Few dispute that nutrition is important for athletic performance in racehorses. However, I’d wager that there is much less agreement among horse owners, nutritionists, and veterinarians when asked to expound upon the “nitty gritty” of what works
The Enforcement Strategy for Marketed Ingredients (ESMI) Working Group of the Association of Animal Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) cited an increasing number of unapproved or undefined ingredients appearing in animal feed and pet food as well as
In human nutrition, carbohydrates or “carbs” have a bit of a bad name these days. A quick trip through the local book store or over the Internet leads us to believe that dietary carbohydrates are the source of all evil. When weight loss is the
In recent months, there has been a good deal of discussion regarding the legality of many ingredients that horse and pet owners take for granted in supplements. Much of this discussion has centered on the proposed enforcement action by the
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), a white, tasteless crystalline powder, is already a favored supplement in the horse industry. Years before any scientific evidence supported its use, it had earned a reputation for helping alleviate many of the
Since last month’s column, a big step forward was taken by some manufacturers in the supplement industry. This step forestalled any “en masse” immediate regulatory action; however, it does not mean state feed regulators can’t or won’t enforce
The threat of a supplement regulatory crackdown motivated 25 ingredient suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors to join with the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) on April 3-4 to hammer out a proposed Compliance Plus program. This
Recently, an alarm was sounded that “the authorities” are trying to take away supplement products sold over-the-counter to horse owners. Some people have portrayed it as if Big Brother were trying to keep useful products away from the animals
The supplement manufacturing industry has submitted a proposal to federal regulatory agencies that includes provisions for establishing common industry standards for manufacturing processes, allowing focus toward finished product safety through
Many supplements used by horse owners and veterinarians every day are illegal and thus could be taken off the market. State regulators say that after five years of trying to get manufacturers to meet legal requirements, they are cracking down on
There are some regulatory rumblings that could change the way all of us feed and take care of our horses every day, whether you are a horse owner or a veterinarian. Many nutritional supplements are sold illegally. “What?” you might say. “How can
The threat of a supplement crackdown motivated a group of 25 manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and distributors to join with the National Animal Supplement Counsel (NASC) on April 3-4 to hammer out a proposed Compliance Plus program. This
In many cases, you can completely cure the horse of the underlying ailment that causes his stiffness. And even in cases where the horse suffers from a chronic condition such as arthritis, your careful, consistent efforts to battle stiffness can improve his performance and, more important, his quality of life and his pleasure of performing with you.
There are some regulatory rumblings that could change the way all of us feed and take care of our horses every day. Unless the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an ingredient for use in an animal feed or supplement product, it is
The following is an in-depth explanation of the supplement regulation issue. For a condensed version, visit
Feeding high-performance horses is a challenge. If nutritional requirements are met appropriately, performance can be improved over those horses which are fed imbalanced diets in irregular amounts. When working with a veterinarian or nutritionis
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