The importance of colostrum for newborn calves is well-recognized. Colostrum, the first milk produced by the cow at calving, offers a rich source of energy, nutrients, immune cells and antibodies. These antibodies are especially important since newborn calves lack disease protection, as antibodies do not pass through the cow’s placenta to the calf’s circulatory system. The antibodies in the cow’s colostrum will provide her calf with initial disease protection.

The immunity acquired during the first few days of life is particularly important for calf health and survival. Studies on calf death loss have shown that 4–12% of calves are either stillborn or die within the first 24 hours after birth. While there are many risk factors during this time that may lead to calf mortality, early nutrition and colostrum management are key influences.

What are immunoglobulins?

For the first three to five weeks of a calf’s life, the passive immunity received from the absorption of immunoglobulins in colostrum provides substantial protection to help the calf fight off infections, illness and diseases. Immunoglobulins are large protein molecules that function as antibodies and that are produced by plasma or white blood cells. They serve an important purpose in immune response by fighting off bacteria, viruses and other harmful invaders. There are different classes of immunoglobulins that each have specific functions, biological features, targets and structures. The primary (80–85%) colostral antibodies are immunoglobulin G (IgG), followed by immunoglobulin A (IgA, at 8–10%) and immunoglobulin M (IgM, at 5–12%).

The major factors that will influence newborn calf colostral immunoglobulin absorption are:

1. The age of the calf when it receives its first feeding of colostrum.

2. The number of immunoglobulins made available to the calf.

Colostrum absorption is maximized and at its most efficient shortly after birth, beginning to decline steadily as time passes, with very minimal absorption occurring 20 hours post-calving. However, in some calves, this closure of the gut can occur as early as 12 hours postpartum. Despite the length of time to gut closure, immunoglobulin transfer across the gut epithelium is most efficient in the first four hours postpartum and begins to decline rapidly after 12 hours postpartum. By 24 hours, it is estimated that only 10% of immunoglobulins are absorbed. Therefore, it is important to get that essential colostrum into the calf as soon as possible.

While these large proteins can be transferred through the gut prior to closure, so too can bacteria and large particles that may be harmful if ingested. This is yet another reason why it is so important to calve on clean, dry ground.

The number of immunoglobulins presented to the newborn calf is dependent on the volume of colostrum available and the immunoglobulin concentration of that colostrum. The quality of the colostrum can be affected by the dam’s age, health and nutrition status. Cows that are older — i.e., in at least their third lactation — typically have a higher volume of colostrum that is better-quality compared to the colostrum of a younger cow or first-calf heifer. While there are tools that can be used to measure colostrum quality, typically, good indicators of high-quality colostrum include a tan or yellow color and very thick, creamy consistency.

Nutritional status of the dam

The dam’s nutritional status can greatly impact the colostrum available to the calf. Colostrum and immunoglobulins start to form 5–6 weeks prior to calving. A Virginia Tech study has shown that colostrum volume and calf absorption of IgG were lower in nutrient-restricted cows compared to cows fed to their requirements, even though the IgG concentrations did not change. A study in sheep found that nutrient restriction from mid- to late pregnancy in ewe lambs altered colostrum quality and quantity. The dam’s nutrition prior to calving can greatly impact the amount of colostrum produced and the absorption of immunoglobulins, which may lead to scours and higher mortality rates if inadequate. Bio-Mos® 2 has been shown to support gut integrity and colostrum quality, thereby promoting overall performance. This product should be fed two months prior to calving for optimal results.

Failure of passive transfer

A frequent problem during calving season is failure of passive transfer (FPT), which occurs when a newborn calf does not receive the necessary colostrum. This can occur if cows were in a nutrient deficit and did not produce quality colostrum, or, in cases of dystocia, weak calves, temperature stress or the dam not taking care of her new calf, all of which can prevent the newborn calf from nursing. These factors may prevent the calf from not only getting essential nutrients from colostrum but also from getting the required antibodies. FPT can result in significant economic losses through increased calf illness and death. If a calf has not nursed or is at a high risk for not nursing within the first couple of hours, it may be best to intervene and provide it with colostrum.

The ideal method for a calf to receive colostrum is from its own dam. If possible, use a chute to restrain the cow in order to allow the calf to nurse. If the calf does not want to suckle, the cow could be milked out and a tube feeder can be used to get colostrum into the calf. A newborn calf should be fed about two quarts of colostrum within four to six hours post-birth and again within four to six hours from the original feeding. Colostrum should be collected within 24 hours of calving. If collecting from the cow is not possible, colostrum replacers or supplements can be used. In these situations, consult a veterinarian for assistance in selecting the best option.

Remember, the first meal is the most important meal of a calf’s life and plays an instrumental role in calf immune system development. It is vital to ensure that each calf receives rich, nutritious colostrum in order to set them on a path to successful performance.

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What lies ahead for the agriculture industry, and how will technology play an instrumental role in influencing future production? As part of the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience, Robert Walker, Alltech’s European growth officer, was joined by Patrick Walsh, founder and CEO of tech entrepreneur community Dogpatch Labs, and Nicky Deasy, managing partner of global agrifood tech accelerator The Yield Lab, to learn more.

The Alltech 2020 ag-tech insights report, developed by Dogpatch, examined more than 1,600 startups across 35 different sectors. Included below are some of the key takeaways:

1. Early-stage funding is up significantly:

There has been a doubling of early-stage funding over the past 12 months, but mid- to late-stage funding remains fairly stagnant. New ag-tech funds are on the rise, with about $500 million more available in funding for this sector.

2. Year-over-year (YOY) tech funding growth:

YOY tech funding growth has been very strong, hitting $3.6 billion this year. We’ve witnessed 40% growth in this segment annually since 2017. The top five startups in 2019 — Impossible ($300 million), Ginkgo Bioworks ($290 million), Farmers Business Network ($175 million), Perfect Day ($140 million) and Ynsect ($124 million) — account for almost one-third of all funding (worth as much as all ag-tech funding in 2016). Three categories captured half of all ag-tech investments in 2019: alternative protein, supply chain/marketplace and indoor farming.

3. The next trend in early-stage ag-tech deals:

The highest number of early-stage startups were in the livestock sector. We can expect that a lot of these small early bets will become significant businesses in the near future. Within livestock, aquaculture startups are where the money is flowing, receiving four times as much investment ($162.73 million) over the next species (dairy, at $37.33 million).

4. The ag-tech industry is still underinvested:

Despite seeing a fourfold investment since 2014, ag-tech remains one of the most underinvested subsectors in the global startup ecosystem, with $3.6 billion in 2019, compared to WeWork’s total funding of $22.5 billion and SoftBank’s Vision Fund at $100 billion.

Walsh offered his insights: “The universe of ag-tech startups continues to grow, with more money flowing into more countries — and more startups in more countries — than ever before,” he said. “In 2019, alternative protein was the destination of most of that VC (venture capital) money. Almost one in every four dollars, I think, went into an alternative protein company, whether that was plant-based, insect-based or cell-based. And as investors get more aggressive in that space, the deal sizes are getting bigger than we've ever seen [before] in agri-food tech.

“Impossible Foods did a $500 million deal,” he continued. “I think they’ve raised over $1 billion in funding now, making them worth maybe $2–3 billion. We saw an insect protein company raise, I think, a total of $172 billion, but what excites us more is what's happening at the super early stage. And what's really interesting to me is that there have been twice as many early-stage investments (the number of deals made in 2019) than in the previous year.

