Thanks to Kemin’s one-of-a-kind program, achieving optimal gut health in horses has never been easier.
As many horse caretakers now know, a well-functioning gut is a critical component of overall health in equines. If a horse’s performance, body composition or general mood changes, there’s a good chance something might be off in his gastrointestinal (GI) tract. In fact, GI issues are the second-leading cause of death in horses. Driven by these facts, Kemin, a leading ingredient manufacturing company, developed a one-of-a-kind program that’s changing the way people deal with equine gut issues.
The Kemin Gut Health Triple Check Program, and the products that support it, are based on a three-pronged approach to gut health. “Over the years, Kemin has researched a variety of approaches to improving gut health — ways to positively impact beneficial bacteria and optimize nutrient digestion and absorption,” says Matt Christofferson, Senior Product Manager for Equine at Kemin. “Improving equine gut health involves a comprehensive focus on the feed going into the animal, integrity of the intestinal wall and immune system and pathogen reduction.”
Step one of this comprehensive approach is to “Clean Up” health-impacting contaminants in a horse’s diet. Supportive products include antioxidants, flow agents and mold inhibitors. The second step is to “Build Up” the intestinal barrier and immune system to maximize nutrient absorption. Kemin’s ButiPEARL™ Z EQ is the primary solution for this stage. The third and final step is to “Knock Out” or eliminate harmful pathogens from the body using specific probiotics such as the Bacillus subtilis PB6 in CLOSTAT® to support intestinal microbiome balance.
Kemin has managed to make a rather complex process extremely easy to implement. Since its launch in 2017, the program has helped support the absence, prevention and avoidance of diseases such as leaky gut syndrome. “Our success stories include a four-year-old thoroughbred filly that retired from racing due to body condition issues and chronic diarrhea,” says Matt. “ButiPEARL™ Z EQ and CLOSTAT® were part of the feeding regimen that led to a more compliant horse with improved body condition. Another instance was a 29-year-old mare with diarrhea so severe the owner had to wash her every night. After 1.5 weeks of feeding ButiPEARL™ Z EQ, the manure started to normalize.”
Kemin’s mission, like their program, is threefold – to grow their support of equine initiatives, increase the overall health and well-being of horses and, ultimately, improve equine performance. “Helping horses and their owners reach peak performance and enjoyment is what we appreciate most,” says Matt. “Hearing success stories in which our products helped nutritionists, veterinarians and horse owners improve the overall well-being of their animals makes our work worthwhile.”
To learn more about GI issues in horses and how Kemin’s program and products can help, visit kemin.com/leakygut.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Equine Wellness Magazine is North America’s most trusted natural health and lifestyle magazine for horses, and the premiere publication educating a growing audience in natural and integrative approaches to health and horsemanship. EW transcends all areas of the equine market and appeals to everyone from backyard enthusiasts to serious competitors.
