics" may need a boost. Protein sources that also contain moderate levels of fat can be useful, keeping in mind that high fat levels can worsen or induce insulin resistance (IR).

We also need to look at how the horses are processing their feed. Older horses make less saliva which makes chewing more difficult, compounded by less tooth function with age. Are they really chewing adequately? Dunking or soaking hay may help. Do they need to have their hay chopped (a wood chipper from Home Depot of Lowes) or do they need to be switched to

pelleted hay (this is why my aged black Appendix mare is getting close to 8-9 lbs alfalfa/Timothy pellets + beet pulp daily, along with her AZ Copper Complete supplement and Yeast+). Plain or mixed pellets from Mtn Sunrise, or Lakin or other mixed pellets can make up 100% of the ration, with hay provided for "entertainment". This might really be the first place to look for an older horse - it's worth trying a pelleted hay for a few weeks to see if it makes a difference.

Improving protein

There is a wide variety of feeds that can provide supplemental protein. Some of them - and the amount of CP they provide in 0.25 lbs/4 ounces - are:

Soy meal - 116g

Distillers Grains - 34.8g

Flaxseed - 31.7g

Sunflower seeds - 31.7g

Split peas - 28g (high starch)

Wheat bran - 19.7g (high starch)

Rice bran - 16.8g (high starch)

Oats - 14.4g (high starch)

Soy is a fairly complete protein plus it's cheap - thus its popularity in feeds. Soybean hulls may provide lower lysine content or its lysine availability may depend on what's combined with them. Calf Manna is an example of a high soy protein feed (but also contains corn which can make it unsuitable for an IR horse).

None of the others are "complete" proteins by themselves but, used in combination, can provide a more complete AA profile. Moorman's MoorGlo has rice bran, flaxseed and "SoyShine" lipids plus some alfalfa meal and is very palatable. Nutrena Empower is a similar product. Both are high fat (18-22%) so should not be fed in large quantities.

Whey protein isolate has a complete amino acid profile; most products (human sports/protein drink powders) provide about 24 grams protein in 1 ounce - or 96 grams in 4 oz. This is highly digestible protein (vs crude protein); does not add a lot of calories or sugars and would be one of my top choices for an IR horse or other horses where we want to limit sugar/starch. It's easy to add a scoop or two to feed twice a day. I tend to stick with vanilla - your horse may prefer other flavors. Whey (not the isolate) is a common ingredient in many feeds; it will have higher sugar levels and lower protein levels than the isolate. Make sure the product is pure whey - some protein powders also contain egg or soy protein.

So, going back to Kombat Boots, we have another "magic bullet" - an expensive product that appears to be the missing ingredient in our horses' lives. Can it help? - probably. Would it be so effective if protein, energy, vitamins or minerals were missing from our horses' ration? - probably not. Is it worth the cost? Well, until they show me in true scientific terms - double blind crossover studies comparing Kombat Boots to basic Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, I'll stick with my Yeast+ from HorseTech.

Update on Understanding Supplement Labels

More and more US supplement manufacturers are showing supplement serving sizes in "grams". To us metrically challenged Yanks, this is confusing. So I'll try to lay out some general terms and "easy" math - with the understanding, of course, that if you're math challenged 2+2 can be tricky.

First some basics. The metric system uses kilograms (equivalent to 2.2 lbs), grams and milligrams to weigh things.

Where we might use 3 or 4 ounces, in the metric system a similar convenient amount might be 100 grams.

• Kilogram (Kg or kg) - 1,000 grams
• Gram (g, gm) - a basic unit of weight
• Milligram (mg) - 1/1,000 of a gram; there are 1,000 mg in one gram
• Microgram (mcg or µ) - 1/1000 of a milligram; there are 1,000 mcg in a mg
• PPM or ppm - parts per million which = mg/kg
• % or percent - 100ths of a gram per gram; how much (by weight) of an elemental mineral is in a gram of compound or product. The elemental mineral will show as a fraction [99% = 99/100 = 0.99 g]

In case you get lost, you can check your math at the Online Conversion site.

