Give Baby a Boost!

Improve your foal's immune system with
Mannose oligosaccharide (MOS).

By Edgar A. Ott, PhD, PAS

The phone call from the barn alerting, “We have diarrhea in two of the foals” can send chills down the backs of horse owners and managers, knowing that this news could mean big trouble. Horse owners and managers have learned to live with “foal heat” scours in foals because typically with little or no input it clears in a few days without any major set backs to the animal. However, diarrhea that occurs early, day 1 to 3, or later, at day 30 to 60, generally mean a bacterial or viral infection and can be more of a challenge. Foals are born with an immature immune system, and if they are to cope with the challenges in their environment until they are old enough to produce their own antibodies, they must rely on the antibodies provided by the dam’s colostrum. This usually takes weeks and sometimes months.

Since 1988, there have been numerous scientific studies validating that the digestive system of the foal is vulnerable to a variety of organisms including: Clostridium perfrigens , Clostridium difficili , Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella sp, Ehrlichia ristcii and rotavirus. These organisms can establish themselves in the digestive system of the foal resulting in diarrhea, sepsis and even death. The foal gets its protection from these organisms from the antibodies in the mare’s colostrum. However, if the mare does not produce adequate colostrum, drips colostrum for several days prior to foaling, has poor antibody concentrations in the colostrum or the foal does not nurse the colostrum properly, the foal will not receive adequate protection.

Helping the foal

There are two procedures available for helping the foal. First, providing colostrum to the foal with greater concentrations of antibodies and insuring adequate opportunity for the foal to consume this colostrum. Second, to protect the foal from pathogens via controlling the intestinal environment. We can help both systems with a single product.

Mannose oligosaccharide and the immune system

Mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) is a combination of several molecules of mannose. M. Young, e al., showed in studies conducted in 1998 that Mannans (mannose) found in the cell wall of a yeast named S. Cerevisiae has been shown to induce an antigenic response in humans. The feeding of MOS to various farm animal species also resulted in increased immune function and response in the young animals. Horses have also responded. Mares fed 10 mg MOS/day for 56 days before and after foaling had numerically higher antibody values in their colostrum, as did foals, when tested. Foals from the mares receiving the MOS had no diarrhea while 60% of the untreated foals had some diarrhea. In a second experiment, higher colostrum antibody concentrations were also seen in mares fed 10 mg MOS/day for 84 days prior to parturition and for 56 days postpartum.

Mannose oligosaccharide and the intestinal environment

Carbohydrates are important surface entities on many animal cells. Mannose is one of the carbohydrates found on the surface of these cells. D. Mirelman and I. Ofek conducted a study in 1986 concluding that Mannose specific lectins are utilized by many gut pathogens as a means of attachment to the gut lining or wall. One method of minimizing or breaking the attachment of these organisms to the gut wall is to provide an abundance of material which will bind to their attachment sites, i.e. MOS. As early as 1977, I.E. Salit and E.C. Gotschlich found that when supplemental MOS was present E. Coli did not attach to animal cells. In addition, several experiments conducted since 1989 conclude that Mannose oligosaccharide has been shown to reduce colonization of a number of pathogens in poultry. Based on years of experimentation on various animal species, both of the experiments noted above, provide opportunity for foals to consume the MOS fed to the dams and therefore benefit directly from the supplementation.

The Importance of MOS

Mannose oligosaccharide (MOS) is an important feed ingredient that has the ability to help mares provide colostrum with greater concentrations of immunoglobulins for their foals. Including MOS in the mare’s feed increases the opportunity for the foal to consume some of the MOS and provide protection in the intestine from the colonization of pathogenic organisms.

Where do I find MOS? By Jill Haight

Seminole Feed fortifies their super premium horse feeds with Mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) to help horses build a stronger immune system. Horses that benefit the greatest from MOS are those under stress, seniors and foals. To provide maximum protection for foals, begin feeding broodmares a feed that is fortified with MOS at least 60 days prior to their expected date of foaling. The mare & foal should both continue receiving a MOS fortified Mare & Foal feed through lactation, until the foal is weaned. Continue to feed the mare & foal ration to the foal until he is a yearling. Feeds that contain MOS include Seminole Mare & Foal, Seminole Senior Formula, Perfect 10 & 12, Victory, Challenge, Ultra Performance, Ultra Dynamix, Equalizer and all SPILLERS horse feeds.