Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Some time back I asked Dr. Marty Adams, head of equine nutrition at 
Southern States about the "traces of yucca" in the Triple Crown feed. 
His response was that it is a product they put in to help with 
digestibility of the feed and that similar products are currently in or 
will soon be in many if not most prepared feeds on the market.

Directly quoted from the SS website -

"Your horse's health and performance are directly linked to the 
intestinal system, which is limited by fermentation in the hindgut. But 
through the use of EquiMix Technology, a unique blend of yeast cultures, 
organic minerals, digestive bacteria, enzymes and yucca extract, Triple 
Crown feeds optimize intestinal function by aiding digestion and 
fermentation."

It also goes on to say concerning the Yucca extract -

" It also functions to decrease ammonia levels in the horse's system. 
Research has linked elevated ammonia levels to poor performance, tissue 
irritation, intestinal problems, immune deficiencies, and respiratory 
ailments."

BTW about 6 months ago I raised the question of feeds companies ( it was 
a different company, not Triple Crown but I can't remember which feed it 
was right now) using supplements in their feeds in which taken to the 
fullest "letter of the drug rule" and using very sophisticated testing 
methods might get a rider entangled in a mess by feeding commercial 
feeds which had very minute traces of substance that might be there for 
very legitimate reasons but technically be against the AERC drug rule. 
It's been 10 years since the drug rule was formulated and technology has 
come a long way since then - maybe it's time to relook and update the 
drug rule.

I asked Dr. Adams if in his opinion feeding this feed would be in 
violation of the AERC drug policy.  He knows endurance and what the AERC 
drug rule says. He told me he didn't see how any reasonable person could 
make the stretch that additives (such as EquiMix) in commercial feeds 
were in violation of any rules in any equestrian sport. He also said 
that he doubted very seriously if it would show up in testing.

It is, however, an interesting question.

Truman



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