Purina Animal Nutrition announces a new product line formulated to support gastric health in horses. OutlastGastric Support Supplement, Race Ready GT and Ultium Gastric Care horse feeds are now available at participating retailers.

Research shows up to 90 percent of active horses experience gastric discomfort, affecting health, attitude and performance.1 Purina’s Gastric Support products contain a proprietary seaweed-derived blend of natural and bio-available calcium and magnesium in a unique honeycomb structure that allows for a greater buffering capacity to support gastric health and proper pH.

“Horses evolved as grazing animals, designed to consume forages 18 to 20 hours a day. To support this grazing behavior, the horse’s stomach consistently secretes stomach acid, which is naturally buffered by bicarbonates in saliva, and is produced as the horse chews,” explains Robert Jacobs, PhD, research equine nutritionist at Purina Animal Nutrition. “In modern management practices, however, horses spend more time confined and eat distinct meals, leading to less chewing, less saliva and less buffering of acid in the stomach.”

In a fasting state, a horse’s stomach maintains an acidic pH of 2. In-vitro and in-vivo research trials demonstrated OutlastSupplement to quickly and effectively buffer natural and simulated gastric environments to a physiologically normal pH of 6.

“We’ve done a significant amount of lab work at the Purina Animal Nutrition Center, as well as in multiple university trials to better understand how Outlast buffers the equine stomach,” says Jacobs. “Compared to some of the competitive products on the market, Outlast Supplement acts more quickly, lasts longer2 and has a significantly higher buffering ability3.”

In field trials around the country and research trials at the Purina Animal Nutrition Research Farm, more than 200 horses consumed more than 95,000 feedings of Outlast Supplement. Purina ambassadors competing and training across all disciplines were among those participating in field trials.

“Our ambassadors and field trial participants have reported improved body condition and appetites, as well as better overall attitude and more relaxed horses when supplemented with Outlast Supplement,” says Mary Beth Gordon, PhD, director of equine research and new product development at Purina Animal Nutrition. “Additionally, horses notorious for girthiness and grinding teeth showed improvement, even in stressful situations.”

Designed for flexible use, Outlast Supplement can be fed as a snack or top dressed on a daily ration. Ultium Gastric Care and Race Ready GT horse feeds both contain full rations of Outlast Supplement when fed as directed. Additionally, Ultium Gastric Care and Race Ready GT are formulated with optimal fuel sources and a proprietary yeast-derived beta glucan to best support the unique needs and immune function of the equine athlete.

Purina Outlast Supplement, Ultium Gastric Care and Race Ready GT are all part of Purina’s new gastric health program to help horse owners recognize and manage gastric discomfort in their horses. For more information about OutlastSupplement and other feedsand the Purina Equine Gastric Health Program, visit www.FeedOutlast.com.

Three abstracts regarding research on Outlast Gastric Support Supplement were accepted to the Equine Science Society Symposium for 2017 and will be published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science.

Purina Animal Nutrition LLC (www.purinamills.com) is a national organization serving producers, animal owners and their families through more than 4,700 local cooperatives, independent dealers and other large retailers throughout the United States. Driven to unlock the greatest potential in every animal, the company is an industry-leading innovator offering a valued portfolio of complete feeds, supplements, premixes, ingredients and specialty technologies for the livestock and lifestyle animal markets. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC is headquartered in Shoreview, Minnesota, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Land O’Lakes, Inc.

1. Murray, M.J.; Schusser, G.F.; Pipers, F.S., et al., 1996. Factors associated with gastric lesions in Thoroughbred race horses. Equine Vet J 28, 368-374.

2. Gordon, M.E.; Vineyard, K.R.; Andrews, F. HR 212. 2016. LSU titration study (Published in abstract form in the 2017 Equine Science Society Proceedings as: The effect of a natural-source mineral supplement on gastric juice pH in horses.)

3. Jacobs, R.D.; Gordon, M.E. HR 246. 2016. Purina Outlast pH comparison.