Horse Protein Natural Supplements, Foal Milk Replacers, Feeding Horses, Orphan Foals

Garlic, Allium sativum, is one of the few herbs that are internationally recognised for their medicinal properties.  Garlic is a member of the onion family and is one of nature’s most versatile plants, when included in the horses’ diet it can have a huge range of beneficial effects including: internal and external parasite control, improved immune function, reduced joint pain and inflammation and improved appetite.

The 2 active components in garlic are Allicin and Aloene.  Allicin is the component responsible for giving garlic its potent characteristic smell, it is an enzyme that assists in attacking and destroying bacteria and viruses, in fact the antibiotic and anti-viral action of one medium sized clove of garlic can equal the antibacterial action of a 1% penicillin solution.  Allicin also stimulates the horses’ natural immune system by increasing the activity of T-helper cells which are central to the activity of the entire immune system.  Aloene promotes the production of detoxifying enzymes in the liver, helping to destroy environmental toxins and thinning the blood to reduce blood pressure and bruising.  Aloene also assists in reducing fat levels in the blood, making it very useful in the treatment of Hyperlipidaemia.

Garlic is also a rich source of: vitamins A & C and selenium - powerful anti-oxidants which protect cell membranes and DNA from free-radical damage; B complex vitamins – essential for energy production; and sulphur – repels insects and is a major component in the formation of cartilage, tendons and ligaments which aids in making cells more flexible, removing toxins and increasing nutrient supply.

Garlic is effective in controlling internal and external parasites through two different actions.  In the gastrointestinal tract, the sulphur in garlic can block the receptor sites on the mucous membrane surface so that the parasite is unable to attach to it and is flushed out of the body.  On the skin surface, the potent smelling Allicin which is released through the horses sweat repels flying and biting insects, reducing skin irritation from bites and assisting in the treatment of insect related dermatitis such as Queensland Itch.

When feeding garlic there are two major factors that must be taken into consideration.

1. The active ingredient Allicin only becomes active on contact with air.  This means that freeze dried garlic granules are not the most potent form of garlic available.  Using a garlic additive that includes pure garlic oil, such as ePro® Garlic Xtra, ensures the highest levels of Allicin strongest health benefits.
2. Excessive use of garlic in the horses’ diet may stress the liver and cause anaemia (low blood iron levels), therefore recommended dosage rates should never be exceeded.

Garlic is truly one of natures all round power herbs and its multitude of health promoting properties make it a beneficial inclusion in the diet of all horses.

ePro® Garlic Xtra minpacks are usually 2 for $10, now you get 3 for  $10, giving a small horse (under 500kg) 48 days and a large horse 24 days dosage!

With the huge range of equine dietary supplements on the market today how can you make sure that you are using the right supplement for you and your horses’ needs?   When choosing a supplement it is essential to consider the following factors:

What do you want the supplement to do?
Think clearly about what you want to achieve from your horse.  Do you want to build muscle, improve coat condition, increase energy, improve joint health or improve the temperament?  Do you want to do all of these things or only a few?  Different supplements provide unique nutrient combinations that work on specific body systems, by being clear about what you want to achieve you are better able to select the supplement with the right nutrient profile to get the results you desire.

How is the supplement used?
Always read the instructions on the supplement packaging before you buy it.  Check the manufacturer recommendation for feeding the supplement and consider how this suits your feeding regime and your horse.  Is the supplement added into feed or syringed over the tongue?  Must it be fed directly before or after exercise?  Should it be used continuously or over a treatment interval?  All of these things must be considered when choosing a supplement in order to ensure maximum supplement efficacy and value for money.

Will your horse accept the new supplement?
A new taste or smell in the diet can sometimes cause a horse to go ‘off’ his feed.  While it may only take a few days for your horse to get used to the new ingredient, some horses will steadfastly refuse to eat if they detect a foreign taste or smell on the feed.   Set a 3 day trial period and include the supplement in the diet as recommended.  If the horse eats the new supplement immediately you know he will accept this supplement as an everyday part of his diet.  If he does not eat it straight away try mixing a little molasses into the feed to encourage eating, slowly reduce the amount of molasses over the 3 days to see if your horse is accepting the new supplement.  If your horse still refuses to eat the feed with the supplement mixed in you may need to look for another more palatable supplement or consider alternative methods of dosing such as syringing the supplement over the tongue.

Educate, educate, educate!
Educate yourself about your horse!  You do not need to know the nutritional requirements of every horse in the world but you do need to know about your own!  There is a fantastic range of resources online and in print, a copy of RIRDC's ‘Feeding Horses in Australia’ should be in every horse owners bookshelf.  Understanding your horse, the nutrients he needs and why is essential for keeping your horse happy, healthy and looking and performing his best.

