This is some interesting information.
It talks about bone and muscle growth and when nutrition is important. It also talks about exercise and some studies they have done.
I have never heard of this company, but stumbled across it when looking at amino acid supplements for muscle development.
Other factors??
The Dutch published a study that links OCD to foals slipping…!!! The more they are seen slipping the more OCD…think about it…is it possible that OCD and rubber matted stalls with slippery straw over them and OCD came into awarness at about the same time??? Also, of course foals can slip on wet grass, concrete, or slick dry grass for that matter. Long legged foals ‘may’ have more trouble getting up and down and therefore more likely subtle injury??? The Dutch recommended breeders be aware and try to limit the slippery footing. It was published around Jan of this year as I recall.
Well, OCD can be caused by trauma, but I would be suspect in the accuracy of a study that just looked at ONE action causing the issue. And looking at the study is important.
How many foals were in this Dutch study and how did they determine it was slipping that did it? You’d have to be observing the foals 24 hrs a day and then define “slipping.”
I have a WB 11mo, he slipped in the paddock badly after weaning- i know this because he had a skinned leg with mud all over that side of his body and we had to get the chiropractor out because his back was so sore. He came down with OCD (lame at the walk) later down the track in his fetlock. Box rest for 3 months, not a great deal of radiological improvement except not lame at walk and off at the trot slightly. We left him out in the paddock now, not a lame step since.
Hes a big boy - 15hh+ when measured at 10months, emh 17.1hh and he was a monster when he was born too. He was drinking a hell of alot right the way through to weaning so i was wondering if his rapid growth was pressed on with that. Dam was fed grain right through to weaning. He has been on MSM, Glucosamine, Bonafide, Pentosan GOLD injections monthly, omega 3 since this happened. Not sure why hes sound now but he is…
Just from my own personal experience here in CA I believe most anomalies are related to Carbs (or too much energy). We experienced some very minor physitis very late this year just after the mares/foals moved to paddock with lots of mature grass. We changed diet (from strictly TC Growth & 80/20 Grass Alfalfa Mix to a combination of TC 30% and TC Senior w/no change in hay/forage). This appears to have done the trick. One mare is on TDI 10 and Senior and the other on TC 30% and Senior and both babies are fully recovered from minor physitis–it was addressed almost before it got started. The foals will be weaned on TC 30 and Senior. I have raised separate crops on TDI 10 and now TC 30 and have been very pleased with the 30%. My vet prefers the TDI 10. Just adding my two cents.
The most recent studies I read show that Copper deficiency in pregnancy can be a risk factor for OCD. The study showed that mineral supplementation in the final trimester was more important than what the foal was fed once born. There were other minerals as well, but it stated that Cu was the one the most overlooked or under-supplemented. I guess farm water can also be problematic as it is often high in Iron which impedes Cu absorption.
I found it very interesting that the sample group had a much bigger correlation to mare nutrition than foal nutrition.
I wonder about the slipping thing. I had a foal born that had a difficult time getting up in a straw bedded stall who later developed OCD. Could be unrelated, and she was quite fast growing, but I always wonder if that had something to do with it.
I had an 18mo gelding diagnosed with a bone cyst. No swelling, but was short at the walk so I xrayed. Sure enough, a cyst, and the vet recommended surgery. He had the surgery and after 3 months stall rest we took xrays again to reevaluate. The cyst had actually gotten worse. They recommended 3 more months of stall rest. During the second three months i put him on OCD pellets. At his 6 month post surgery check-up the xrays showed a HUGE improvement with the cyst filling in. I’ve kept him on the OCD pellets and will reevaluate him again in the spring and hopefully everything will look god and he can be put to work.
The OCD pellets in my case seemed to be what promoted the healthy bone growth. In utero his dam was given a nutritional supplement specifically for pregnant mares. I can’t see any reason why the colt got OCD, other than he was a fast growing youngster.
I’m with Whitfield… I’m the furthest thing from a pro breeder, but I have 3 yearlings (almost 18mo)- out 24/7 with shelter. I used to do the whole she-bang (TC, beet pulp, rice bran, alfalfa, blah blah) but switched to forage-based Thrive feed (I swear by it!), accessible mineral blocks and then alfalfa/timothy/orchard in winter. Happy, well muscled, wonderful minds and no health issues thus far fingers crossed
I feed free choice hay, grass pasture (poor quality this year), a bit of Nutrena Triumph Pro 14% pellets, and Osteo-form by Vet-a-mix (from weaning until two).
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