Colostrum

PRODUCT DATA SHEET

Behind every ForeFront Equine product there is a core value of proven technology.  From equine specific probiotics to BeneCell to colostrum it is these unique but verified ingredients that separates ForeFront Equine from other animal health companies.   

Colostrum is one of the core ingredients in nearly all ForeFront Equine products. It is an all-natural, multi-purpose nutritional ingredient that offers a healthy boost to an animal’s overall health.  With over 70 Growth Factors and over 80 Immune Factors including Transfer Factor, this whole food is a powerhouse of cellular, tissue, GI tract, and immune support.

ForeFront Equine’s nutritional team hand selects every ingredient in our products in order to offer tremendous value and we are especially proud of the colostrum included in our line.  It comes from a proprietary treatment process that is recognized and approved by federal authorities and international product safety organizations. Gentle thermal processing techniques provide assurance against microbial contamination, while protecting superior immunoglobulin content, specific antibodies, growth factors, and other valuable components found within colostrum.

Here are a few ways that colostrum can greatly benefit your equine athlete: 

Digestive Support – As nature’s first food, colostrum supplies immune and growth factors along with a perfect combination of vitamins and minerals to support overall health.  The equine digestive system is largely responsible for good health and, unfortunately, poor health as well.  Stress, diet, NSAID, and antibiotic use can have tremendous negative consequences for your horse’s digestion. 

Digestive integrity is key to a horse’s health in many ways, as it is the foundation of immunity. Studies have shown that colostrum is a powerful aid for supporting your horse’s healthy digestive tract and immune system. Studies have also shown that it can even help to repair the lining of the GI tract. One study published in The Veterinary Journal (July 2012) indicated that colostrum contains a broad array of oligosaccharides vital to the digestive health of newborn foals.

Joint Support – Colostrum is best known for its digestive properties, but it also has tremendous value for joint support.  It is the only natural source of insulin-like growth factor, which is responsible for increasing cartilage and collagen production. This helps cushion joints, which enables freer, unrestricted movement. 

Not Just for Foals – The most common and known use of colostrum is in foal diets.  This is certainly a tremendous, and sometimes, needed application.  Foals that do not receive adequate colostrum suffer from a syndrome called failure of passive transfer (FPT), which is estimated to affect up to 25 percent of newborn foals and predisposes them to life-threatening diseases.  Because of the obvious importance of colostrum to the newborn foal, many broodmare farms and veterinary clinics maintain stores of frozen colostrum to be used in an emergency. 

Although colostrum is a vital nutrient for foals, it is recommended that horse owners provide colostrum to all their horses on a continuous basis. Colostrum’s bioactive agents can boost overall immune function, promote intestinal healing, and help prevent immune system hyperactivity in horses of all ages.

Research indicates that colostrum may help:

• Support immune system function
• Protect against bacteria and viruses
• Enhance skin and muscle rejuvenation
• Support joint and cartilage function
• Build lean muscle mass
• Maintain healthy intestinal flora
• Increase strength and stamina
• Accelerate healing of injury or trauma

PubMed, which is a search engine accessing primarily the MEDLINE database of references and abstracts on life sciences and biomedical topics, currently lists 2,945 studies with bovine colostrum.  This clearly demonstrates its proven benefits and interest among the scientific community in the use of colostrum. 

Whether your horse is an All Star, a weekend athlete, or your companion, it may need a little help to reach its potential or recover from adversity.  Safe and all-natural colostrum offers that extra healthy edge.  Along with the stand-alone colostrum product, colostrum can be found in several ForeFront Equine products including ForeRunner paste, ForeDigest, ForeJoint, and All-Star.