Feed manufacturer clocks up 28 published works in 16 months to help combat laminitis
Company demonstrates their active involvement at the cutting edge of laminitis research, to help reduce the occurrence of this common, debilitating condition
The makers of SPILLERS™ have been associated with the publication of 28 laminitis-related papers, chapters and abstracts since the beginning of 2023, demonstrating their active involvement at the cutting edge of laminitis research, to help reduce the occurrence of this common, debilitating condition.
“So many horse owners live in dread of laminitis and it is one of the most common reasons they contact the SPILLERS™ Care-Line for advice, especially in the spring,” said Sarah Nelson Product Manager at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand. “We are on a mission to increase understanding of the risk factors for laminitis, so that we can help reduce cases. We are extremely proud of the magnitude and quality of our research, and the fact that we can share some of the outcomes as practical advice for horse owners to help them reduce as many of the risk factors as possible, all year round.”
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Laminitis can be described simply as damage or disruption to the laminae (the tissues attaching the pedal bone to the hoof wall), causing varying degrees of pain and lameness. Hyperinsulinemia associated laminitis or ‘HAL’ is now considered the most common form of laminitis and includes cases of laminitis associated with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and typically with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID).
The research, in the form of published papers, chapters and abstracts, was conducted in association with the SPILLERS brand, via the WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group and their international collaborators. Much of it has been presented at key equine veterinary internal medicine and laminitis meetings as well as symposia in the UK, Europe and the US during the past 16 months.
Five papers, for example, were published in the special endocrinology issue of the Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ), accounting for more than 25% of all the papers included. One of these papers (Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of non laminitic ponies) won the Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Open Award last year.
The scope of the work includes research in a variety of areas, from aspects of endocrinology to practical information around water soluble carbohydrate content, strip grazing, nutrient analysis and faecal microbial metabolite profiles:
The titles of the published works are listed below:
Predictors of laminitis development in a cohort of non-laminitic ponies
Metabolic Syndrome
Water-soluble carbohydrate content in equine pasture: Impact of fertilization, season, and grass species
Strip grazing: Changes in biomass, nutrient content and digestibility of temperate, midsummer pasture by strip-grazed or ‘free’-grazing ponies, over four weeks
Dietary management of laminitic animals
Development of a rapid screening assay for monitoring the relative nutritional value of pasture samples
Association between insulin dysregulation and ACTH in aged horses and ponies with no clinical signs of PPID
Insulin dysregulation is associated with high autumnal ACTH concentrations in aged horses and ponies with no clinical signs of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID)
Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse
A glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor antagonist reduces the insulin response to a glycaemic meal in ponies
Insulin dysregulated horses metabolic responses to forage pellets
Insulin, but not adiponectin, is detectable in equine saliva using an automated, commercial assay
Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed‐breed cohort of ponies
Short‐term induced hyperinsulinaemia and dexamethasone challenge do not affect circulating total adiponectin concentrations in insulin‐sensitive ponies
Relationships between total adiponectin concentrations and obesity in native‐breed ponies in England
Effect of dopamine depletion on insulin sensitivity and insulin response to a glycaemic meal in Standardbred horses
Evidence for dopamine production and distribution of dopamine D2 receptors in the equine gastrointestinal mucosa and pancreas
Insulin response to short-term transportation stress in horses: Effects of age and insulin dysregulation
Plasma high molecular weight adiponectin concentrations in a population of aged horses and ponies with and without PPID
Evaluation of adiponectin and serum amyloid A concentrations in equine diet-induced insulin dysregulation
Plasma high molecular weight adiponectin concentrations in a population of aged horses and ponies with and without PPID
Effect of pergolide in horses with insulin dysregulation with and without PPID
Fecal microbial metabolite profiles are unaltered by laminitis history
How challenging is it to find non-insulin dysregulated horses in an apparently clinically healthy herd of university horses?
Can a common cereal grain be used to help indicate the presence of insulin dysregulation
Effects of storage-handling methods on nutrient analysis of mixed-grass pasture samples
Activin A concentrations as a potential biomarker for detecting insulin dysregulation and predicting laminitis risk in ponies
Effect of dopamine on glucose-stimulated insulin production in the equine pancreas in vitro
“The more we understand about the predictors of laminitis risk, the better we will be able to reduce incidences of it,” said Sarah. “Our important collaborative research, most recently in relation to endocrinological disorders, is giving us hope for better future management and consequent significant reduction in cases of laminitis. Meanwhile, our practical studies, such as those on strip grazing and nutrient analysis are providing horse owners with hands-on advice for day-to-day management to help reduce risks.
“Rest assured, we will continue with our work until we can find ways to help keep every horse and pony as safe as possible from this dreaded condition.”
To find out more about the SPILLERS range, contact the Care-Line on + 44 (0)1908 226626 or visit www.spillers-feeds.com.