Because American supplements and feeds do still show pounds and ounces, you need to know that

• One pound = 453.6 grams; there are 2.2 lbs in a kilogram (1,000 g / 453.6 = 2.20]
• One ounce = 28.4 grams

You can also do metric to US weight conversions at the Online Conversion site.

Let's look at some examples.

A popular selenium yeast product shows the product analysis on the label as:

Active ingredients per 1 gram scoop - Selenium (as Selenium Yeast) 2,000 mcg

This really is a lot of information. You can divide 2,000 mcg by 1,000 to see that there are 2 mg selenium in one scoop.

Because the scoop size is given at one gram, you can see there are 453 scoops (or servings) in a one pound jar of this product.

Looking at some of the ingredients in another highly advertised product, we see:

Per 132 gram serving

Copper 13.2 mg

Iodine 660 mcg

This tells us that the serving size is approximately 4-1/2 ounces

[132 grams/28.4 grams = 4.6 oz]

You would need to use more than 890 grams (30 ounces) of this product to provide your horse's copper requirement of 90 mg/day.

[90 mg/13.2 mg = 6.8 servings x 132 grams per serving = 899 grams]

and [899 grams/28.4 grams = 31.6 oz]

So you can see this is not a cost effective product for supplying your horse's copper.

We also know that we want to give our horse 2-4 mg of iodine per day. At 660 mcg, this product only supplies 0.6 mg of iodine [660 mcg/1000 = 0.66 mg]

Here's another popular product with the analysis shown on their web site:

Phosphorus 1.25%

Magnesium 1.5%

Copper 500 ppm

Iron 350 ppm

Selenium 5 ppm

Iodine 8 ppm

Starting with copper (because copper is usually the first mineral I address when I'm evaluating a supplement), we see that this has 500 ppm, or 500 mg/kg. Dividing by 1,000 (remember, there are 1,000 grams in 1 kg) gives us 0.5 mg copper per gram of product. [ (500 mg/kg)/1,000 = 0.5 mg/gm]

If you multiply the grams by 28.4, you'll see there are 14.2 mg per ounce. So you will need around 6 ounces of this product to supply your horse's minimum 90 mg copper requirement.

[500 ppm = (5 mg/kg)/1000 = 0.5 mg per gram] [ 0.5 x 28.4 = 14.2 mg/oz]

[need 90 mg / 14.2 mg/oz = 6.3 oz]

You could also divide the 90 mg requirement by the 0.5 mg/gm to see how many grams you would need to feed.

[90/0.5 = 180 gm] Divided by 28.4 should give us ounces [180/28.4 = 6.3 oz] which answer as the first method.

The feeding directions for this product call for 1 oz per 100 pounds body weight, so you can see this product will supply a generous level of copper.

Selenium, at 5 ppm, will supply 0.005 mg/gm, or 0.852 mg in a 6 ounce serving. This would be about right for your 600 lb pony.

[5 ppm = 5 mg/kg] [ (5 mg/kg)/1000 = 0.005 mg/gm] [0.005 x 28.4 = 0.142 mg/oz] [0.142 x 6 = 0.85 mg in 6 oz]

Exercise -try working out the phosphorus, iron and iodine levels in a six ounce serving. The answers are at the end of this post.

Working out the levels of a mineral or nutrient in a fortified feed follows the same math except you convert to pounds or kilograms instead of ounces

Looking at a well known heavily fortified feed, the analysis shows

Calcium (min) 2%

Phosphorus (min) 1%

Copper (min) 130 ppm

Selenium (min) 2.3 ppm

The (min) indicates that the product contains at least (minimum) this level of nutrient; exact levels are more difficult to control in the larger bulk of feed vs the smaller, more precise requirements of a supplement.

Like most fortified feeds, it is "balanced to itself" i.e. it will have correct Ca:P and trace mineral ratios independently of any other forage/feed you are providing. [Calcium 2% / Phosphorus 1% = 2:1]

Because we'll feed this in pounds (or kilos), we'll figure the levels for 1 pound and for 1 kg (2.2 lbs).

