Transcript Sportmax

SUPERFIX
Lameness
And
Performance
Introduction and Aim
• A standardised product, made from a
combination of plants containing actives
with significant phenolic properties and
anti inflammatory and pain relieving
agents made by Superfix was tested
against the most commonly used NSAID
in horses, Phenylbutazone. Health
indicators including blood tests and
willingness to exercise were also
monitored.
Method One
• Eighteen thoroughbred horses were included
in a double blind placebo controlled trial
• The horses were randomized in groups of six
of which one group received the bute one
group the Superfix formula and one group a
placebo.
• The entire group were all in race training and
the trial took place in situ during the final build
up for the start of the race season. The
horses were treated for one month
Method Two
• The horses were selected from a yard of 65
thoroughbreds and were chosen following
gait analysis in trot on a hard surface. The
horses were given a score out of 10 for
evenness of gait stance, swing and arc of
foot fight. The eighteen trial horses were
selected from the middle scoring group.
• At the end of each week the eighteen horses
on the trial were trotted in a straight line on a
hard surface and were given a mark out of 10
for soundness
Method Three
• Good health has always been an important factor
in the success full training of horses. Many horses
lose their willingness and enthusiasm for exercise
during the season, the Superfix product was
formulated to give pain relief and also contains
significant quantities of potent medicinal antioxidants and immune stimulants and as part of the
trial measures of health ie skin condition
(ringworm spots), coat condition, appetite, thirst,
recovery after exercise and willingness to work
were also monitored on a weekly basis over the
one month trial. Weekly haematology and
biochemistry were also taken as health indicators
RESULTS
20
SKIN CONDITION
Comparatively the Superfix formula
shows that it has a higher standard of
health benefits for the horse and even
increases the condition which can be
seen by comparing it with the placebo.
Bute appears to have no effect on the
condition of the skin as the mean is
very close to the placebo group which
received no treatment
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
18.42
14.62
14.21
18
Coat Condition
Compared with the placebo the results
show that the Superfix product
increases coat condition whilst Bute
actually has the opposite effect. Coat
condition is a main indicator that the
horse is thriving on the exercise
regime
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
17.58
13.5
14.96
9
Hay Intake
Both treated groups of horses’ hay
intake has reduced compared to the
non treated placebo group. In the case
of the Superfix group it could be down
to a reduction of gastrointestinal
disruption as the high level of omega 3
and 6 content have been shown to
buffer and reduce gut pain from stress
related conditions
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
7.625
8.167
8.458
9
Hard Food Intake
8
Although the horses which were
treated with Superfix had lower hay
intake these results show that they
have a slightly higher hard food intake
than the placebo, and bute treated
horses which show a reduction in hard
food intake. In racing the hard food
intake is specifically important for
racehorses as they are regularly fed on
high concentrated food to ensure that
they meet the energy requirements
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8.25
7.458
8
9
Water Intake
8
The results don’t show any significant
change in the water intake, although
bute has a slight lower water intake
and Superfix had slightly higher, the
difference is not significant to have an
effect on the horses health
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
8.958
8.583
8.75
18
Droppings
16
The droppings were rated on a 1-20
basis, 1 being loose and 20 being
normal. There was a significant
reduction in the quality of droppings in
the Bute group.
The Superfix and placebo were close
to normal. This difference could be a
major hint to the detrimental side
effects of treating with Bute. Loose
droppings are a symptom of gastric
ulcers in any event looser droppings
cause a reduction in absorption of vital
b vitamins from the hind gut. The chisquare probability is also significant
signalling that this result would be
probable for most horses
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
16.92
16.88
12.42
Maintain Willingness to
Work
Horses being treated with Superfix
maintained more willingness to work.
Horses treated with bute showed no
sign of improvement from those which
were not treated.
This might be due to an increased
absorption of nutrients from the hard
feed ration. Chi-square probability is
less than 0.001, showing that this is a
significant result again meaning that
the results will be probable for most
horses
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
6.125
5.708
5.708
7
Training Progress
The horses which were treated with
Superfix had a higher mean than those
treated with bute and those which
were not being treated at all.
This result would suggest that
Superfix has improved the horses’
ability to train
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
6.125
5.708
5.208
4
Soundness
The Superfix group had a significantly
higher score for being free from
lameness/stiffness than Bute, this
group had all progressed and thrived
suggesting that they had recovered
and healed from their injuries.
The group of horses on bute had a
significantly lower rate for being free
from lameness suggesting that a
maintenance dose of 2 mg per day was
an insufficient amount to relieve the
pain whilst the horse was in training.
The horses in the placebo group had a
slightly lower but insignificant score
for lameness, if the numbers in the
trial had been higher the difference
between the Superfix and Placebo
groups may have been less
3.5
3
2.5
4
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
2.708
2.5
Conclusions
• Superfix performed well in this trial with 98%
of horses showing an improvement
• A maintenance daily dose of bute caused a
deterioration in health and was less effective
in treating lameness and stiffness.
• The overall health of the horses and
willingness to work improved with the
Superfix