“So, what that means is, there are a lot more people looking at startups in different industries, in different parts of ag, and taking a small bet,” said Walsh. “And where are those bets being made? Well, most of them (are) in livestock (like) dairy, and some in aquaculture as well. And that's because, I think, you're starting to see a lot of technologies moving on an exponential trend and getting more cost-effective and more powerful, in terms of capabilities, and starting to hit the right stage and opening up new possibilities.”

Deasy went on to share what she has been seeing in the VC landscape at present: “Well, I suppose our figures, indeed, echo those,” she said. “The data from last year indicated that seed-stage funding in Europe was up 70% in ag-tech over the previous year. We would expect that trend to actually accelerate over the coming years. We now have the EU farm-to-fork strategy coming in, which is going to [offer] a pricing incentive for companies — ag-tech companies with sustainable technology — to improve the footprint of the industry.

“So, all of that is driving a very, very vibrant ecosystem in the European early-stage ag-tech landscape,” Deasy continued. “When we started investing in 2017, most investors had never heard of ag-tech, which is quite extraordinary when you consider that the underlying industry — the ag and food industry, globally — is worth about $8 trillion per year in terms of the value of its output.

“This sector is still very much in its infancy because the underlying industries that it's trying to support are huge, and there's much opportunity to improve how we do things,” she concluded. “Technology will help drive a better, stronger and more profitable industry for all of its participants, including primary producers.”

How can we expect the recession to impact ag-tech startups?

1. Public market crisis lag:

Venture capital investments tend to follow downturns of public markets with around a 6-month delay. Deals in the pipeline are typically being finalized, but no new ones are being made.

2. CVC slowdown:

Expect ag-tech corporate venture capitalists (CVC), such as Syngenta Ventures, Tyson Ventures and Nutreco NuFrontiers, to pull back earlier and more sharply.

3. Early-stage investment advantage:

Early-stage investments are usually the least affected because they don’t depend on revenue and can easily pivot. Venture capitalists are more likely to invest in them, as early-stage startups are taking advantage of the new economic situation.

4. An increase in entrepreneurs:

More than 50 tech unicorns, such as Uber, WhatsApp and MailChimp, were founded during the 2007–2009 recession, and half of all Fortune 500 companies — think IBM, Microsoft, Disney and even Alltech — were created during a recession or bear market. Startups created this year could be unicorns in the next five to 10 years.

The impact of COVID-19

COVID-19 will drive automation startups that sell more products designed to solve problems associated with lack of labor and social distancing. E-commerce and supply chains will become less of a perk and more of a necessity. We will see cost-savings startups that can help businesses stay alive through their services.

We will also witness supply chain acceleration and automation innovation. Governments that used to slow down approvals are now pushing companies for faster innovation.

Walsh shared his take on the effect of COVID-19: “One of the things we did is we reached out to the startups that were in the Pearse Lyons Accelerator [now the Pearse Lyons Cultivator],” he said. “We had 22 startups over three years, and they've gone on, since leaving the accelerator, to raise $65 million or so. Because many of them were in the middle of a growth phase, (they) were doing larger funding rounds.

“It was clear that, when COVID hit, conversations stalled,” Walsh continued. “Valuations of their companies started to get re-examined and repriced. And a lot of investors (were) saying, ‘Well, we're still open for business,’ but, in reality, they were much more focused on protecting their existing investments rather than making new (ones).

“But as we've moved through this crisis now, we're starting to see that the money is — for the most part — flowing, and startups are really getting demand in different ways,” he said. “A lot of the time, a startup's proposition was focused on saving costs or increasing revenue. The pitch decks have started to change a lot more (now) to say, ‘We can make you and your food safer.’

“Startups are nimble,” Walsh concluded. “They can adapt fast to this new paradigm. And they can deliver on the new needs of the industry pretty quickly. I would feel pretty confident (saying) that COVID will actually drive innovation. After an initial shock and a sense of uncertainty about what's going to happen in the short term, you’re going to see more innovation flowing now as we go into next year.”

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Consumers are asking more questions about the meals on their tables: Where is my food grown? How is it grown? Is it sustainable? Is it environmentally friendly? This shift in consumer preference is changing the way that corporations work, because now, sustainability must become a permanent line item in their business plans. Not only is sustainably produced food becoming a non-negotiable for consumers and businesses, it also happens to be a solution to feeding the world.

At the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience, Ciarán Black, owner of Nuevo Growth, hosted a discussion with Ryan Rakestraw, director at Temasek International, and Claudia Roessler, director of agriculture for Microsoft, to further discuss how to sustainably produce more food. The consensus? Via sustainable agriculture technologies. There are many forms of ag-tech — from technologies that help with the efficiency of how food is produced to technologies that create sustainable packaging and even technologies that can reduce food waste.

“Now, ag-tech is making substantial progress. It’s one of the fastest growing areas, but it still remains one of the most under-invested subsectors in the global startup ecosystem,” said Black. So, if ag-tech is a solution, what needs to be done to hasten its road to success? Black proposed three methods:

1. Encouraging investments in ag-tech
2. Identifying sustainable agriculture technologies
3. Stressing the urgency around a sustainable food supply

Investments: How can we make sustainable ag-tech more attractive to investors?

As awareness of sustainability grows, investors are taking notice. Rakestraw says there is a strong drive for sustainability today amongst most groups, including:

• Consumers. Consumers want to know the environmental impact of their purchases, and this influences a majority of their buying decisions.
• Businesses. Businesses are appointing directors with a sustainability agenda because consumers will continue to demand it.
• Farmers. In fact, Rakestraw says that most farmers are already environmental stewards.

“They’re looking after their land, they’re thinking about passing the farm on to the next generation, so this is something that they’re certainly thinking about and interested in,” he said. “I just don’t think they’ve had a good way to act on this.”

Because sustainability is, historically, an interest of farmers, is currently an interest of consumers and is now an interest of businesses, investors are primarily focused on companies that have implemented sustainability methods.

“The question is, if you don’t have some type of sustainability agenda or the ability to influence sustainability in your product or service, will you even continue to exist?” asked Rakestraw.

So, how can we ensure that we will continue to drive this sustainability agenda — especially when farmers, according to Roessler, are notoriously “late bloomers” when it comes to digital trends and advancements? There are many sustainable deliverables farmers need to achieve, including:

• Growing more while using fewer resources
• Tracking and measuring their sustainable footprint
• Telling consumers how their food was produced and where it’s coming from

Farmers need digital and data-related innovations on their farms in order to meet these deliverables, and luckily, as Roessler noted, “the amounts that are being invested in the ag-tech industry are increasing over the last couple of years.”

Investments are imperative for startups, universities and research organizations that have the goal of developing sustainable, environmental and agricultural practices.

“This is from anything like detecting pest stress or disease stress on a farm in a certain region to smart irrigation in another region,” said Roessler. “So, we want to help harness this ecosystem.”

It’s about more than just investing, though, and Roessler uses Microsoft’s startup programs as an example: They not only help invest but also help adjust the footprint, monitor sustainability goals, develop the process, market the products and deliver them to the buyer. Investors need to nurture startups to stimulate success. With this nurturing comes the speed that is necessary to “drive innovation at the speed that’s needed to address all those environmental changes.”

