The influence of two lucerne-based forage feeds, FiberProtect® and FiberEdge® on Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in horses

Abstract

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is extremely prevalent in both racing and non-racing horse populations. The exact aetiology of EGUS is unclear but many stress related risk factors have been implicated including the feeding of grain-based diets. Current treatment techniques often necessitate drug therapy which, when added to feed costs, can be expensive and may have a detrimental effect on digestion due to the mode of action of these therapies. The following experiment set out to investigate if feeding fermented, forage-based feeds (Modified Bio-Fermentation (MBF) lucerne feeds treated with Xanotyde ® , registered as FiberProtect ® and FiberEdge ® ; Fiber Fresh Feeds Ltd, Reporoa, New Zealand), could assist in the healing and prevention of ulceration. Nine adult horses with demonstrable and sustained gastric ulceration (diagnosed by gastric endoscopy), were used in a two part study. The first 42 d healing phase investigated the impact of feeding FiberProtect ® (FPT) or FiberEdge ® (FED) on established gastric ulcers. After 14 d on these diets 44% (4/9) of horses had no ulceration or hyperaemia (inflammation) (EGUC grade 0) and all horses were ulcer free (EGUC grade 0) at d 42. A significant (P < 0.01) relationship was determined between length of time fed and disappearance of ulcers (R 2 = 0.9004; DF = 2). The prevention phase utilised the same horses, ulcer-free at d 42, and fed them a grain-based high energy racing diet alongside FPT at 40% and 60% of the total diet (DM basis). The horses were monitored for a further 28 d (d 42 -d 70), and only three showed a recurrence of ulceration throughout this period. At d 70, eight out of nine horses were ulcer free (EGUC grade 0). The findings suggest that FPT and FED can be used to heal and prevent gastric ulceration, and that FPT can be fed alongside a high grain diet to prevent recurrence of gastric ulcers.

Efficacy of a pectin‐lecithin complex for treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses

“…Multiple feed supplements are currently available to horse owners; however, few have been scientifically evaluated (Cargile and others 2004, Frank and others 2005, Huff and others 2012, Stowers and others 2013). A commercial product containing a pectin-lecithin complex (Pronutrin, Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany) is available in South Africa and is widely used for treatment of gastric ulcers in horses.…”

The Dietary Components and Feeding Management as Options to Offset Digestive Disturbances in Horses

“…The buffering ability of alfalfa hayegrain diet results from its high crude protein content [47]. The mechanism of action for gastric acid inhibition is that when alfalfa is consumed, there is increasing calcium absorption, which results in higher level of extracellular calcium, which influences the calcium concentration in gastric acideproducing cells [48].…”

“…Alfalfa hay could also be used to prevent and heal gut lesions. Stowers et al [48] reported that fermented alfalfa prevented and healed gastric ulcers at 40%e60% and 70%e100% dry matter intake, respectively. This is because alfalfa hay has a prolonged effect on pH reduction.…”

Effect of diet composition on glandular gastric disease in horses

“…Feeding alfalfa hay to yearlings for 28 days is associated with a lower ulcer severity score than feeding costal Bermudagrass hay 14 . Feeding alfalfa forage‐based feeds for 42 days reduces ulcer severity scores in both the glandular and nonglandular areas in horses not at work 15 . However, these findings remain controversial as more severe mucosal lesions at the pylorus are found in weanling horses fed alfalfa chaff for 16 days after weaning 16 .…”