GB2532200A

GB2532200A - Composition for horses

Info

Publication number: GB2532200A
Application number: GB1419718.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: A Lowe John
Original assignee: Dodson & Horrell Ltd
Current assignee: Dodson & Horrell Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-05
Filing date: 2014-11-05
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-05
Also published as: GB2532200B; GB201419718D0

Abstract

This present invention provides a composition comprising a digestible fibre source, a fat source and a protein source, wherein the composition contains less than or equal to 15% starch and/or sugars by weight of the composition. The composition may comprise greater than or equal to 30% neutral detergent fibre, 12% to 22% acid detergent fibre, greater than or equal to 11% fat, and greater than or equal to 8% protein, all by weight of the composition. The composition may further comprise an emulsifier such as lecithin, carnitine, B-group vitamins and it may comprise carnitine The present invention also provides a food product comprising the composition and additional forage, and a method of providing nutritional support for a horse suffering from Equine Cushing's disease, low weight and/or poor dental conformation by feeding the composition or the food product to the horse.

Description

Composition for Horses The present invention relates to a composition, more specifically a composition suitable for use as a horse food product.

Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) or Equine Cushing's disease (ECD) is an incurable, increasingly common problem, affecting the endocrine system of older horses. ECD appears to be on the increase within the horse population both per se, probably due to horses living longer, and as a function of improved methods of diagnosis.

The causal factor of ECD is hyperplasia or adenoma formation in part of the pituitary gland. Horses with ECD also have higher circulating plasma cortisol levels.

The symptoms of ECD are vague and varied, however, common outward symptoms include a long curly coat that fails to shed, weight loss, lethargy, muscle loss with concomitant fat deposition along the crest of the neck and above the tail. Immune suppression results in an increased incidence of infections, particularly of the oral cavity. Increased water intake and urination is also common. All horses with ECD will ultimately develop inexplicable bouts of laminitis as a complication.

Management of the general health care of the animal and its diet can reduce the impact of the disease and improve the quality of life for animals suffering from ECD. Whilst a number of existing compound feeds are available to the horse owner, none of those presently available address the nutritional requirements of all aspects of the physiology affected in horses with ECD.

Nutrients are recognised as multifunctional in their roles in metabolism and do not work in isolation. Therefore, the present invention provides a composition that addresses each aspect of the physiology affected by ECD and provides specific nutritional support for them both individually and collectively. The composition of the invention may be used as a horse food product to help improve the quality of life for affected horses, although it may also be used to modify the feeding management of other equids and non-ruminant grazers.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a digestible fibre source, a fat source and a protein source, wherein the composition contains less than or equal to 15% starch and/or sugars by weight of the composition. Preferably, the composition contains less than or equal to 10% starch and/or sugars by weight of the composition.

The desired starch and/or sugars content may be achieved by using ingredients comprising less than or equal to 12% starch (e.g. oatfeed, distillers grains, linseed, soya, beet pulp, straw) and less than or equal to 6% sugar (e.g. oatfeed, distillers, linseed, unmolassed beet, straw). More details of suitable ingredients are given below.

Digestible fibre is important to the well-being of horses in order to optimise hind gut fermentation and health; it can also help provide energy for underweight horses. These functions are achieved through the support of dietary forage matter by the composition comprising greater than or equal to 30%, preferably greater than or equal to 35% neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and from 12% to 22% of an acid detergent fibre (ADF), by weight of the composition. Digestible fibre sources suitable for use in the invention may be selected from oatfeed, bran, wheatfeed, beet pulp (preferably unmolassed beet pulp), straw (preferably nutritionally improved straw), soya hulls, pectin sources, citrus pulp and combinations thereof.

Beet pulp is an especially beneficial source of digestible and fermentable fibre. Hence, the composition may comprise from 7.5% to 30% beet pulp, preferably approximately 10% beet pulp, by weight of the composition. In addition to beet pulp, other digestible fibre sources may be included to achieve the nutritional specification above.

Horses with ECD tend to lose weight and have a reduced appetite. However, due to the prevalence of laminitis in horses with ECD, they require a restricted starch and sugars intake of 1 g/kg body weight per meal. Nonetheless, to maintain a healthy body weight, the horse's diet should contain an increased fat content when compared to normal equine feeds. Hence, the composition may contain greater than or equal to 11% fat by weight of the composition, preferably approximately 12% fat by weight of the composition, such that it can provide greater than or equal to 0.72 g fat / kg body weight, preferably approximately 0.96 g fat / kg body weight per meal.

Fat sources suitable for use in the invention comprise vegetable fats and may be selected from rape oil, linseed oil, rice bran oil, sunflower oil, soya and combinations thereof. Preferably the fat sources not only provide energy but also help attain suitable fatty acid profiles.

