Compositions for treating and preventing laminitis, founder and overeating in an ungulate

Abstract

The present invention relates to the production and use of feed compositions useful in the treatment and prevention of laminitis, founder and overeating, particularly in horses and ponies. The feed composition may reduce the effects of carbohydrate overload whilst providing a controlled release of metabolizable energy to avoid excessive fermentation and lactic acid production in the hind gut. At the same time the feed composition can provide nutrition to the animal whilst avoiding overeating. The combination of controlled bulk and energy provides for a feed composition that can control the symptoms of excess energy sources in the gut which may manifest as laminitis and founder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A feed composition comprising
 (a) a graminaceous component in an amount of about 41-60.5% of the feed composition; and   (b) one or more carbohydrate sources selected from the group consisting of oats, alfalfa, molasses, young hay (without seeds), wheat grains and seeds.   
     
     
         2 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component is a sugar cane selected from the group consisting of  Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum barberi, Saccharum sinense,  and  Saccharum edule.    
     
     
         3 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component has a glycemic index of less than about 69. 
     
     
         4 . The feed composition of  claim 2 , wherein the graminaceous component comprises the top of a sugar cane plant excluding the stalk. 
     
     
         5 . The feed composition of  claim 2 , wherein the graminaceous component comprises sugar cane stalks. 
     
     
         6 . The feed composition of  claim 2 , wherein the sugar cane is mulched and desiccated, in varying lengths in the range of approximately 2 to 8 cm. 
     
     
         7 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the graminaceous component and/or the carbohydrate source is cut to varying lengths such that chewing is promoted. 
     
     
         8 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein soluble carbohydrates in the graminaceous component are removed. 
     
     
         9 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the energy density of the feed composition is less than about 10 MJ/kg. 
     
     
         10 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the carbohydrate source consists of alfalfa. 
     
     
         11 . The feed composition of  claim 1 , wherein the feed composition is for an ungulate. 
     
     
         12 . The feed composition of  claim 11 , wherein the ungulate is a horse or pony that is a member of the Genus  Equus.    
     
     
         13 . The feed composition of  claim 11 , wherein the horse or pony is of the species  Equus ferus caballus,  or  Equus africanus asinus,  or a hybrid offspring of these species. 
     
     
         14 . The feed composition of  claim 11 , wherein the feed composition is capable of treating laminitis or founder in the ungulate. 
     
     
         15 . The feed composition of  claim 14 , wherein the feed composition treats laminitis or founder in the ungulate when the feed composition provides greater than 50% of the nutrition for the ungulate. 
     
     
         16 . The feed composition of  claim 14 , wherein the feed composition treats laminitis or founder in the ungulate when the feed composition is an only source of nutrition for the ungulate. 
     
     
         17 . The feed composition of  claim 14 , wherein the ungulate is a horse or a pony. 
     
     
         18 . The feed composition of  claim 15 , wherein the ungulate is a horse or a pony. 
     
     
         19 . A feed composition comprising
 (a) a graminaceous component in an amount of about 41-60.5% of the feed composition; and   (b) one or more carbohydrate sources selected from the group consisting of oats, alfalfa, molasses, young hay (without seeds), wheat grains and seeds,   wherein the graminaceous component is a sugar cane selected from the group consisting of  Saccharum spontaneum, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum barberi, Saccharum sinense,  and  Saccharum edule,  and   wherein the graminaceous component has a glycemic index of less than about 69.   
     
     
         20 . The feed composition of  claim 19 , wherein the energy density of the feed composition is less than about 10 MJ/kg.