Identification: Where are the applications that can help agriculture create a Planet of Plenty?

Now that sustainability is on investors’ radars, it comes down to identifying sustainable ag-tech startups. Which startups should we be looking into? According to Roessler, we need to be looking at technology that increases productivity by growing more food that uses:

• Less energy
• Less land
• Less water

This is especially important because productivity has one of the biggest impacts on the environment.

“Think about if you could use 1.5 billion (fewer) acres of land in agriculture,” said Roessler. “This would be a significant purpose to what’s in our environmental goals.”

Another area to identify is risk prevention. Ag-tech that can monitor farms and the environment prevents incidents that lead to:

• Food safety issues
• Food waste
• Disease
• Abnormalities

Overall, Roessler stresses that it’s critical to address these issues before they arise, which will ultimately improve our whole food production process.

“I think that’s really the ultimate goal, which we need to enable now,” stressed Roessler.

Black then expanded on these points by reiterating the importance of identifying ag-tech that mitigates risk and creates a link to help the consumer understand sustainability within the supply chain.

But it doesn’t just stop at risk detection; Rakestraw listed several additional technologies that warrant investments, including:

• Gene editing and precision breeding systems for crops and livestock
• Insights around the microbiome and the use of synthetic biology tools
• Sustainable packaging of food products, using less packaging or biodegradable materials while still maintaining the safety and shelf life of the product

Rakestraw specifically highlighted the importance of ag-tech that reduces food waste, “whether that’s new coating technologies, optimized logistics or predictive analytics associated with matching supply and demand.”

Urgency: Will we embrace ag-tech quickly enough?

The growing population and increased environmental education add a sense of urgency to identifying sustainable ag-tech to invest in.

“So, we know that agriculture is becoming more sustainable, but just not fast enough,” said Black. “Is there anything we can do to increase the pace of that change? How do we go about doing that?”

Rakestraw listed three possible solutions:

• Industry collaboration — and not just within animal health and nutrition, but across industry segments. Through this collaboration, we will be able to educate consumers through quantifying and showcasing benefits.
• Public and private partnerships with government and industry to define standards, quantify metrics and regulate the messaging to convey to the consumer.
• Be bold and take some risks with moonshot goals associated with sustainability.

“I think the onus is on not only us as investors but (as an) industry to find these technologies that could have a significant impact and support them and help them come to life in this 10-year, 20-year, 30-year time period,” explained Rakestraw.

Digital technologies can increase the collaboration between startups, corporations and government. Will fast-paced industry collaborations lead us into a more sustainable future?

Roessler says yes, but not by itself. We need to build programs that are sustainable for many years — not just short-term initiatives. The societal impact of agriculture requires creating infrastructures like internet connectivity for rural farms and fostering talent in agriculture that can work with technology in the future.

While speed is important, Roessler says that longevity is also key. We need innovations quickly, but we also need to look at how technology evolves and stays current.

“This is really (something) we’re in for the long run, and I think that’s really what’s needed to drive a systemic change in the industry,” said Roessler.

Final thoughts

By attracting investors, identifying technologies and urging quick action, we can anticipate a strong push in sustainable ag-tech for our futures. With the population growing rapidly, the industry has a collective duty to ensure food for the masses, and nurturing farms through new technologies can make this happen. Because, as Black stated at the beginning of his discussion, “Agriculture has the potential to provide solutions, both to feeding the planet and combating climate change — but we must do both.”

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An international research team at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom has established a link between the outcome of COVID-19 cases and the regional selenium status of people in China. The data was based on the real-time numbers of confirmed cases, recovery rates and mortality rates in each province or city. When analyzing these populations, researchers observed an association between the population’s selenium status (based on hair samples) and the rates of recovery (Figure 1).

In the Hubei province, whose capital is Wuhan, it was found that Enshi City had recovery rates that were 36.4% higher than other cities within the region, where the overall recovery rate was 13.1%. Enshi City is known for its high selenium status. Outside of Hubei, in the Heilongjian province of north-eastern China, where the selenium status is notoriously low, a 2.4% increase in mortality rates was observed.

China is home to people with both the lowest and highest selenium statuses in the world. Geographical differences across the country result in varied soil compositions, which can alter selenium levels. It is these differences in soil selenium levels that influence how much of the trace mineral enters the food chain from livestock feed, meat, milk and eggs, and the end consumer. Therefore, human selenium intake is very much dependent on the environment in which the crops, plants and livestock are raised.

Figure 1: Correlation between COVID-19 recovery rate in 17 cities outside Hubei, China, on February 18, 2020, and city population selenium status (hair selenium concentration) analyzed using statistical methods (mean ± SD = 35.5 ± 11.1, R2 = 0.72, F test P < 0.0001) Copyright ^© Rayman et al., on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition, 2020.

Selenium and its role in immune defense

Selenium is an essential trace element for both humans and animals and is required in small amounts for normal health, growth, reproduction and immune defense. It also provides a source of antioxidants, which help to address diseases related to oxidative stress.

Previous studies have shown the antiviral effects of selenium and have linked the evolution and spread of viral infectious diseases, such as swine flu and bird flu, to areas where soil selenium levels are lower (Harthill, 2011). Other studies have observed more severe viral symptoms and infection rates when dietary selenium is low (Beck et al., 2001).

Viruses produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as part of their biological makeup. These ROS are believed to be combated by glutathione peroxidase, an important antioxidant for cellular defense in which selenium plays a major role. As such, it is believed that several cellular and viral mechanisms involving selenium and selenium-containing proteins can influence the outcome of viral infections.

Selenium and functional food: What do these findings mean for human health?

It is important that we consume a well-balanced diet that incorporates adequate amounts of selenium to maintain our antioxidant capacity and immune defense. According to U.S. standards, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for selenium in humans is 55 micrograms a day.

Dietary sources of selenium include nuts, grains and vegetables, with Brazil nuts being the richest source of selenium. However, their content is highly variable and can range from 0.03 to 512 micrograms, the latter level being potentially harmful. In vegetables, up to 40% of selenium can be lost through cooking.

Highly bioavailable and organic forms of selenium have kick-started a new era in the availability of selenium-enriched products. Enriched meat, milk and eggs that contain up to 35 micrograms of selenium (more than 50% of the RDA) have been successfully developed and tested using SEL-PLEX^®, Alltech’s proprietary selenium-enriched yeast (Surai et al., 2009). Livestock that are supplemented with selenium-enriched yeast show improved health, disease resistance, fertility and antioxidant capacity. Due to the high bioavailability of organic selenium-enriched yeast, the trace mineral is effectively transferred to subsequent animal products. The result is meat, milk and eggs with consistently higher selenium levels that are available to us for consumption.

As we can see from this population study, organic selenium-enriched yeast could provide a promising development in functional food for human immunity and general health.

References are available upon request.

In the wake of the global coronavirus pandemic, many people are understandably concerned about their health and are looking for ways to decrease the likelihood that they will get sick in the future. Fortunately, there are several easy steps we can all take to improve our health right now and protect ourselves from illness down the road.

Amy Goodson, a registered dietician, addressed this subject at the Alltech ONE Virtual Experience with a presentation entitled “Preexisting Conditions: Health and Immunity in a Post-COVID-19 World.” In this presentation, Amy outlined five major preexisting medical conditions that can increase everyone’s risk of disease. However, she also included easy ways to decrease your likelihood of getting sick.

