The Ontario Racing Commission (ORC) advises all participants to be aware of the properties of calcium propionate
. The white, powdery substance is used as a preservative in a wide variety of products.
Calcium propionate is an alkalizing agent similar to baking soda and use of this product could lead to readings which exceed the acceptable TCO2 levels under the Rules of Racing. All horses racing in Ontario are tested for TCO2 and any positive is treated as a Class III category.
The Rules state that any horse with a positive for a Class I, II, III drug, or a substance determined to be non-therapeutic, shall then be declared ineligible to race in Ontario for a period of 90 days. As well, participants are reminded that under Rule changes introduced in January 2008, a trainer of a horse with a positive test will be considered to have absolute liability for the offence.
The racing community is reminded that a basic aspect of good medication control is ensuring that you only use products that are properly manufactured and clearly labeled, and that have been obtained from an authorized distributor.
In addition, trainers are reminded that they need to be vigilant and check the labels of all products given to horses in their care. By being aware of the contents of such products, they will be more likely to know if any ingredient will result in a positive test.
(ORC)
Outstanding Analysis,
Outstanding Analysis, Jake:
I was/am absolutely fascinated by both the ORC Notice - and more so by the information contributed by Jake Davidson. I think back to 'Aminorex' issue last year, and the impact of that horrendous situation on honest horsemen. Now, I wonder who of the horsemen accused of 'cheating' via 'high C02' ... were truly innocent victims of an unknown (unknowable?) element administered innocently to their horses.
The idea that horsepeople (anyone) can be held accountable for not 'knowing' the 'unknowable' ... is absurd and incomprehensible. My heart goes out to Horsemen. Theirs is a virtually impossible task ... fraught with landmines and torpedoes. Sheesh.
In reply to Outstanding Analysis, by Rootin_T
The interesting thing is Cal
The interesting thing is Cal Prop is an acidifier as compared to Sodium Bicarb which is a buffer. The exact opposites. Bicarb buffers the lactic acid produced during exercise while while calcium propionate would not.
That said, the equine metabolic system gets a high % of its energy through the conversion of fibre and fats to volatile fatty acids that are absorbed in the hind gut. VFA would include acetic, propionic and butyric acids. As I said earlier, they all have a "bite" like salt n vinegar chips. Therefore if anything Calcium Propionate may be a supplier of a VFA that could be converted eventually to an energy source.
Im guessing that the problem in the test is the exact opposite to bicarb, The blood goes to far the acid direction and is outside the "norm" and therefore the bad test. The test is based on an accepted range. Anything outside it is a no no. I left University in 1974 so my acid base physiology course is long forgotten. This all has to do with what is known as cation/anion balance and while I can formulate a transition diet for dairy cows with products like Cal Prop I would need to do some thinking to work out the effects on a race horse.
Many things can screwup the test. If you dig hard enough you will find research done about 15 years ago showing the ability to modify the acid base balance and therefore the black box test by feeding a very select alfalfa hay. Therefore if a horseman was to buy a super high quality alfalfa hay it would be possible to naturally shift the natural range towards the buffered side. At the time I had horses at Fraser and went to the judges with a copy of a peer reviewed scientific paper and told them as a qualified, equine certified nutritionist I was going to feed my horse a natural feed that may shift the acid base balance. I was told if it did work I would be suspended as how the acid bas balance was shifted was not the point. the only thing that matters is it is shifted.
I think we have the same thing here, the balance is shifted outside the norm, we dont care why, accident or not, your suspended.
I will be sending a note to the Nutrition Committee of the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada advising them that the ORC has posted the notice and possibly suggest that problems like this be discussed at the next meeting this spring in Guelph.
J
Jake. The lack of response
Jake. The lack of response or comments to this topic makes me think that there is significant use of this product in the industry and not as a preservative.
Horses may be exposed to
Horses may be exposed to propionate used as a mould preventative in horse feeds and also as a mould preventative in tough hay treated with many common acid based hay preservatives commonly used in hay put up for dairy cattle. Calcium Propionate or the propionate based hay preservatives may be detected in some cases by the distinctive odour which has a bite similar to a salt and vinegar potato chip or acetic acid.
Calcium propionate based products are used in the feed industry to control contamination of feeds with salmonella and control mould in hot weather in high moisture or hi molasses feeds
While the notice from the ORC is interesting, it would be more beneficial if they gave participants an indication of what would constitute an intake that could cause problems. Cal Prop is typically added to feeds at 500 to 1000 grams per tonne while hay preservative may be added at 5 kg or higher.
The notice puts horsemen on notice, but in no way assists anyone in determining if they could possibly be in conflict with the rules. Since it is as mentioned used as a preservative in a wide variety of products, and in the case of horse feeds is not listed as a constituent of the feed it is virtually impossible for a horseman to ensure he does not expose his horses to the chemical.
While at all times I respect the various racing commissions it looks to me like this notice is being distributed as a precursor to nailing someone who may not have any control over the issue.
Because the most plausible source of calcium propionate outside of deliberate administration would be in commercially produced feed the ORC should conduct due diligence and contact the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada and advise them of concerns and have the association issue an advisory to members that the use of calcium propionate in horse feeds may be detrimental to the well being of their clients.
JAD, Manitoba