Horses with ECD tend to suffer from muscle loss. In order to help support muscle mass, an improved protein quality is preferred for use in the composition of the present invention. Improved quality may be expressed as an increase in the total essential amino acid present relative to the total protein present. Consequently the lysine, an essential amino acid, is greater than or equal to 5% by weight of total protein in the composition and preferably greater than or equal to 5.75% by weight of total protein in the composition. An increase in total nitrogen per se is not advocated in order to minimise energy expenditure on nitrogen excretion.

The composition may contain greater than or equal to 8% protein by weight of the composition, preferably approximately 13% protein by weight of the composition. Protein sources suitable for use in the invention may be selected from distiller's wheat grains, sunflower and soya meals (preferably extracted sunflower meal and de-hulled soya bean meal), linseed (preferably full-fat linseed), rape and combinations thereof.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition comprises greater than or equal to 30% NDF, 12% to 22% ADF, greater than or equal to 11% fat, and greater than or equal to 8% protein, all by weight of the composition.

In order to effect improved fat utilisation to help sustain weight and improve cell membrane phospholipid content, the composition may further comprise a combination of an emulsifier, carnitine and B-group vitamins. Preferably, the emulsifier is lecithin. The composition may comprise from 0.2% to 1% emulsifier, preferably approximately 0.5% emulsifier. The composition may comprise from 0.02% to 0.1%, preferably 0.045% carnitine. The composition may comprise B-group vitamins in an amount of from 1 to 5 times that of a typical diet for older horses, preferably approximately double that of a typical diet for older horses. All percentages given are by weight of the composition.

Horses with ECD tend to suffer from impaired immune function. Nutritional support for the immune system may be incorporated in the composition in the form of key vitamins such as, but not limited to, vitamin A and vitamin E, carotenoids, fructose oligosaccharides, active yeast culture (preferably providing 5 x 109 CFU/kg (colony forming units per kilogram) of product) and carbohydrates which beneficially enhance hind gut fermentation, such as beet pulp (see the suitable digestible fibre sources listed above).

An antioxidant blend such as QLC (available from Dodson & Horrell) may be included in the composition. QLC has been demonstrated to assist an animal's own antioxidant system and antioxidant support has been cited in the literature (BEVA congress, 2004, Lowe, Lucas and Paganga and UK patent 2385768) as being potentially beneficial to horses with laminitis (Neville, Hollands, Collins and White (2004) Equine Veterinary Journal) and as a nutritional support for the immune system.

Chaste tree berries and cinnamon have been reported to be beneficial to horses with ECD and thus may be included in the composition of the invention.

Other botanicals that may be included in the composition of the invention include comfrey, burdock, dandelion, devils claw root, nettle, celery, which are variously reported to help support skin, coat, musculoskeletal system and general well-being.

Glucosamine may be included in the composition to help support functional joints.

Therefore, the composition of the invention may further comprise one or more antioxidants such as vitamin A and/or vitamin E, carotenoids, fructose oligosaccharides, active yeast culture, chaste tree berries, cinnamon, comfrey, burdock, dandelion, devils claw root, nettle, celery, glucosamine and combinations thereof. The composition may comprise vitamin A in an amount of from 1 to 5 times that of a typical diet for older horses, preferably approximately double that of a typical diet for older horses. The composition may comprise vitamin E in an amount of from 1 to 5 times that of a typical diet for older horses, preferably approximately double that of a typical diet for older horses. The composition may comprise from 0.1% to 3%, preferably approximately 0.35%, of any of the following: chaste tree berries, cinnamon, comfrey, burdock, dandelion, devils claw root, nettle, and celery. The composition may comprise from 0.1% to 1.5% glucosamine, preferably 0.15% glucosamine. All percentages given are by weight of the composition.

Other than the ingredients detailed above, the composition of the invention may further comprise low-digested fibre (such as ligno-cellulose) and essential minerals to balance the feed such that it provides horses with a balanced diet (when fed with additional forage -see below) to meet horses' nutrient requirements in terms of macro and trace nutrients in line with at least those present by NRC, Nutrient Requirements of Horses 6th Edition 2007. These essential minerals include but are not limited to calcium, phosphate, magnesium, sodium and chloride. These essential minerals may, for example, be included in the composition in the form of calcium carbonate, di-calcium phosphate, magnesium oxide and sodium chloride.

Due to the frequently poor dental state of horses with ECD and issues of oral health, the composition may be uniquely produced in the form of a crumble or a soft mealy-cube. This will be readily consumed by the horse either in its dry form or in the form of a mash (after softening further with addition of water).

The crumble or soft-mealy cube may be made by simply mixing the ingredients and then pelletising the ingredients without excessive pressure.

The composition of the invention provides an appropriate balance of nutrients for the older horse when fed as directed. The composition may be fed in conjunction with additional forage at up to 600 9/100 kg body weight but not to exceed 800 g/100 kg body weight.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a food product comprising a composition as described above and additional forage.