Calcium 2% divided by 100 gives 0.02 grams calcium per gram of product. Multiply by 453.6 for grams per pound. Multiply by 1,000 for grams per kilogram.

[2% / 100 = 0.02 g/gm] [0.02 x 453.6 = 9.07 g calcium per pound] [0.02 x 1000 = 20 g calcium per kilogram]

Copper 130 ppm divided by 1,000 gives 0.13 mg per gram. Multiply by 453.6 for mg per pound; by 1,000 for mg per kg.

[130 ppm = (130 mg/kg)/1000 = 0.13 mg/gm x 453.6 = 59 mg copper per lb of feed]

[130 ppm = 130 mg/kg - well, we don't have to go any further to see how many mg of copper are in a kilogram of feed]

Try working out the Phosphorus and selenium levels and check your results against the answers below.

By now you are either digging through your tack room looking for feed bag and supplement labels to practice on or you are reaching for a cold one having thrown your calculator in the trash (you didn't try to do this by hand, did you?) Either way, I hope this gives you some ammunition against snake oil products and helps you choose appropriate feeds and supplements. If you have a question, you can enter it as a comment to this post or email me directly at DesertEquineBalance@gmail.com.

Exercise answers:

Minerals in 6 ounces of popular supplement

Phosphorus 1.25%

[1.25/100 = 0.0125 g/gm x 28.4 = 0.355 g/oz x 6 = 2.13 g Phosphorus in 6 oz supplement]

Iron 350 ppm

[350 ppm = (350 mg/kg)/1000 = 0.35 mg/gm x 28.4 = 9.94 mg/oz x 6 = 59.6 mg Iron in 6 oz]

Iodine 8 ppm

[8 / 1000 = 0.008 mg/gm x 28.4 = 0.227 mg/oz x 6 = 1.4 mg Iodine in 6 oz]

Minerals in 1 lb and 1 kg of a well know heavily fortified feed

Phosphorus (min) 1%

[1/100 = 0.01 g/gm x 453.6 = 4.5 g Phosphorus per pound of feed]

Selenium (min) 2.3 ppm

[2.3/1000 = 0.0023 mg/gm x 453.6 = 1.04 mg Selenium per lb of feed]

Go here to review the original Understanding Supplement Labels article.

Another Silver Bullet - the reply I didn't post

In early May, I was introduced by a Veterinarian to Steadfast, by Arenus. He offered me a 30 day money back guarantee to try it on my horse's DSLD. It costs about $2. per day.

My horse started Steadfast on May 25. I was told, if there is no improvement within 25 days, I could notify the company for a full refund. I thought it was worth a try since I don't think my horse is a responder to the AAKG/J protocol (although I am using it on him) since it can't hurt.

When I saw this on the DSLD group, my immediate reaction was "another magic supplement". I don't get to that group often enough and don't want Bunny and Terry to kick me off so I felt I should take my response off-list.

I am so tempted at times to create and sell a silver bullet supplement - I'll mix a little poly copper and poly zinc with some selenium yeast, dry and grind up some eggshells, add a little flax and yeast as a base. Maybe I'll include some "natural" herbs.

Some innovative packaging - I like the idea of single serving cups with peel off tops. I'll write and publish a few supporting articles on how copper contributes to soft tissue repair and zinc and

methionine support hoof integrity and at least one on joint health. Of course, I'll mention the importance of Omega-3 and use lots of relevant citations. Frequent references to "organic" and "natural", pictures of shiny well-bred working and free-roaming horses, and I'm in business. I won't have to reveal the active ingredients as they are "proprietary" - after I think of a catchy trademark name. Testimonials from a few horse owners - it should be easy to find a few copper-starved horses that will bloom when given this magical stuff.

When I reviewed the website for the mentioned product, it seemed to me like an expensive form of chelated minerals and known (even if they do come from a novel source) joint supporting nutrients in a pretty "this will save your horse" package.