“There are so many things that you can start doing today to lower your risk for any type of disease,” she said.

5 big illnesses to keep an eye on

The five primary diseases and issues that increase everyone’s risk of disease are:

• Obesity
• Heart disease
• Hypertension
• Type 2 diabetes
• Lack of exercise

“All of these things together can really put a person in that vulnerable population or at a greater risk to suffer when it comes to other diseases and health concerns,” said Amy.

Despite how overwhelming it may feel to try to take on these significant issues, Amy assured that there are reasonable and straightforward ways to gradually move toward better health.

“A lot of times, people hear, ‘Oh, you should lower your risk for heart disease or for diabetes,’ and they don't know how to do that,” she acknowledged. “We're going to dial in on some easy, practical tips and help you set an action plan so that you can move forward into the next healthy step for you.”

1. Obesity

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2016, around 650 million people were categorized as obese. Being obese can impact other aspects of human health as well, elevating a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke, insulin resistance and even some kinds of cancers.

So, how can we combat a condition that is so widespread? According to Amy, the upside is that, for most people, obesity is preventable, and weight is something that can be controlled by taking three simple but crucial steps: “Eat healthier, eat less and move more.”

Some of Amy’s recommendations for eating a healthier diet include consuming more nutrient-dense foods, eating a carbohydrate and a protein at every meal and snack and following the “80/20 rule” — that is, sticking to the health guidelines 80% of the time and splurging on higher-calorie foods or sweets 20% of the time. After all, man cannot live on vegetables alone, and even registered dieticians like Amy do not recommend trying to.

“We want you to be on an eating plan that you can really maintain throughout the rest of your life,” she said.

2. Heart disease

The WHO estimates that 17.9 million people die every year from cardiovascular disease, accounting for 31% of all deaths worldwide.

While some people have a higher risk of heart disease based on their family history, there are simple ways we can all keep our hearts healthy. One of the most important things to do, according to Amy, is to “know your numbers” — that is, your cholesterol, your triglycerides and other important measurements you can learn by visiting the doctor’s office. 

“Many people think they're healthy, and they haven't been to the doctor in years, so it's very important that you go see your physician,” said Amy.

Some other ways to improve your heart health are increasing your fiber intake, consuming more “good” unsaturated fats — like those found in olive oil, avocados and nuts — and eating less “bad” trans fats, which are often found in processed and fried foods.

3. Hypertension

In 2015, 1 in 4 men and 1 in 5 women around the world reportedly had hypertension, or high blood pressure — and even more alarmingly, less than 1 in 5 of those people had the problem under control, which explains why hypertension is one of the leading causes of premature death.

Much of the advice for mitigating the risk of obesity and heart disease also rings true for decreasing blood pressure or managing hypertension, including moving more and eating healthier foods, especially those with less sodium. As Amy reinforced, it all comes back to taking the small steps that have a big impact.

“What we want to do today is focus on or change what we can control,” she said.

Some of those changes include taking 10,000 steps every day and reducing your sodium intake, which many doctors recommend keeping under 2,300 milligrams per day.

4. Type 2 diabetes

“There are millions (of people in the world) — more than the whole population of the United States — (who) have diabetes, so this is something that concerns me,” Amy said.  

A person is diagnosed with diabetes when their blood sugar levels are too high. Type 2 diabetes results from the body’s resistance to insulin, a hormone that helps transform sugar into energy. This differs from type 1 diabetes, which is often diagnosed in childhood and is the result of the body not being able to make insulin at all.

Hundreds of millions of people have an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is associated with a host of other health problems, including damaged nerves, worsening eyesight, foot sores and kidney failure.

Much like with the other major health risks, the key to avoiding or managing type 2 diabetes is eating more healthy foods. Amy explained the importance of “shaping a healthy plate,” which should include a carbohydrate (e.g., whole grains), a protein (such as lean meats) and a fat (like avocados) at every meal, along with plenty of vegetables.

5. Lack of exercise

“We know that, globally, 1 in 4 adults do not get enough exercise,” said Amy. “We need everyone across the world to get moving more.”

Along with the obvious benefits of exercise, such as developing muscle mass and managing weight, insufficient physical activity is a key risk factor for developing non-communicable diseases, like cancer and diabetes. However, as many people know, starting an exercise routine often feels like a hurdle as tall as Mount Everest.

“If it was easy, everybody would be doing it,” said Amy, “(but) there's a lot of practical ways that you can begin to include activity in your day on a regular basis.”  

To reduce the risk of chronic disease, Amy recommended that adults exercise at a moderate intensity level for at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week. That doesn’t necessarily mean exercising for 30 minutes in one go; it could mean taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from an entrance and doing sit-ups during commercial breaks while watching TV.

For those who need more motivation to get moving, Amy pointed out that exercise has health benefits that go beyond the physical: it has been scientifically proven to elevate a person’s mood. 

“We live in a world that's stressful, and exercise is a healthy way to really relieve some of that stress and anxiety that many of us experience,” Amy said.

Taking the first step

So, what can you start doing now to decrease your risk for these illnesses and their negative side effects? For Amy, it’s all about starting small.

“I'm a big believer that small changes, made consistently, can add up to big results,” she said.  

Develop a personal action plan that will mesh with your life. Some of your first steps might include:

• Setting one or two small goals and working to make those a habit over the next month
• Going to the doctor
• Aiming to get three planned days of exercise a week

Amy also recommended finding an “accountability partner” or someone who can help motivate you to stay on track as you begin the journey to better health.

“It's hard to choose the best (food) options and exercise, but oftentimes, if you have someone to do it with you, it makes it a little bit easier,” she said.

Just like with COVID-19, protecting yourself from these five major health risks can seem daunting — but starting small can lead to significant changes in the long run.

“I just want to encourage you to take a step -- whatever that step is, and it's going to be different for everybody,” she said. “It doesn't have to be a big step. But small steps really can create healthy habits so that, in the future, you're not in that vulnerable population.”

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When growing soy, the ultimate goal is to maximize crop yield while maintaining crop and soil health in order to continue using that land for soy production or as part of a crop rotation schedule. Each step in the life cycle of the plant has its particular needs, but when focusing on the soybean flowering phase, some special care can result in greater yields when the time for harvest arrives. 

Flowering and fighting stress

The flowering phase is an integral phase for soy plants. What happens during this time and how many flowers the plant is able to produce and maintain will determine the ultimate yield of each plant. Much like humans, plants are also affected by and suffer from stress caused by external factors. A lack of rain and excessive heat are formidable enemies for soy and can severely impact the plants’ development and productivity. In order to minimize the damage that can be induced by these stressors, producers should ensure that the crop is in optimal health and is able to remain in good condition. 

Feed the plant

To improve a plant’s stamina and increase its chances of surviving and even thriving, the grower should ensure that the plant is able to receive and use the appropriate nutrients during periods of stress. Luiz Gustavo Floss, a grains consultant for Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina, notes that some practices are indispensable for improving plant development and flower retention — factors that impact profitability. 

“The plant needs to be well-nourished at the moment of flowering to form as great a number of pods as possible, resulting in an increase in production and greater grain weight,” Floss explained. 

