Mad Barn Optimum Digestive Health Pellets - 2.5 kg

Allzyme® SSF

Allzyme® SSF is an enzyme complex supplement created by Alltech. It is produced using a technology called solid-state fermentation, which uses a fungus called Aspergillus niger to produce a combination of enzymes. Enzymes work directly in the gastrointestinal tract to help break down feed components. Allzyme® SSF, in particular, helps release greater amounts of sugar, starches, protein and fibre from feeds.

Digestibility studies involving different livestock species have proven Allzyme® SSF’s ability to increase feed efficiency to maximize feed potential.

In horses, supplemental enzymes may be an effective way to maximize nutrient release from feeds, reducing feed costs and increasing performance. In studies using horses, enzyme-supplemented diets increased the digestibility of all nutrients, especially fibre, and also improved fecal gas production. Allzyme® SSF has the potential to be especially beneficial for horses that have trouble holding weight, are prone to having digestive upsets, or lactating mares that need extra nutrients to support milk production.

Bio-Mos™

Bio-Mos™ from Alltech™ is a proprietary ingredient made from a specific strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. This supplement is designed to supply the gastrointestinal tract with beneficial microorganisms that promote athletic performance and feed efficiency.

Bio-Mos™ has been clinically studied in 734 research trials and its efficacy is supported by 114 peer-reviewed publications. It has been used for over 20 years to promote gastrointestinal health and integrity in a variety of agricultural animals, including horses.

According to Alltech™, Bio-Mos™ works by reinforcing the normal function of the digestive system and stimulates the body’s natural defenses. It helps to normalize the gut microflora, supporting a healthy balance between good and bad bacteria and contributing to the development of the immune system.

Copper

Copper is a micromineral that is required by the horse for proper nervous system function, antioxidant defense, cardiac function, bone development, cellular respiration, keratinization, tissue pigmentation and the formation of connective tissue. It is a catalytic co-factor for many important enzymes, meaning that it is required for these enzyme’s activity as a catalyst.

If copper levels are not adequate in the horse’s diet, it can lead to pigmentation abnormalities, sensitive skin, sluggishness, bone demineralization, osteoporosis, arthritis, liver problems, digestive problems, anemia, neutropenia, or leukopenia. Deficiency may be common in certain geographic regions where soil content is naturally low in copper.

Absorption of this mineral from the gastrointestinal tract is between 5 to 10% in adults and may be reduced during times of disease or if the horse is consuming a diet high in phytates or competing minerals. To increase levels, a highly bioavailable form of this mineral like Bioplex Copper (copper proteinate) is recommended.

EMP™

Dietary Escape Microbial Protein (EMP™) from Alltech is a type of protein supplement that isn’t broken down in the gut by microbes. According to Alltech, EMP is “A revolutionary microbial protein technology designed to provide a unique, high-quality protein source that delivers the complete array of essential amino acids to the [animal].”

Amino acids are the building blocks from which proteins are synthesized in the body. There are 20 standard amino acids required by all mammals to form proteins and other biomolecules.

Nine of these amino acids are essential, meaning they cannot be made by the body and must come from food or supplement sources. The nine essential amino acids are histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Integral®A+

Integral®A+ is a feed additive developed by Alltech that works as a prebiotic. It is composed of hydrolyzed yeast, beta-glucans, mannan oligosaccharide (MOS) and green algae.

Prebiotics are non-digestible oligosaccharides from the cell walls of lysed yeast, which act as a food source and stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal tract. They thereby enhance digestibility, maintain proper gut pH levels and assist with hind-gut fermentation. Prebiotics are also capable of binding with strains of harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Campylobacter and Salmonella, and helping to flush them out of the intestinal tract.

Integral®A+ has proven efficacy in over 55 peer-reviewed in-vivo livestock, companion animal and aquaculture trials. In horses, the inclusion of this additive results in enhanced gut health, immunity and performance.

Kelp Meal

Kelp meal (seaweed) is a type of brown algae that is rich in a number of chelated minerals required by the horse. It contains meaningful quantities of magnesium, potassium, iodine, calcium and iron. It is also a source of several vitamins, micro-nutrients and 20 different amino acids.

As an equine supplement, kelp is commonly fed to increase iodine levels and support normal production of thyroid hormones. It is also recommended for hoof health, skin and coat health, fertility, metabolism, anti-inflammatory properties, stamina and growth.

Dried seaweed meal also contains high levels of polysaccharides, which are a type of starch with prebiotic effects. This prebiotic fibre can stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and promote balance of the microbiota.

Magnesium

Magnesium is a macro-mineral that plays an important role in regulating nerve impulse transmission, protein synthesis, energy metabolism and enzyme activity. It is involved in over 300 different enzyme reactions in the horse’s body.

60% of the magnesium in the body is found in the bones and 40% is found in extracellular fluids and soft tissues. If a horse is deficient in magnesium, it can lead to abnormal behaviour and mood problems, jumpiness, excitability, growth failure, muscle weakness, intermittent muscle spasms (tetany), sensitive skin and back pain. It may also be involved in equine metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in horses.

As a supplement, it is best given in the form of inorganic magnesium oxide which has an absorption rate of approximately 50% and does not cause the same gastrointestinal side effects as magnesium sulfate (epsom salt).

MB-5 Strain Probiotic

Mad Barn’s 5-strain probiotic supplement contains a synergistic blend of 5 different bacterial colonies that support gut health, digestion and immune function in your horse. Probiotics are the beneficial bacterial that colonize the intestines and inhibit the growth of pathogens that can cause disease.

