What can go wrong in the hindgut?
For modern horses' fed-grain & legume-based feeds, it is important that starch and protein is digested in the upper tract and their components absorbed in the ileum. This is because the flow-through of such materials to the hindgut can promote undesirable bacteria, causing various metabolic and gastric problems. Our products, like Maxia Digest, help food to be digested by horses safely.
Fructan sugars in lush grasses have been shown to cause laminitis in horses and ponies due to its activity in the gut (Pollitt et al., 2003) when fed in excess. To create a correct hind-gut microfloral population, several issues need to be considered – early nutrition at weaning, the introduction of beneficial bacteria, pH and limiting exposure to pathogens.
Imbalances in the hind-gut can occur if very young horses are exposed to pathogens, especially at birth and weaning. This can lead to a lifetime of problems, such as poor weight gain, reduced maintenance of body condition, behavioural issues and repeat attacks of sub-clinical diarrhoea. We believe in starting horses off with Maxia Digest early to stimulate healthy diet support in hopes to avoid lifetime problems as mentioned.
Gastric upsets, resulting in diarrhoea, are caused when toxins from pathogens attach to the gut wall. This renders the lining cells unable to take up water and minerals, especially in the colon.
Effective administration of technical feed ingredients into the hindgut requires delivery into the lower region and for the ingredient not to be damaged by stomach acid. Hence, many of these ingredients may be encapsulated or protected on a carrier, or in an inert form that is unaffected by acidic conditions.