Solutions to protect against stress

Providing nutrients and other stress-reducing substances to the plants prior to and during times of stress will help producers reduce their risks during flowering. Agronomist Vinícius Abe, an Alltech Crop Science technical manager specializing in grains, says that these compounds will allow the plant to be better prepared to resist external factors.

“These elements are fundamental for the development of the plant,” Abe explained. “Zinc is a good example of one of these essential elements. It’s an enzymatic cofactor that aids in protein synthesis and in the photosynthetic process. But there are also other important nutrients, such as copper, boron, calcium, nitrogen and potassium. These nutrients are fundamental for the proper formation of the reproductive organs, filling of the grains and productivity.”

When a plant receives the essential amount of the nutrients, these stress-reducing substances begin to work quickly to stimulate the plant so that it will reach a balanced state and have the ability to perform the necessary functions, especially in the production of amino acids and hormones. 

“When we apply an amino acid externally, we stimulate internal production so that the soy plant can pass through this phase more balanced,” said Abe. “Some stressful situations, for example, can make these functions become unregulated and will result in the plant having its productivity compromised.”   

The Alltech Crop Science solutions based on plant extracts and nutrients complexed with amino acids also have a beneficial impact on the quality of soy plants. With the demands for particular protein levels in the international market, the use of these solutions will translate directly to increased profitability for producers. 

“The improved development of the plant becomes possible when care is taken in the materials that are used, promoting improved genetic expression and productive potential, as well as decreasing the impact of stress factors on the plant,” Abe said.

Did you know?

The average soy plant will usually have between 300 to 450 flowers, but more than 80% of them are lost due to various factors that create stress in the plant. There are several steps that growers can take in order to help reduce the loss of flowers. These steps include implementing appropriate crop management techniques, like proper fertilizing, spacing, stands, irrigation and the delivery of nutrients such as calcium and boron, which will increase the probability that flowers will remain on the plant and lead to increased pod production.

Roles of certain nutrients in soy production

• Zinc: Important during the formation of chlorophyll; influences protein level.
• Copper: Involved in the ability of the plant to synthesize lignin.
• Boron: Integral to the formation of nodes and nitrogen fixation.
• Potassium: Plays a role in photosynthesis.

I want to learn more about crop science.

Getting the right start on-farm is key to optimal fish performance throughout their lifecycle. Each species of fish or shrimp requires a nutritionally balanced aquaculture feed that is tailored for each specific stage in their development. Providing nutritional solutions for the particular needs of larvae — their most critical life stage — benefits the fish during their entire lifecycle. An ideal start begins with optimal nutrition that supports the healthy development of all organs. Not meeting these nutritional requirements can potentially lead to deficiencies and deformities, such as poor growth and increased mortality, and, ultimately, result in decreased producer profitability.

Advantages of using a high-quality, nutritionally balanced aquafeed:

• Minimal nutritional deficiencies
• Optimal development and foundation for future growth
• High digestibility for optimal performance and water quality

Creating an optimal fish ecosystem

In fish farming environments, some variables can affect production, including temperature, oxygen, ammonia levels and water quality. Modern recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) give greater control over these factors. The same can be said for aquafeed production; the quality of raw materials, nutritional formulations, transportation, performance, climate and feed mill operation can all impact the performance and productivity on-farm. Fish will perform best when an optimal environment is maintained; aquafeed and aquaculture supplements play a critical role in this.

Creating an optimal environment relies heavily on water quality. It is crucial for maximum growth, health and survival throughout the production cycle. Ingredient quality and nutrient availability aids digestion and nutrient absorption and utilization, resulting in healthier fish, but also lower feces production and less pollution in the systems and the environment. Getting the foundations right as early as possible helps fish reach their maximum potential.

Maintaining water quality

Maintaining water quality is largely connected with the quality of aquafeed. Any uneaten or undigested feed that is excreted into their environment is not only wasted but also causes unnecessary pollution and additional, unnecessary stress. For this reason, the feed must be highly palatable and suitable for the correct species and their developmental stage. Not meeting these needs from the start can have adverse effects on fish health.

Recent research completed at the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre displayed the improvements in growth and performance when feeding two of Alltech Coppens’ starter feeds to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) during the hatchery phase. The results of this benchmark trial are shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Results of a starter feed benchmark trial performed in the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre.

Supporting internal defense systems

A fish’s skin, gut and gills are the primary points of interaction with the external environmental factors that can impact on their health. Both internally and externally, these organs must be protected. Included in all Alltech Coppens feed is a premix known as Aquate®. Aquate has been specially formulated to meet the specific requirements of each aquatic species and life stage. It encourages healthier and more robust populations and boosts natural defense systems, aiding gut function. The best farm results are seen when feeds containing the Aquate package are fed throughout the entire life of the fish, as this feeding strategy creates continuity in the supply of their nutritional requirements.

Advantages of sustainable aquaculture

We live in a rapidly changing environment, with pressure on nature, wild fish stocks and food security. This should not be underestimated; we have an obligation to produce sustainable, well-balanced animal protein responsibly. This is a commitment that we take very seriously in Alltech.

A key element in producing sustainable fish and seafood is the reduction of fishmeal and fish oil in feed production. When reducing these key ingredients, close attention must be paid to the nutritional balance of the feed to ensure it meets the essential nutrient and energy requirements of farmed species. The cost of aquafeed in aquaculture is the single highest operational cost for a producer in the industry. Any small change can have a significant impact on profit yield. It is necessary to look at the nutritional profile and quality of raw materials to find a balanced feed for each farm.

Innovative research in the Alltech Coppens Aqua Centre has led to lowering our carbon footprint, lowering phosphorus and nitrogen emissions and a low inclusion of fishmeal and fish oil in feed formulations with no impact on the growth and performance on-farm.

I want to learn more about aquaculture nutrition.

The rise of insulin prices over the last decade, plus the cost of pumps and syringes, has made treatment for diabetes more expensive than ever. Will a cost-effective insulin replacement ever exist? Dr. Ronan Power discusses Alltech Life Science's breakthrough in insulin pills for diabetes.

The following is an edited transcript of Tom Martin’s interview with Dr. Ronan Power. Click below to hear the full audio.

Tom:            Insulin prices have more than tripled in the last decade, and because insulin cannot be taken orally, pumps and syringes can add significantly to the cost. The result? This treatment is quickly becoming unaffordable for many diabetics, but insulin therapy is critical for most of them, and there's a search for options. One might have been found.

                     Dr. Ronan Power, vice president of Alltech's Life Sciences division, joins us to talk about something of a revolution in the treatment of diabetes. Thanks for joining us, Dr. Power.

Ronan:          Thank you, Tom.

Tom:            Tell us why, first of all, there is this need. I kind of described it in the introduction, but diabetes is a huge problem in this country, I assume.

Ronan:          Absolutely. It's a huge problem not only in the Western world, but it's becoming more and more of a problem in countries that have, if you like, found affluence in the last two to three decades and are adopting more and more of a Western-style diet and lifestyle. It's becoming a really, really big problem. I think one of the figures I saw most recently was an estimated 360 million sufferers worldwide, but that's only diagnosed cases.

                     Of the subtypes of diabetes, the two main ones, of course, people will be familiar with are Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 typically hits younger people, and that is a type of diabetes where the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin are destroyed, and that can be an autoimmune-type disease or a reaction to a virus, in some cases. The most prevalent form is Type 2, which used to be called “adult-onset diabetes,” but now, it's creeping downwards in the age group and it's hitting people as young as four years of age — even younger — and that's part of the associated obesity epidemic or pandemic that we see in the world today.

