Re: RC: FYI

[CMKSAGEHIL@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/26/00 8:19:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Tivers@aol.com 
writes:

<< So, the duration of fat loading doesn't have to stretch out to 6 
 weeks or even to 3 months. >>

The only reason (or the main reason) for "stretching out" the introduction of 
fat in the horse (wouldn't really call that "loading") is anatomical, not 
metabolic--with no gall bladder, the horse does not store the bile to digest 
the fat, hence can only utilize small portions at a time, and needs some 
acclimatization just to get the liver to produce a bit more bile all the time 
so that the fat can even be digested and absorbed.  Doesn't do much good (and 
in fact, likely does harm) if all it does is scoot out the back end and take 
more "good stuff" with it either attached to the fat or in the subsequent 
diarrhea if one goes too far overboard.  Saw a lot of that in the early days 
when a few folks thought that if some is good, a lot is better, and dumped it 
in all at once...  

Heidi