Our MB-5 Strain Probiotic contains 20 billion CFU (Colony Forming Units) per gram of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium. Find out more about Mad Barn's probiotic blend here.

This supplement can be used to help balance the gut microflora after the microbiome has been disrupted by use of NSAID’s, antibiotics and/or wormers. It can also be used if your horse has had digestive upsets or appears unthrift.

Oat Bran

Oat bran is made from the outer layer of the oat grain, just beneath the inedible husk and is used as a very palatable pellet binder and source of soluble fiber. Oat bran is low in starch and contains a high concentration of beta-glucan, which is a form of soluble fiber that has many benefits for horses.

Beta-glucan has beneficial prebiotic qualities in the hindgut where it helps nourish beneficial bacteria, promoting a healthy immune system.

Oat bran also creates a gel-like substance when mixed with water, which reduces the rate at which simple sugars move through the intestines. This substance thereby enhances the digestion and absorption of these sugars so that they are less likely to reach the hindgut. This process also slows down the release of sugars into the bloodstream, providing a more regulated release of glucose.

Peppermint

Peppermint has been used as a digestive tonic for hundreds of years. The plant extract contains small amounts of volatile oils like menthol which can help to relax the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, support peristalsis and reduce symptoms of digestive upset.

The supplement can have a calming, soothing effect on a horse’s stomach which is why it is commonly given to horses suffering from gastric or duodenal ulcers, gas, digestive cramping, lack of appetite or colic.

Peppermint is also a safe, natural flavour that improves the palatability of Visceral+ and that most horses love. It can stimulate the appetite and may support healthy bowel movements. When given in low doses, it does not cause adverse reactions.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient that is an important component of cell membranes (Phoshoplipids), bone structure and reactions requiring cellular energy (ATP/Adenosine TriPhosphate). Phosphorus also helps form the backbone of DNA and contributes to pH and electrolyte balance in bodily fluids.

Dietary Phosphorus can be obtained from many different feeds, including forages, oats and soybean meal. Feeds with particularly high Phosphorus concentrations include wheat bran and rice bran.

The Phosphorus found naturally in grains and forages is considered organic, and is often bound inside molecules called Phytates. Feed manufacturers, however, often add inorganic Phosphorus, which comes from mining and processing phosphate from rocks, into commercial horse feeds. Inorganic Phosphorus sources are often listed on feed labels as monosodium phosphate; mono-, di-, and tri-calcium phosphate; and defluorinated phosphate.

Inorganic Phosphorus is a non-renewable resource, as it is mined from the earth. It is well known that inorganic Phosphorus is released from animal waste into the environment at high levels and can cause environmental harm. Today, research is focused on striking a balance between feeding enough Phosphorus for optimal horse health and production (growth, lactation, reproduction, performance, etc.) without overfeeding it, thus reducing the environmental footprint of feeding horses. It has also been concluded that both growing and mature horses can effectively utilize the majority of Phosphorus bound in plant Phytate and might not need inorganic Phosphorus added to their feed to meet their Phosphorus requirements.

Potassium

Potassium is an essential macro mineral that functions as an electrolyte in the horse’s body. It is the most important intracellular cation, is essential for maintaining the contractility of smooth, skeletal and cardiac muscle, and also plays a role in regulating pH balance.

Horses fed a diet with adequate forage typically do not need to supplement with additional potassium as forage typically contains high amounts of this mineral. Diets that contain mostly grain may not supply adequate amounts.

A deficiency in this electrolyte can develop under conditions of profuse sweating, in endurance horses, in horses using diuretics like Lasix (furosemide) or in horses experiencing diarrhea. Low levels of potassium can lead to reduced appetite, decreased water intake, muscle weakness, mental apathy, cardiac arrhythmias, adrenal hypertrophy and a decreased growth rate.

Sodium

Sodium is a macro mineral that is the most recognizable electrolyte in the horse’s body. It plays a role in nerve impulse transmission, regulation of muscle contractions, maintenance of blood pressure, skeletal integrity, blood volume regulation and thirst regulation.

The daily sodium requirement for a 500 kg (1,100 lb) horse is approximately 10 grams. Higher intake is required in hot climates or for horses undergoing heavy physical exercise which lose greater amounts of electrolytes through sweat. Horses naturally seek out salt when levels of this mineral fall too low. They should be provided with free choice loose salt to ensure electrolyte balance is maintained.

If a horse does not get adequate amounts of sodium to replace that which is lost through sweat and urine, the thirst response will be diminished. This is why horses will sometimes avoid drinking water even on a hot day when they are sweating. Additional signs of deficiency can include abnormal licking of soil or other objects, anorexia, lethargy, unsteady gait or loss of skin vitality.

Yea-Sacc 1026®

Yea-Sacc 1026^® is a yeast culture developed by Alltech that is based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 1026. This strain of yeast was specifically selected for its influence on digestibility in animals. Many years of research in multiple animal species have clarified Yea-Sacc 1026^® ‘s efficacy as a probiotic for enhancing digestibility.

The addition of probiotic substances in the equine diet has a multitude of benefits to the horse. Yea-Sacc 1026^® promotes greater digestion efficiency of feed and stabilizes hindgut pH, preventing digestive upset associated with stress, training, performance and transport. More efficient digestion means that energy uptake is also enhanced, along with other important nutrients.

Providing yeast in the horse’s diet also enhances phosphorus and calcium availability, contributing to greater bone strength. Yea-Sacc 1026^®  has also been proven to stimulate milk production and enhance milk quality in lactating mares, resulting in healthier foals.