The nutritional requirements of the equine athlete vary hugely with the type and intensity of work being performed. However, regardless of the type of work, the biggest factor affecting sound muscle development, healthy nerve function and coat and body conditioning is the type and quality of protein that your horse is receiving from his diet.

Increased protein intake in performance horses will support muscle development, reduce muscle damage, support joints and connective tissue and increase recovery rate.  A high quality protein intake from 0 - 24 months of age is essential for strong and correct bone development. Pregnant and lactating mares have a significantly higher requirement for dietary protein due to the huge protein demand of growing a foal in-utero or producing up to 20 litres of milk each day for a feeding foal.

Protein is made up of over 20 different essential amino acids; these are the building blocks of healthy muscle, skin, hooves and hair. Each animal species requires specific amino acids in order to grow, develop and reproduce and these are known as essential amino acids. In horses these essential amino acids are Leucine, Lysine and Arginine. Dietary protein for horses is usually supplied in the form of Soybean meal, Copra meal, Rice Bran or skim milk powder.

While all of these are good sources of bulk protein they do not always contain the type and amount of essential amino acids required for optimum muscle development in the horse and can also have a very high fat content.

Download a copy of this article from Equine News December 2010.

Recently, studies into the body building benefits of concentrated protein supplements derived from Whey, a by-product of cheese making, and Soy have shown that these concentrates contain very high levels of the equine essential amino acids Leucine, Lysine and Arginine. Supplementing the performance horses diet with high quality Whey and Soy protein concentrates and isolates, such as those found in the  ePro® Equine Professional muscle building product range, ensures that the essential amino acids required for optimum muscle development and recovery are readily available from the feed. This gives the horse the best possible building blocks to repair and grow muscle, resulting in stronger, bigger body and topline muscle; shorter post- exercise recovery time and lower risk of tying up.

Bio-John Animal Health, the 'One Stop Shop' for the Western Australia Performance, Racing and Harness Industries is now a proud retail and wholesale distributor of the full ePro® Equine Professional product range.

Bio-John has been trading for over 20 years has resulted in it being the major supplier to the Race Horse Trainers in WA.  As well as the retail outlet in Belmont, Bio-John distribute horse products to retailers serving the horse industry throughout WA.

 Bio-John are the only WA retailer to carry the entire range of ePro® products!

     

   



Check out the Product Training Guide to see what gives ePro® its Protein Power performance!

ePro® Equine Professional is very proud to announce that Horseland stores nationwide now stock the ePro® performance line of products.

This is a great partnership for the ePro® and Horseland brands and for you!  Your ePro® favorites are now available at over 50 Horseland stores and and getting the muscle health and growth benefits the ePro® Protein Power products promote is easier than ever!

The ePro® Product Range currently stocked by Horseland:

• Garlic Xtra - a powerful antioxidant and great for fussy eaters.
• Topline Xtra - a high quality whey protein isolate powder, designed to support muscle and body functions in performance and breeding horses.
• Total Performance Xtra - a high quality whey protein concentrate powder enriched with natural herbs, assists with muscle growth & repair, body cell repair, bone development and improves overall body condition.
• Rapid Performer Xtra - a high quality whey and soy protein isolate powder, specifically formulated for gallopers, pacers, endurance and equestrian horses to support optimal muscle function and recovery.

Contact your local Horseland store to purchase any of the ePro® products and check out the Meadowloads ePro® Equine Professional range of products on our  website. 

You may also be interested in our ePro® Product Training Guide and the impressive ePro® Photo Gallery!

You can also always contact Meadowlands online  or telephone 1300 MEADOW (1300 632 369)

In addition to carbohydrates, protein and fat are the two other important macronutrients in the diet of the horse. Protein and fat are an excellent energy source for the horse and contain essential building blocks for numerous body functions. All horses, no matter what age, have to be supplied with an adequate amount of essential amino acids and fatty acids to support healthy body functions.

Protein

• building and repairing of body tissues
• regulation of body processes
• formation of enzymes and hormones
• forms antibodies and haemoglobin

Fat

• production of some hormones and steroids
• insulating of body organs
• regulation of body temperature
• absorption and transport of some vitamins and maintains healthy skin and hair
  
  Read more about feeding your horse fat and protein

Meadowlands have commenced a case study with Julie Coleman from Jawil Park Performance Horses with ePro® Equine Professional supplements. You can follow this study here on our website. 

About Jawil Park Performance Horses

Jawil Park Performance Horses was formed in 1985 and is the culmination of a life long dream which began back as far as I can remember. My motto has always been to breed quality alround pretty performance horses with great minds and a ton of ability that go on to perform competantly in any field, after they halter.