Suitable additional forage includes good quality grass hay, haylage, silage, lucerne, sanfoin and combinations thereof.

Practical trials, supervised by veterinary surgeons, have confirmed that feeding the composition of the present invention as part of an appropriate diet to horses diagnosed with ECD results in a beneficial effect on horse appearance, weight improvement and general quality of life within 4 weeks in comparison with existing compound feeds.

Therefore, according to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition or food product as described above for use as a dietary component. Preferably, the composition or food product is used to provide nutritional support for a horse suffering from Cushing's disease, laminitis, low weight and/or poor dental conformation.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, the following example is included by way of illustration only.

Example

The following ingredients were mixed and pelletised without excessive pressure to form a soft-mealy cube (all percentages given are by weight of the composition): Oatfeed 0-35% wheatfeed 0-40% unmolassed beet pulp 7.5-30%

vegetable oils 2-12%

36% protein content extracted sunflower meal 0-12% distillers wheat grains 0-15% nutritionally improved straw 0-25% de-hulled soya bean meal 0-25% ligno-cellulose 0-5% di-calcium phosphate 0-5% full fat linseed 0-5% calcium carbonate 0-5% sodium chloride 0-1.5% lecithin 0.2-1% magnesium oxide 0-1% cinnamon 0.35-1% QLC antioxidant recipe 0.25-1.5% synthetic lysine 0.1-1% glucosamine 0.1-3% fructose oligosaccharides 0.1-3% active yeast culture 0.1-3% chaste tree berries 0.1-3% dandelion leaves 0.1-3% celery seed 0.1-3% nettle 0.1-3% devils claw root 0.1-3% burdock 0.1-3% mineral vitamin premixes 0.35-1.5%

Claims

Claims 1. A composition comprising a digestible fibre source, a fat source and a protein source, wherein the composition contains less than or equal to 15% starch and/or sugars by weight of the composition.
2. A composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition is suitable for use as a horse food product.
3. A composition according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the composition contains less than or equal to 10% starch and/or sugars by weight of the composition.
4. A composition according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the composition contains greater than or equal to 11 % fat by weight of the composition.
5. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the digestible fibre source comprises neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF), and wherein the composition comprises greater than or equal to 30% NDF and from 12% to 22% of ADF, by weight of the composition.
6. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the digestible fibre source may be selected from oatfeed, bran, wheatfeed, beet pulp, straw, soya hulls, pectin sources, citrus pulp combinations thereof.
7. A composition according to claim 6 wherein the composition comprises from 7.5% to 30% beet pulp by weight of the composition.
8. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the fat source comprises vegetable fats and may be selected from rape oil, linseed oil rice bran oil, sunflower oil, soya and combinations thereof.
9. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the protein source may be selected from distillers wheat grains, sunflower and soya meals, linseed, rape and combinations thereof.
10. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the composition comprises greater than or equal to 30% NDF, 12% to 22% ADF, greater than or equal to 11% fat, and greater than or equal to 8% protein, all by weight of the composition.
11. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the composition further comprises a combination of an emulsifier, carnitine and B-group vitamins.
12. A composition according to claim 11 wherein the emulsifier is lecithin.
13. A composition according to claim 11 or 12 wherein the composition comprises from 0.2% to 1% emulsifier by weight of the composition.
14. A composition according to claim 11, 12 or 13 wherein the composition comprises from, 0.02% to 0.1% carnitine by weight of the composition.
15. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the composition further comprises one or more antioxidants such as vitamin A and/or vitamin E, carotenoids, fructose oligosaccharides, active yeast culture, chaste tree berries, cinnamon, comfrey, burdock, dandelion, devils claw root, nettle, celery, glucosamine and combinations thereof.
16. A composition according to claim 15 wherein the composition comprises from 0.1% to 3% of any of the following: chaste tree berries, cinnamon, comfrey, burdock, dandelion, devils claw root, nettle, celery by weight of the composition.
17. A composition according to claim 15 or 16 wherein the composition comprises from 0.1% to 1.5% glucosamine by weight of the composition.
18. A composition according to any preceding claim wherein the composition is in the form of a crumble or a soft mealy-cube.
19. A food product comprising a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 18 and additional forage.
20. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or a food product according to claim 19, for use as a dietary component.
21. A composition according to any one of claims 1 to 18, or a food product according to claim 19, for use in providing nutritional support for a horse suffering from Cushing's disease, laminitis, low weight and/or poor dental conformation.
22. A method of providing nutritional support for a horse suffering from Equine Cushing's disease, low weight and/or poor dental conformation which method comprises feeding a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 18 or a food product according to claim 19 to said horse.
23. A composition or food product substantially as described herein.