Did this veterinarian state what the "improvements" would be? The only actual claims made on the website for Telafirm® and NEM® are reduction in arthritis-related pain - the rest is standard boilerplate related to the effects of certain minerals and nutrients in the body. Nothing is said about the amount of minerals and which ones are in the product though the implication is there that it can make up for circumstances where minerals are deficient. I even considered the possibility of Telafirm® simply being a relabeled combination of Zin-Pro minerals and selenium yeast.

You can take a look at the Arenus site and decide for yourself.

If you really have that kind of money to spend on silver bullets, why not try a mineral balanced diet based on hay analysis for a third of the cost and send the rest to your favorite equine research or rescue.

The Bigger They Are...

I was talking with Sheila, my equine management associate here at Desert Equine Balance, this morning when we got on the topic of "big" horses and some of the different management issues they have.

Draft horses generally have been bred for strength and size rather than being mainly a refined version of a more naturally evolved light horse. They were bred for heavy work on a regular basis - pulling or carrying heavy loads - and weren't really expected to jump things or carry us on adventures around the countryside.

The appeal of these large purebred drafts and draft crosses can't be denied. For the most part they seem laid back, willing to please and are beautiful to look at. As more and more draft crosses show up at rescues, more people make the decision to bring one home as their primary riding horse. I find I'm working with more and more of these horses as time goes on and some owners find themselves with big horses that just aren't doing as well as they should.

Draft and draft crosses are susceptible to a condition called EPSM - Equine Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy, a muscle condition that causes weakness and a specific type of rhabdomyolysis - known as "Sunday Morning Disease" to working draft horse owners.

Some new large horse owners have heard that drafts may have special needs or requirements and spent time preparing for their "gentle giant". They can be prone to insulin resistance (IR) and poor performance related to stiffness and gait abnormalities related to the EPSM. Obesity is sometimes not "noticed" because of their large size. Compare the large yet fit Clydesdales above to the fat workhorse here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/78953809@N00/1688846112/.

Some draft/draft cross owners have told me "my horse doesn't have EPSM". It's possible that the question isn't "if" the horse has EPSM but "when" it might show up. But with appropriate nutrition and management, the effects of EPSM don't have to affect your large horse.

• Monitor your big horse's weight and condition frequently. http://www.draftresource.com/Draft_Wt_Tape.html has an interesting discussion on measuring for weight; useful as most weight tapes don't go around.
• Avoid grain unless your horse is working hard. Use NRC guidelines to avoid over feeding your draft horse.
• Feed low sugar/low starch hay - try to buy tested hay or learn to test it yourself. See http://desertequinebalance.blogspot.com/2006/08/analyzing-hay-and-feeds.html
• Exercise your draft horse every day. Owners on the ESPM group report seeing more symptoms when they skip exercise. "Turnout" does not have the same effect as structured exercise.
• Learn all you can about diet, EPSM and caring for draft horses.

Resources:

EPSM: List for owners of horses with EPSM, a common problem of big horses. Lots of information from owners of big horses who have or want to prevent problems.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/EPSM/

Eleanor Kellon, VMD is a frequent visitor here and works with list members on diet and supplements. Many owners have been using a low sugar/low starch diet along with ALCAR (Acetyl L-carnitine or plain L-carnitine) and other supplements to effectively manage EPSM symptoms.

Rural Heritage Vet Clinic - Dr. Beth Valentine

http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/index.htm

Lots of background on draft horses. Dr. Valentine is an advocate of a high fat diet for draft horses.

Information on muscle biopsy to diagnose EPSM

http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm_biopsy.htm

U of Minnesota PSSM testing information

http://www.cvm.umn.edu/umec/lab/PSSM/

Information on both genetic testing and muscle biopsy, plus a "decision tree". PSSM is similar to EPSM, seen most often in Quarter Horses but also in draft horses and other breeds.

NRC Plus - online nutrition courses by Eleanor Kellon, VMD.

http://drkellon.com/

NRC Plus is the basic and gives the framework for the advanced courses that follow.