Tom:            We're seeing studies that are projecting that if these rates, these obesity rates, continue at current trends, more than half the population of almost 40 states in the United States will be obese in 2030. What are the implications of failing to stop and reverse that trend?

Ronan:          I think they're absolutely massive — and I would say 50% is a conservative estimate. If you look at the implications of obesity as they relate to diseases like diabetes, there is a condition known as metabolic syndrome that precedes the development of diabetes. This is a condition which is characterized by not just obesity, but high blood pressure, high cholesterol or dyslipidemia. That's abnormal blood profiles, high triglycerides and so on and so forth. That can predispose people to many, many diseases, particularly coronary vascular disease or cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease. That's even before you hit any diabetes threshold. Once people develop diabetes, there's a whole range of attendant problems that come with that, as people are aware of, but one of the larger problems, in my opinion, is the state of insulin resistance that begins to develop in people who tend to be overweight or have a higher-than-normal body mass.

                     Insulin resistance in itself can cause huge problems. Let me just mention an example. One of them is called PCOS, or polycystic ovary or ovarian syndrome. That's becoming a huge problem in the female population in terms of reduced fertility, inability to conceive and inability to sustain a pregnancy. That's a direct implication of insulin resistance. So, we're not just talking diabetes here; we're talking much broader, more debilitating conditions of life, if you will.

Tom:            We're here to talk about something that you're working on, which is an alternative to insulin that you have in development now. Can you tell us about this?

Ronan:          Sure. This is, I guess, the culmination of about 12 years of work in our labs here at Alltech. This started off as a plant-based or a botanical-based compound we found which was able to increase energy production in cells, or seemingly increase energy production in cells. Actually, it turned out to be that it improved energy consumption. So we've been studying this for quite some time, and we actually have made a lot of variance of this particular compound. We isolated it. We synthesized it. We made variations on a theme, as it were. Today, we have a compound, which we call Compound 43 — obviously a very imaginative name, the number 43, the variation of the compound which we developed. So, Compound 43 has got a very unique ability in being able to bind to insulin receptors and activate that receptor in the absence of insulin.

                     In effect, if you want to view the action of insulin on a cell as a lock and key mechanism, imagine that insulin is the key. It fits into a lock, which we shall call the insulin receptor. When both lock and key are working correctly and the mechanism is turned appropriately, that opens a glucose channel and allows glucose to enter the cell and be used properly.

Tom:            Let me make sure I understand up to this point. The compound that you're working on replaces that key.

Ronan:          It replaces the key. It can activate the lock even when the lock is broken, because in Type 1 diabetes, you're missing the key. In Type 2, there's something wrong with the lock mechanism; it doesn't work properly, or not at all, in some cases. But what this compound does is it binds to the insulin receptor (i.e., the lock) and can open it.

Tom:            So, it's doing the work of the insulin.

Ronan:          It's doing the work of the insulin. What we have, in effect, is an insulin replacement. It doesn't bind to the insulin receptor in the same place as insulin. It binds at different locations. Its purpose, simply, or what it does, is it brings the two arms of the insulin receptor together, and once they join together, it activates the insulin cascade inside the cell, which then allows that glucose door to open and allow glucose in.

Now, it's not a runaway reaction, by any means. It does stop, so there is a finite half-life of this compound, which we've determined to be about eight to ten hours. It doesn't crash the blood glucose. It takes it down, but it doesn't bottom it out at a dangerous level.

Tom:            Now, as I understand it, this would be administered orally as opposed to a shot.

Ronan:          Absolutely. This is our big breakthrough in the last year. When we initially tested this compound, we were using it in the traditional insulin-type way, of a subcutaneous injection, or even an IP, an intraperitoneal injection, but we've now developed a formulation which can be taken orally in tablet form, pill form, which works very well indeed. We have actually tested that in mouse models of diabetes, several different mouse models of diabetes, and it works perfectly well. The compound itself, we've also tested in human cell lines — liver, skeletal muscle, all of the major organs that are impacted by diabetes — and find that it works beautifully.

                     It can even be used in concert with insulin, in some cases, because when I describe the Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, especially for Type 2, there are various levels of it. For some people, insulin works, but not as well as it does in the normal case. That's what we term “insulin resistance.” Insulin resistance can be a graded or a gradated type of resistance. That's why some diabetics, Type 2 diabetics, still take insulin, but this can actually help insulin action, so it works in concert with insulin, in some cases. Because it doesn't share the same binding site, it can be an additive or synergistic effect.

Tom:            I'm sure that anybody who is suffering from diabetes and hears this is going to be quite excited and quite hopeful.

Ronan:          Yes.

Tom:            How should they temper that hope? How far off are you, do you believe, from going to market with this?

Ronan:          First of all, I wouldn't be sitting here if I didn't believe this was a breakthrough. I believe that we can get this out through what we call a phase-one clinical trial in humans within about three years. If it shows promise there, we hope to go right ahead and follow with phase two or three. Best-case scenario, Tom: we're probably looking at six years to market, but I think that's a fast track. That will be a fast track, but I'm hopeful that when we approach FDA with this, they may, in fact, look upon it and say, “Okay.” This type of compound is not unknown, so it has a pretty good historical safety profile.

I believe that there is an urgent need to come up with alternatives to insulin. For whatever reason, Tom, there is some egregious price gouging going on in that market, and people are dying as a result, and I'm not being overdramatic in saying that. You can look at the press, the news, a whole variety of states, and see that people are actually rationing their insulin, using less-effective forms. People have to decide between groceries and insulin, and in some cases, it costs people more than their monthly mortgage, so it's a desperate situation for something that was sold — the patent for this — a lot of people aren't aware that the patent for insulin was sold in 1923 to the University of Toronto for the princely sum of CAN$3.

Tom:            And I understand, now, that a vial of insulin can be manufactured for about $7.

Ronan:          Yes, it is, depending on the grade and the type. It can vary from a very low price like that up to — I'm not sure of the final cost, but certainly, I would guess, no more than $20 or $30, but it's selling for people without insurance — I hear horror stories of people paying $400 to $500 a vial for the material, and that's something that, when you open it, you have to refrigerate it, and it's active for 28 days. What we're looking at is a tablet or a pill, and it's stable for two to three years.

Tom:            I believe I heard you say that a dose, let's put it that way, would last eight hours or so.

Ronan:          Yes.

Tom:                          So, theoretically, a person could take two of these pills a day.

Ronan:                       Theoretically, yes. Yes. It will vary per individual. And obviously, that would have to be determined medically by a person's physician, but I would think that, under normal circumstances, two pills per day, based on our studies, our modeling so far.

Tom:                          When you think beyond FDA approval and marketing and use, Ronan, what do you see out there as the implications for how this impacts the quality of life of diabetes patients?

Ronan:                       Well, if you look upon it this way, you'll see people in public and in restaurants looking at their little glucose pumps. You know, people still, every morning, come along and take that pinprick on their finger and look at the glucose strip and so forth. So, there’s a whole lifestyle associated with living with diabetes. Probably the biggest drawback I see for people is, you know, having to use all of the paraphernalia — the syringes, the needles, the phobia about the needle itself, even though, nowadays, it's tiny. Very thin needle indeed. But there’s so much that goes along with using insulin. I mean, having to refrigerate it, which is no problem in the West, but think about countries where refrigeration is not an option. Think about Africa.

