From: rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca (Ruth Vale)
Subject: Re: Feeding old horses
Organization: University of Waterloo
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 15:33:31 GMT

In article <9492@vtserf.cc.vt.edu> dabay@morse.cns.vt.edu (Marian Dabay) writes:
>>I am not connected to the B.T. Crump, but I've obtained the test results and
>>spoken with the vet at the lab where the product was developed.  I can
>>forward or post those results if people want them.
>              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>Ruth,
>
>Please do.  I have an 8 year old mare who is so skinny, I can't stand it.
>I've had the vet out several times and she's done blood work, and she
>says that the mare is perfectly healthy.  I've tried several different
>things to put weight on her, but have had no success.  I read about
>Ration Plus in one of the horse magazines, and was very interested.
>From you post, it sounds as if this might be something good to try.
>
>Thanks,
>Marian Dabay
>

In Message-ID: <1drk9rINNrcs@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>,
pallas@cephalo.neusc.bcm.tmc.edu (Sarah Pallas) writes

>This stuff sounds like a miracle!  Can you tell us what is in it?
>Maybe some L-tryptophan to get the behavioral changes you mention?
>Does it have anything that might be forbidden by drug rules?  Somebody
>mentioned tryptophan a while back, but I can't remember the verdict.

-Sarah Pallas

The product is not L-tryptophan as far as I can tell from the information
produced to me:

From the bottle label:

Ration Plus is "a source of non-viable microbial fermentation
byproducts...derived by culturing Lactobacillus acidophilus in a
nutrient media.

Dosage is 6ml per horse per day and 2 ml per pony per day.  The
drops can be scattered in hay or grain.

Ingredients are:  Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product,
calcium proprionate.  Preservatives are sodium benzoate and
phospheric acid.

Analysis: Minimum Crude Protein 5.0%
          Minimum Crude Fat      .5%
          Minimum Crude Fiber   1.3%
          Minimum Ash           5.0%
          Dry matter           22.8%

**************************************************************

Promotion literature reads (in part):

Ration Plus is a unique biotech feed supplement that helps
restore a horse's digestive system to natural healthy functioning
by nourishing the metabolic and reproductive activities of the
microorganisms that live in the intestinal walls....For a variety
of reasons reacting to stress, illness or treatment with
antibiotics, these normal microbial activities may be attenuated. 
As a result horses can suffer weight loss, digestive upsets,
changes in haircoat and hooves, etc.  

Ration Plus provides the necessary nutrients to boost these
crucial microbial activities back to peak levels.  It has been
found especially beneficial for hard keepers and animals stressed
by injuries, travel, competition and breeding programs.  Typical
results are: increased appetite, weight gains for underweight
horses and hard keepers, reduced incidence of digestive disorders
such as gas and diarrhoea, improvements in haircoat and hooves,
increased stamina, increased digestive efficiency as indicated by
less undigested food in manure.

Ration Plus is manufactured by Cytozyme Laboratories, which has
earned an international reputation for improving agricultural and
livestock production through microbial technology.  Ration Plus
is produced in a multi-stage fermentation process using
microorganisms found in the equine digestive system.  The final
product, however, does not contain live microbes or hormones. 
Since it is drug-free, it can be fed to competing horses.  It is
compatible with standard feeds and vitamin/mineral supplements.

************************************************************
The product sheet includes reports from:

Clay Cannon, D.V.M. Salt Lake City, Utah.
Assoc. Regional and University pathologists Inc. 
Salt Lake City, Utah. (4 horses)

Robert N. Ballinger D.V.M.,
Palo Duro Veterinary Services (with Cytozyme Laboratories)
Canyon Texas (67 mustangs at Agri Research Center 1988)

Dr. Gabriss Krisztina
Bablona Stud
Bablona, Hungary (28 horses)

Cytozyme Laboratories, Inc.
Salt Lake City, Utah
(U.S. field trials involving 800 horses) 

I have additional reports from the lab which include the study on
the mustangs by Ballinger and Cytozyme, observations from an 11
week trial on 8 horses at Better-Track Riding Centre, Spalding,
Lincolnshire, England and observations from 75 horse owners
selected "to determine the effects of Ration Plus for Horses
within a 30 day period of supplementation".

********************************************************

The vet at Cytozyme Labs said in a telephone conversation that
users of this product should be able to see a distinct difference
in the animal in about 10-14 days.  Which is why the distributor
is using samples suitable to that time period to convince people. 
Sales efforts are being directed at owners of older horses and
hard keepers as well as endurance riders acc. to the
advertisements in seen in Practical Horseman.  They don't have a
Cdn. distributor at last conversation with them.

In my experience, unlike some other supplements, if you run out
or stop feeding the product, you continue to see the effects for
about two weeks before there is some diminishment in the
qualities enhanced by the product but things don't seem to go
back to its original lower level.  However, I'm not planning on
stopping feeding for a while.  It works.  I'll take it.

Order from B.T. Crump - 1-800-BT-CRUMP, 
1215 E. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23219
(804)649-3601
Fax: (804)344-5459

Again, I am not involved with these companies other than as a
satisfied buyer.  Perhaps some of you Chem. people can tells us
more about precisely how it works from this information.

Ruth


-- 
=============================================================================
  I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am
    not sure you realize that what you understand is not what I meant.
=========================== rmvale@watnow.uwaterloo.ca ======================
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