Diet, ulcers, colic, sugars and starches - an interesting paper

[JillA]

This is an interesting read, especially if you did the Equine Nutrition Coursera course, it kind of takes that forward with research etc. Colonic ulcers are more common than we think, and the low PH and lack of tone in the intestine, possibly leading to colicking is worth thinking about. Bit scientific but the points are well made.
http://www.montyroberts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Colic-White-Paper.pdf

 

[Love]

Will definitely have a read later thanks for sharing

 

[redandblue]

I have just read the article and found it really interesting (and timely!). Thanks for the share

 

[Doris68]

Thanks for this. Very interesting article and also timely for me too!

 

[AdorableAlice]

Very interesting. Feed fibre and more fibre.

 

[cptrayes]

I'm just in the middle of moving off cereal based cubes to alfalfa pellets, for the reasons in that paper, thank you for that, it will strengthen my resolve to wean them onto it; they aren't very keen at the moment.

 

[doriangrey]

Interesting reading and a good thread. I've never had a horse with colic, although I have fed compound feeds along with fibre in the past - not now. I found the sausage skin analogy especially interesting - the interrupted blood supply causes a flaccid colon that could cause the bowel to fold in on itself (intussusception). So if I'm reading it correctly it's hind gut ulcers that are predisposing to colic? I only feed fibre now in the form or haylage/hay/beet pulp. Thanks for the link, very interesting but there is another thread - hay/haylage and I was wondering if horses who are intolerant to haylage may possibly have hindgut ulcers as haylage is more acidic? Just musing as mine eat haylage without problems but some horses are intolerant.

 

[Mike007]

Certainly thought provoking. We know an awfull lot less than we think we do about equine nutrition and gut health. This is cutting edge research . The only thing I can find to quibble about is chewing wood, which to a large part I attribute to a Ca/P imballance. (but then you all knew I would find somthing to pick holes in )

 

[gelderlander]

Very interesting - thanks for posting.

 

[amandap]

Thanks for the link, very interesting but there is another thread - hay/haylage and I was wondering if horses who are intolerant to haylage may possibly have hindgut ulcers as haylage is more acidic? Just musing as mine eat haylage without problems but some horses are intolerant.

You might find this interesting. http://www.journalofanimalscience.org/content/87/7/2291.long