Progressive Nutrition
To all owners/managers of horse
breeding farms,
Do you have foals exhibiting 'signs' of abnormal skeletal development?
This would include: physitis, acquired contracted tendons, angular limb
deformity, or birth abnormalities such as contracted tendons,
wind-swept,
etc. Progressive Nutrition's approach of how to manage and meet
the
nutritional needs of these problem foals, and the rapidly growing foals,
may help you provide the management and nutrition that has shown the
most
promise in over coming these skeletal problems and they are listed
below.
A) MARES MILK ANALYSIS:
Here is the name and address of the lab we recommend using to analyze
mares
milk when the suckling is showing some growth abnormalities:
Holmes Laboratory, Inc.
3559 US Rt. 62
Millersburg, Ohio 44654
Phone: 800-344-1101 or 330-893-2933
The test we need on the mares milk sample is Test B. This will
give us all
of the nutrients that we know about in a horses milk supply and we can
compare the analysis to the following charts of "Mares Milk Composition
by
Week". The cost of this is $23.00 per sample. You can
include a check or
call with a credit card. We want to sample and test the mares milk
in
question on day's 7, 30, 60 and 90 after foaling and compare to the
expected nutrient amounts found in mares milk to support optimal growth
and
development.
The milk does not have to be chilled or packed in dry ice. The
sample must
be at least 3 ounces. Just be sure to ship it "over night".
Provide the
lab with your email address and they will send the results on the 3rd
day
after receiving the sample. Give them the name of your local
Progressive
Nutrition's Equine Specialist also and they will send us a copy so we
can
discuss the results over the phone.
B) IDENTIFYING PROBLEM GROWTH AREAS IN THE SUCKLING:
1) Physitis: Small "bumps" above and below each leg joint, where the
growth
plates are located, is normal during growth. This is showing there
is a
change (growth) occurring. However, if there is a potential
problem, you
will see larger than normal inflammation of the growth plates (hour
glass
shaped ankles or knees). Physitis can be identified as mother
natures way
of trying to support or strengthen the area from an unusual occurrence.
We
treat these occurrences more aggressively today because we know that too
much inflammation of the growth plate will delay closure and allow for
"abnormal" changes in cartilage or newly made bone to occur. Also,
if
there is more inflammation on one side of the ankle or knee than the
other,
it will cause the ankle or knee to "bow" and after that happens, it is
not
fixable.
2) The tendons are a different matter. As foals grow, the
biochemical make
up of the tendons change and become more like scar tissue, which will
not
stretch. So we really have a small "window" of opportunity to help
tendon
problems, from a nutritional point of view.
3) This "contracted" tendon appearance may not be caused by contracted
tendons, but a muscle contraction. This is due to the fact that
the
tendons are attached to bone on one end and to muscle on the other.
If the
muscle contracts or becomes exhausted and does not relax, it gives the
same
visual appearance as a "contracted tendon". The "rule of thumb" we
use on
sucklings is: If the legs are normal in the morning (after resting) and
gets worse with exercise, it is
probably muscle related; if the legs are
contracted in the morning and get better with exercise, it is probably
tendon related.
C) THE SUCKLINGS CHANGING DIGESTIVE SYSTEM:
One other thing to keep in mind is: the faster the foals grow, the
higher
their nutrient requirements for mineral to support their larger, faster
developing skeletal structure. This is why we analyze the mares
milk to
see if we have to add nutrients to meet the foals needs, up to 4 months
of
age, and correlate that to a per 100 lb of body weight basis.
After that,
their digestive systems (enzymes) have changed in their stomach and
small
intestine and they also can begin to digest (ferment) forages in their
hind
gut. Therefore, we must change what we are adding into their daily
diet
and go from complimenting mares milk to complimenting the forage (hay
and
pasture) they are eating.
D) MONITORING GROWTH RATE AND FEED ACCORDINGLY:
Growth rate differences is one reason why people who raise smaller
horses
have a lower incidence of DOD caused by inadequate nutrients in their
diet.
Unfortunately, for those of us who raise larger horses, we must monitor
their growth rate and analyze the forage being fed to be sure we are
adding
the correct amount of each nutrient to support these large skeletal
structures. IF people try and reduce their growth rate by feeding
a lower
amount, i.e. a deficient diet of protein, it will decrease the
utilization
of minerals that are in the diet and cause mineral deficiencies to
occur.
At conception, their genetics are set and it is our job to try and keep
up
with their nutrient needs to support whatever that growth rate is.
The use
of our "Growth Monitoring Chart" will assist everyone to assure these
minerals (or Progressive Units) are met to support their current growth
rate while keeping their body weight at a minimum.
(See attached file: Growth Chart & Daily Feed Planner (Lt) '05.pdf)
E) "NEW" PRODUCT TO GIVE TO THE FOAL THAT WILL COMPLIMENT MARES MILK:
If you are seeing: 1) too much inflammation of the growth plates or 2)
the
pasterns becoming too upright or 3) the knees are beginning to shake,
try
adding Rejuvenaide "Plus" Liquid at 5 cc/100 lbs of body weight.
At this
age, you will see a response with-in 7 to 10 days IF inadequate major
and/or trace minerals are the problem. The analysis of the mares
milk will
tell us exactly how much Rejuvenaide "Plus" Liquid is needed per day to
compliment their milk and meet the foals nutrient needs.
Here are a few attachments to help explain what the benefits are of the
Rejuvenaide 'Plus' Liquid and how to use it
correctly.
(See attached file: Rejuvenaide
'Plus' Liquid - Info Sheet 4'08.doc) (See
attached file: Rejuvenaide Plus Liquid introduction (horse owners)
4'08.doc) (See attached file: Rejuvenaide Plus Liquid introduction
letter
4'08.doc)
If you have any questions or concerns about the above management or
feeding
protocol, please contact me or our Customer Service Department by phone
or
email.
All the best,
Don.
Donald R Kapper, PAS
Director of Nutrition and Technical Services
Progressive Nutrition
Inside the US - Office: 888-239-3185
Outside the US - Office: 712-755-3185
Website: www.ProgNutrition.com