Diet and enteroliths
Duncan Fletcher (dfletche@gte.net)
Tue, 26 Nov 1996 18:58:22 -0800
Just found an article on alfalfa relating to this subject (while I was
searching for an article of hoof angles can't locate it - argh). It was in
American Association of Breeders of Peruvian Paso Horses but excerpted from
an article elsewhere written by Jan F. Roser, Ph.D., Department of Animal
Science, UC Davis. "Enteroliths are hard, solid objects, composed of
ammonia magnesium phosphate and found in the small or large intestine of
horses.....Because enteroliths have been found with greatest frequency in
the Western states in horses fed alfalfa, it is thought the high magnesium
content of alfalfa contributes to the formation of these so called GI
'stones'. However, a direct link between alfalfa and the formation of
enteroliths needs further investigation."
Magnesium content of common horse foods from Nutrient Requirement of Horses
(1989), National Research Council, Table 6-1a.
Alfalfa hay (midboom): 0.35%
Timothy hay (midbloom): 0.13%
Oat hay: 0.29%
Barley (grain): 0.15%
Bermuda grass hay (29-42 days growth): 0.21%
Oats (grain): 0.16%
Wheat bran: 0.63%
Rice bran with germ: 0.97%
This might explain the negative comments regarding bran and enteroliths.
I should add that none of these numbers are meaningful in themselves. It
is in the context of the overall diet that they become useful. I.e., small
quantities of anything (excepting poisons) don't effect the overall diet.
The sum of a lot of small things may be significant.
Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net