Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T19:26:31.405Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The influence of feeding a high calcium, algae supplement on gastric ulceration in adult horses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2016

T. Moir ,
J. O'Brien ,
S. R. Hill  and
L. A Waldron
T. Moir*
Affiliation:
Seahorse Supplements Ltd, Christchurch, New Zealand
J. O'Brien
Affiliation:
Equvet Ltd, Palmerston North, New Zealand
S. R. Hill
Affiliation:
LWT Animal Nutrition Ltd, PO Box 119, Feilding, New Zealand 4740
L. A Waldron
Affiliation:
LWT Animal Nutrition Ltd, PO Box 119, Feilding, New Zealand 4740
*
* Corresponding author: . E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Calcium is considered important in buffering excess stomach acid in mammals, including horses. Control of stomach acid is important in preventing the development of ulcers within the stomach lining, which, in horses, are considered to be caused by acid splashing. Algae supplements contain various minerals which are in natural form, as seen in all plant and feedstuffs. The current trial was conducted to examine if a high calcium algae supplement had any impact on gastric ulceration in horses, which may be due to buffering stomach acid, reducing the pH in a gradual manner, without resorting to medication. Ten horses, of either thoroughbred, standardbred or sport horse breed, were selected on the basis of the presence of ulcers in their stomach, as ascertained by endoscopy. The average ulceration score before algae supplementation was 2.2 ± 0.75 according to the EGUC scoring system. The horses were then maintained on their normal diet (unchanged from the initial ulcer scoring) by the owner with the addition of 40 g per day of the high calcium, algae based Maxia Complete® (Seahorse Supplements Ltd, Christchurch, NZ) for thirty days (T30). All horses were then re endoscoped to assess any change in ulceration score. All horses showed a significant improvement in ulcer score, with seven having a score of zero (fully healed, no evidence of further ulceration) and two with a score of one (some residual inflammation or keratinosis in areas of healed ulcers). This resulted in a mean score of 0.3 ± 0.48 (P < 0.0001: T0 versus T30) at the end of the study. This trial demonstrated that feeding an organic form of high calcium from algae reduced ulceration in horses.

Keywords

Horsesulcerationcalciumalgae
Type
Pilot Study
Information
Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition , Volume 4 , 2016 , e8
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition Ltd. 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Andrews, F.M., Buchanan, B.R., Elliot, S.B., Clariday, N.A., and Edwards, L.H. (2005). Gastric ulcers in horses. Journal of Animal Science, 83(13_suppl), E18–E21.Google Scholar
Barnes, H. (2003). Oceanography and marine biology: A review. CRC Press, Boca Katon, Florida, USA.Google Scholar
Bezděková, B., Jahn, P., Vyskočil, M., and Plachý, J. (2005). Prevalence of equine gastric ulceration in Standardbred racehorses in Czech Republic. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 74(1), 59–65.Google Scholar
Equine Gastric Ulceration Council (2009). Standardised scoring for ulceration in horses.Google Scholar
Gordon, S. (2010). Personal communication.Google Scholar
Frape, D. (2008). Equine nutrition and feeding. John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Kandale, A., Meena, A.K., Rao, M.M., Panda, P., and Babu, R. (2011). Marine algae: An introduction, food value and medicinal uses. Report of the Food and Agriculture Oragnisation of the United Nations.Google Scholar
Luthersson, N., Hou Nielsen, K., Harris, P., and Parkin, T.D.H. (2009). Risk factors associated with Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS) in 201 horses in Denmark. Equine Veterinary Journal, 41(7), 625–630.Google Scholar
MacAllister, C.G., Andrews, F.M., Deegan, E., Ruoff, W., and Olovson, S.G. (1997). A scoring system for gastric ulcers in the horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, 29, 430–433.Google Scholar
Moore-Colyer, M., O'Gorman, D.M., and Wakefield, K. (2014). An in vitro investigation into the effects of a marine-derived, multimineral supplement in simulated equine stomach and hindgut environments. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 34(3), 391–397.Google Scholar
Murray, M.J. (1997). Suppression of gastric acidity in horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 211, 37–40.Google Scholar
Murray, M.J. and Grodinsky, C. (1989). Regional gastric pH measurement in horses and foals. Equine Veterinary Journal, 7(supplement), 73–76 Google Scholar
Murray, M.J., Schusser, G., Pipers, F.S., and Gross, S.J. (1996). Factors associated with gastric lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 28(5), 368–374.Google Scholar
Nadeau, J.A., Andrews, F.M., Mathew, A.G., Argenzio, R.A., Blackford, J.T., Sohtell, M., and Saxton, A.M. (2000). Evaluation of diet as a cause of gastric ulcers in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 61, 784–790.Google Scholar
Reese, R.E. and Andrews, F.M. (2009). Nutrition and dietary management of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 25(1), 79–92.Google Scholar
Stowers, N.L., Waldron, L.A., Pryor, I.D., Hill, S.R. and O'Brien, J. (2013). Modified bio fermentation lucerne feeds for gastric ulceration in horses. Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition, 1: p1–7.Google Scholar