Tom:                          Oh, it can limit your mobility too.

Ronan:                       Of course. Of course it can. And you know, we've done our stability testing on this. I mean, some of the models we use are mice. And can you imagine — we can put this compound into a mouse diet, right? Into a laboratory mouse diet, and retrieve it, fully active, 1 year later. We can pull it back out. So, it's an extremely stable compound.

                                    Now, insulin is basically a protein, so it will degrade. And that's why you have to refrigerate it, and it loses potency after a very limited period indeed. I think 28 days is the expiration on it. So, there are huge benefits for something like this, and indeed, companies have been struggling to develop an oral insulin preparation for decades, but I don't think anybody has ever looked at an alternative to actually physically activating the receptor.

Tom:                          Since this compound is being designed to treat a disease, I assume it would have to be approved and marketed as a pharmaceutical.

Ronan:                       Oh, absolutely, yes.

Tom:                          And that has implications for the company.

Ronan:                       Uh-huh. Yes.

Tom:                          Tell us about the discussions around that topic, because I know it's a very complicated one.

Ronan:                       Oh, it is. It's certainly a departure for Alltech. We have always been — well, apart from our beverage division and crop science — we've been very much associated with animal feed supplements and health supplements for animals. So, our dealings with regulatory bodies have been with the European Food Safety Authority in Europe (and) the Center for Veterinary Medicine branch of the FDA here, which deals with all of the ag products, if you will. We've had little or no dealings with the FDA itself, even though we did have initial discussions with them concerning a supplement we have called AT-001 some years back. But I think that while it will be a departure, it's an exciting new horizon for the company to actually get into something. We launched Alltech Life Sciences for that very purpose probably 8 or 9 years ago, to try to transfer some of our technology and products from the animal health arena to the human health area.

Tom:                          And it does seem to complement an announcement made at (ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference) about the establishment of an Alltech foundation in partnership with UK Healthcare, which, of course, is human-oriented.

Ronan:                       Yes. Yes. I think that's an exciting prospect also. There are many, many excellent researchers and research laboratories at (the University of Kentucky), as you know. And many of those are active in the diabetes area, and I look forward very much to perhaps collaborating with them in the future. This may just be the first of many such preparations that we develop.

                                    We have other products in the pipeline, some of them related to diabetes. And as you know, we're also interested in neurodegenerative diseases. And we're also interested very much in intestinal health for humans. And by that, I mean, you know, trying to prevent this condition that is becoming quite pervasive in the U.S. and, indeed, in the West, which is sparked by what's called — I guess, rather unsavorily —  leaky gut syndrome. So, that leads, in turn, to a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and that's a condition that afflicts perhaps 20% of the adult population in the U.S., to varying degrees. So, that’s the third area: digestive health. So, neurodegenerative health, digestive health and, also, the diabetic care or, if you like, metabolic health. That will be our three areas of focus.

Tom:                          Well, I know that you’re a consummate professional, but I also have to believe that, on a personal level, that this accomplishment feels like a pretty good achievement for you.

Ronan:                       It has been a long road. I have been very, very fortunate, Tom, in having some excellent colleagues working with me, many of whom have what I call “green fingers” in the laboratory — excellent scientists. Dr. ZJ Lan is one. I have two very good ladies working in the lab, Katie Eastridge and Hayley Kincaid. I’ve got Dr. Rijin Xiao, who works on the bioinformatics side of things, all the data collation. And Ryan Goettl is a young man who’s also working on bioinformatics. We’re all held in check and held together by Ms. Jeannie Francis, who herds us wherever we need to go, but I’ve been very fortunate, and our outside collaborations have also been excellent. It’s 12 years. It seems like a long road, but it has gone in a flash. So, it has —

Tom:                          As these things have a way of doing.

Ronan:                       Indeed.

Tom:                          Well, Ronan, good luck with this. Congratulations as well. And we will be anxious to follow your progress.

Ronan:                       I look forward to updating you as we go along, Tom. Thank you very much.

Tom:                          Dr. Ronan Power, vice president of Alltech’s Life Sciences division, we thank you very much.

Dr. Ronan Power spoke at ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference (ONE). Click here to learn about ONE and how you can access innovation on demand.

Like us, our dogs are now living longer than ever, thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, nutrition and overall care. However, this longevity comes at a price, as it only increases the chances for your canine companion to develop a common form of arthritis known as degenerative joint disease (DJD) or osteoarthritis.

What is DJD and why do dogs get it?

Again, much like we humans, our pets’ joint tissues often begin to deteriorate with age. This process is commonly gradual and affects the smooth layer of cartilage known as articular cartilage that is found at the ends of bones in one or more joints. Articular cartilage plays a key role in reducing friction within joints and allowing them to move smoothly. The breakdown of this protective cushion often leads to pain, inflammation and a decreased range of motion. While any joint can be affected, DJD often compromises a dog’s lower back and limbs.

Of course, some dogs are at an increased risk for developing this ailment, including large or giant breeds, due to their general size and weight placing more mechanical stress on their joints, as well as those who compete in high-impact sports, such as agility, dock diving or flyball. Poor nutrition, conformation and genetics are other potential factors. DJD can also develop as the result of a bone or joint injury or in connection to the stress of extra weight on joints in overweight or obese dogs. This is just one more reason why it is vitally important to keep your dog at a healthy body weight at all stages of life.

What are some signs of canine osteoarthritis?

A lasting vestige of their wild origins, dogs often instinctively hide their pain until it becomes severe, as showing signs of weakness would have made their ancestors vulnerable to potential predation. An obviously lame dog may be in potentially serious pain, which could be a sign that the DJD has reached an advanced stage. It is, therefore, especially important to monitor aging canines and those with a possible predisposition for subtle early warning signs, such as:

• Stiffness — often noticeable as your dog moves from a lying to standing position
• Lethargy — you may suddenly realize that your dog is sleeping a lot more than usual
• Irritability, especially in response to being touched in certain areas
• Inability or reluctance to jump into the car or onto furniture
• Hesitance or refusal to take stairs
• Decreased interest in activities such as walks or playtime

If you suspect that your dog might be suffering from arthritic pain, schedule an exam with your vet in order to obtain a definitive diagnosis and to formulate a plan for treatment.

What are the treatment and management recommendations?

Unfortunately, DJD is a progressive condition with no known cure. Treatment goals should include providing pain relief, fostering an improved quality of life and being as proactive as possible in delaying any further progression of this ailment. If you have a dog with arthritis, your vet may prescribe or recommend anti-inflammatory drugs, pain-relieving medications and/or joint supplements, which often contain glucosamine, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), hyaluronic acid (HA) or chondroitin sulfate. For more advanced cases of this disease, an injectable, disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (such as Adequan^®) that has been designed to inhibit cartilage loss in a dog’s joints may be recommended. Alternative therapies — including acupuncture, laser therapy, aqua therapy, chiropractic adjustment and massage for dogs with arthritis — are also an option and may be used in conjunction with medication. In more severe cases, surgery to remove damaged joint tissue or to replace the joint entirely may be required.

