Dr. Power has performed studies at Alltech in a functional genomic approach that demonstrates the effects of organic forms of selenium on basic physiological
processes associated with fertility in livestock and poultry. He has four provisional patents on applications of selenium yeast, which affects the expression of key genes involving the pathway of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). It’s been known to increase the fertility in mares and stallions alike, by improving both the quantity and quality of egg and sperm production. This research led to their creation of Sel-Plex, an organic form of selenium yeast, which mimics Mother Nature. Another product developed by researchers at Alltech is
Yea-Sacc 1026. It reduces the risk of digestive colic. Feeding Yea-Sacc 1026 as a supplement may reduce the digestive disturbances associated with a horse’s stress, training, per- formance and travel. It provides more energy for high perfor- mance and pleasure horses. Plus Yea-Sacc 1026 stimulates milk production in lactating mares and increases the percentage of calcium, phosphorus and nitrogen in milk, which results in faster growth in a foal during their first four weeks of life.
signed for less active horses or those with a lot of graz- ing time. It works to provide preventative care for your equine companion. LIFEFORCE Formula helps to improve reproductive health and developing sport horses. It allows horses to get the most out of their diets. LIFEFORCE Elite is designed for performance horses in stressful situations. It provides solutions to manage the effects that a challeng- ing work environment can have on a horse’s wellbeing. Many manufacturers incorporate Alltech products into their line of equine supplements and feeds, especially the Yea-Sacc 1026. Smart Pak Equine sells Yea-Sacc 1026 in its signature packets as a daily supplement, while Cavalor uses it as one of the ingredients in the following feeds for perfor- mance horses and breeding stock: Cavalor Perfomix, Cavalor Superforce, Cavalor Strucomix, Cavalor Strucomix Senior and Cavalor Comfort. ”We use Sel-Plex, identified as ‘Selenium Yeast’ on a feed
tag’s ingredient list, in all Progressive Nutrition horse feeds, diet balancer pellets and mineral/vitamin mixtures. We use 50 percent Sel-Plex and 50 percent sodium selenite because of their different rates (in time) of absorption and utiliza- tion,” explains Donald R. Kapper, PAS, director of nutrition and technical services at Progressive Nutrition. “One of the benefits of using this combination is improved fertility. A second benefit is because the organic selenium is attached to the amino acid methionine, an increased amount is found in the mare’s colostrum, which is her first milk. Colos- trum contains whole protein antibodies that will protect the foal from disease by improving its immune response up to six months of age.” Supplement company AniMed includes Yea-Sacc 1026 in
its EquiTum nutritional blend, which supports sound diges- tion by maintaining a healthy intestinal tract and proper gut flora, needed for the stressful life of today’s sport horse. It also sells Yea-Sacc 1026 as a dietary supplement to prevent digestive colic.
Uckele Health and Nutrition’s Chief Science Officer Jack
Before and after photos of horses put on nutrigenomics supplements: Top: 12 y.o. Warmblood jumper. Bottom: 27 y.o. Arabian mare.
Additional research has been done in keeping stress re- sponse genes switched down with proper nutrition and im- proving activity of genes that are involved in energy produc- tion pathways. This allows the animal to produce more energy from a given diet; hence they can eat less food and be more productive thereby reducing the costs for the owner/breeder.
Nutrigenomic-Charged Supplements and Feeds After thirty years of research and many years supplying products to commercial feed and supplement companies, Alltech has created its own line of supplements marketed directly to the consumer. These products are designed to be fed on a daily basis with a horse’s regimen of grass/ hay and feed. Their products are labeled as the LIFEFORCE Range and are targeted to the lifestyles of different types of horses. It includes LIFEFORCE Focus, specifically de-
44 January/February 2014
Grogan says that his company has embraced the nutrige- nomic concept for many years, especially in gene expressions that occur in inflammatory conditions caused by a of lack of certain minerals in a horse’s diet or excessive insulin, cortical steroids and artificial estrogens (found in pollutants in the air, water and food). Uckele manufactures several proprietary formulations developed specifically for application in nutrig- enomic programs.
A Look into the Future Although we’ve made significant progress, science is like a crawling infant full of curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. The science of nutrigenomics still has a long way to go be- fore it can be used to prevent or cure diseases in a particular horse by using its own unique genetic make-up. Perhaps one day, a DNA sample, taken from inside a horse’s mouth or from his hip, could be studied and analyzed and an in- dividual diet could be designed to optimize his/her performance, fertility and longevity.
Photos courtesy Alltech
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