Weight control is by far the most critical aspect of managing DJD. At an ideal body weight, you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs easily but not see them, and you should be able to see a visible waist when looking at your dog from above and a tucked-up belly when viewing your dog from the side. If you suspect that your dog needs to lose some weight, consult with your veterinarian about putting together a diet plan.

You may also find it best to modify your dog’s activity levels, perhaps retiring from high-impact events like agility or flyball and replacing them with more controlled activities, such as regular on-leash walks. It is important to keep your dog moving, even if it’s at a slower pace than what you both might be used to, as consistent low-impact exercise serves to maintain the tone of muscles that promote joint stability and helps to combat overall stiffness.

You may want to place an orthopedic dog bed or two around the house (away from cold or damp areas) to help alleviate joint pressure as your pet rests. You may also provide carpeted steps or a ramp to help your pet get up onto or down from higher resting spots, such as the bed or couch. Many owners might also wish to place additional non-skid runner rugs throughout the home to help their arthritic dogs navigate slippery footing more easily.

Fortunately, dogs often live comfortably for years following a DJD diagnosis, so long as proactive steps are taken to manage this condition.

I want to learn more about pet health and nutrition.

Spring is often accompanied by warmer temperatures, excess moisture and the reemergence of biting insects. While the more moderate weather can often feel like a welcome relief — especially after a long, cold winter — this aptly monikered “mud season” can wreak havoc on a horse’s skin and coat. Conditions like rain rot, scratches, sweet itch and hives are more than just unsightly and uncomfortable — they can also have a significant impact on your riding and training time.

Of course, we all know that horses are naturally sensitive beings and that skin problems are never 100% avoidable. Attention to proper grooming, nutrition, supplements and veterinary care can make a big difference, but we should all be prepared to recognize and treat these issues when they manifest. Let’s explore four of the most common ailments, as well as some recommended treatments and steps you can take to help keep them at bay.

Rain rot in horses

• What causes it? As the common nickname for this pesky dermatological disease implies, rain rot is brought on by a combination of moisture and the presence of a bacterium called Dermatophilus congolensis. Every horse is susceptible to this condition, which is generally associated with warm, wet weather. Broken skin, either from bug bites or cuts, allows the bacteria in. Excess moisture also plays a significant role because it strips the skin of natural oils that otherwise serve as protection from bacteria.
• How do I identify it? If your horse has rain rot, you’ll notice scab-like bumps, particularly along the top of the head, neck, back and/or croup. When pulled, the hair will easily come away from the body, leaving behind an infected, hairless spot of skin. These lesions are commonly itchy or painful.
• Is it contagious? Yes, rain rot can easily spread from one horse to another. As such, it’s important to not share brushes, blankets or tack, and to make sure these items are regularly cleaned.
• How do I treat it? While often mistaken for a fungal disease like ringworm — which is, thankfully, far less common — this bacterial condition will not be affected by antifungal medication. Bathing the horse with an antibacterial shampoo, removing the scabs once they have softened and following up with a topical antibacterial treatment can prove effective.
• How do I prevent it? Groom your animals daily and clean your brushes often. You should also take several environmental factors into consideration. Shelters are great in theory, but how many times have you witnessed a horse standing outside of a shelter during inclement weather? As horse owners know, equines are sadly not always concerned about self-preservation! If it’s raining, provide a protective waterproof sheet (which must also be regularly cleaned, especially if your horse is symptomatic) or leave your horse in a stall for the day instead.

Scratches in horses

• What causes it? Also known as mud fever or pastern dermatitis, this condition is often produced by a mixture of bacteria that commonly includes Dermatophilus congolensis, Staphylococcus spp and/or fungal organisms known as dermatophytes. It may also be caused by parasites. These organisms find their way into breaks or openings on the horse’s skin, and the prime conditions during which they are likely to appear include consistent exposure to an excessively moist or dirty environment. As with rain rot, every horse is susceptible to scratches; however, those with feathers or long fetlock hair that retains moisture seem to be particularly vulnerable. Horses with white legs may also be more at risk, since unpigmented skin is more susceptible to sun damage, chafing and abrasions.
• How do I identify it? Early symptoms often include swollen skin and small, scab-like bumps. If allowed to progress, you’ll notice scabby crusts forming on the back of the pastern, which often appear in a line that looks like — you guessed it — a scratch. Although scratches most often impact the hind legs, horses may get it on their front legs as well.
• Is it contagious? Yes, this is also an easily transmissible disorder. Do not share boots or grooming supplies, and practice good hand hygiene, especially after coming into contact with the infected area.
• How do I treat it? Carefully clip the hair away from the affected area and gently wash it with an antibacterial or antifungal shampoo. Begin by doing this once daily for the first 7–10 days and cut back to two or three times per week until the issue is remedied. Let the shampoo sit for approximately 10 minutes before rinsing. Scabs can be massaged off gently, but you should not pull or pick at them. Carefully pat the area dry with a clean towel before applying a topical antibiotic or antifungal treatment. Keep your horse housed in a clean, dry environment.
• How do I prevent it? Keep footing as dry as possible, and get into the habit of drying your horse’s legs before you put them into their stall. Don’t share boots or wraps, and, if possible, keep feathers closely trimmed.

Sweet itch in horses

• What causes it? Also known as summer itch, this seasonal recurrent dermatitis is typically caused by an allergic reaction to Culicoides, a genus of biting midges. You may commonly hear these pests referred to as “no-see-ums” or gnats. Horses may also experience insect hypersensitivity in response to biting flies. This hypersensitivity is considered the most common allergy in horses and is a typical reason for itchy skin.
• How do I identify it? Horses with sweet itch often become very itchy in the spring and may rub out their mane and tail hair. You may also notice skin irritation or lesions along the topline, jaw, axillary regions and ventral midline.
• Is it contagious? No, but other horses on the property may also be susceptible to the negative effects of these biting insects.
• How do I treat it? Antihistamines, topical creams and insect repellents may be effective options and should be tried first before resorting to more serious measures, such as corticosteroid injections, which can have serious long-term side effects with prolonged use.
• How do I prevent it? Remove manure regularly and keep standing water in check. Use stall fans and fly gear, such as masks and boots, and keep in mind that “no-see-ums” prefer to begin feeding at dusk and overnight, so keep at-risk horses inside during these times.

Hives in horses

• What causes them? Many things can cause hives, including insect bites, pollens, food allergies, medications or direct contact with a variety of materials.
• How do I identify them? Also known as urticaria, hives are fluid-filled, raised swellings on a horse’s skin. Generally round in shape, these bumps may range in size from 0.5 to 8 inches wide. They may or may not be itchy and can develop anywhere on a horse’s body, though they most commonly appear on the neck, back, flank or leg area.
• Are they contagious? No, hives are not transmissible.
• How do I treat them? Fortunately, hives rarely impact the general health of a horse and often resolve on their own within 24–48 hours. In these cases, treatment is unnecessary. However, in more severe cases, you may wish to consult with your veterinarian on treatment options, such as antihistamines, epinephrine or corticosteroids.
• How do I prevent them? It can be difficult to determine the root cause of hives, but avoidance or the elimination of triggering factors can play a key role in keeping them from reoccurring in the future. This may involve some trial and error, but suggested steps include changing paddocks and bedding and eliminating supplements one at a time to determine whether they may have been a culprit in causing this allergic reaction.

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