“Replacing inorganic calcium, such as calcium carbonate, with OrganiCAL™ has been shown in our study to increase bone density in young exercised equine and to reduce the rate of bone loss during remodeling,” said Alexis Atwood, who conducted the research while a graduate student at West Texas A&M University.

“Moreover, if fed from birth as a preventative measure, CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ or CAL Pellets Plus™ may assist the skeleton in withstanding the great stress during periods of increased activity prior to serious training beginning." Atwood earned her graduate degree in animal science at West Texas A&M.

“Based on the research supporting the presence of OrganiCAL™ in CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ or CAL Pellets Plus™, we have the potential to increase the likelihood of soundness not only in racing thoroughbreds and quarter horses, but other performance horses such as cutters, reiners, barrel horses, 3-day eventers, show jumpers, dressage horses, and endurance horses.”

CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ were developed for mares, foals, weanlings, yearlings, and horses in training. The inclusion of OrganiCAL™ in the formula reduces the chances of imbalances that may be created with the use of inorganic minerals. 

In the CAL Density™ formula specifically, OrganiCAL™ is just one of five patented organic minerals contained. OrganiCOP™, OrganiMAG™, OrganiMAN™, and OrganiZIN™ all fit the profile of research-based, high absorption and imbalance-free in the horse’s body.

The Harsh Reality of Bone Stress and Injury

The statistics are startling - 58% of all young race horses suffer bone injuries and over 70% of all 2-year-olds experience bucked shins. It is just that simple. Young racehorses are at greatest risk of sustaining a career-ending injury early in their training, when their bones are developmentally immature and extremely vulnerable to injury.

It is as simple as this, a young horse’s skeleton is most fragile when his workload is most demanding. That’s because bone mineral density in horses reaches an all-time low about 50 to 60 days after training begins, when most trainers are introducing speed work. The high rate of injury observed in young horses is likely due to the initiation of intense speed training at a time when bone density is lowest. 

1. Jones, W.E. 1989. Racetrack breakdown epidemiology. Equine Vet. Data 10:190.
2. Norwood, G.L. 1978. The bucked shin complex in Thoroughbreds. In Proc. 24^th Conv. Am. Assoc. Equine Pract., St. Louis, MO. P 319. Am. Assoc. Equine Pract., Lexington, KY.
3. Lawrence, L.A., E. A. Ott, G. J. Miller, P. W. Poulos, G. Pitrowski, and R. L. Asquith. 1994. The mechanical properties of equine third metacarpals as affected by age. J. Anim. Sci. 72: 2617.
4. Buckingham, S.H.W., R.N. McCarthy, G.A. Anderson, and L. B. Jeffcott. 1992. Ultrasound speed in the metacarpal cortex: a survey of 347 Thoroughbreds in training. Equine Vet. J. 24: 191.
5. Nielsen, B.D., G. D. Potter, E.L. Morris, I.W. Odom, D. M. Senor, J.A. Reynolds, W. B. Smith, and M. I. Martin. 1997.  Changes in the third metacarpal bone and frequency of bone injuries in young Quarter Horses during race training: Observations and theoretical considerations. J. Equine Vet. Sci: 17: 541.)

The equine skeleton is not fully mature until a horse is 4 to 6 years of age, when bone density, strength, and size peak. Until then, equine bone is in a continual state of turnover and remodeling. Research shows that OrganiCAL™, the organic calcium in CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ significantly increases bone mineral density. 

According to West Texas A & M University equine nutrition specialist, Alexis Atwood, “Biochemical and radiographic data indicate that replacing inorganic sources of calcium in horses’ diets with OrganiCAL™ had a significant positive effect on bone density. Based on the research supporting CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™, we now have the potential to increase the soundness of working horses."

The CAL Pellets™ Maintenance Option

The obvious question is when do we want our horses to have healthy, solid bone? When do we want to begin the nutritional work to affect this desired result and when do we stop concerning ourselves with this task?

For as little as $0.39 per day for weanlings and yearlings and just $0.78 per day for 2-year-olds and adult horses, CAL Pellets™ provides a safe, bioavailable, research-based approach to creating stronger, healthier, more dense bone. The research performed at West Texas A&M University proved the two most important things necessary to create confidence in providing CAL Pellets™ in your horses’ daily feed.   Bone density increase of 14% occurred after 60 days while the calcium proved safe and imbalance-free in co-existing with the other minerals in the test horse’s diets.   This is not specific to any age and discipline. 

CAL Pellets™ should be considered for work horses, young developing foals and yearlings as well as mares and stallions.   There is no time when bone health would be considered unimportant and when we consider older mares they maybe the No. 1 target for improvement. The mare can only give what it has to the forming baby. Often times as a mare gets on in age, the pregnancies begin to take their toll. Very comparable to a woman with three or four children who eventually develops osteoporosis.   

Safely absorbed and used calcium from the source in CAL Pellets™ provides the opportunity for your horses to experience the same results as the West Texas A&M Study. The statistical models used in the study show that a 97%+ results duplication can be expected when horses are fed OrganiCAL™, the key ingredient found in CAL Pellets™ at the levels fed in the studys.   

If you are happy with your current program and simply want to add OrganiCAL™ to beef up the bone matrix strength of your training and racing horses or you wish to impact the forming foals and challenged mares, CAL Pellets™ gets to be fed with high confidence for effectiveness and safety.   CAL Pellets™ is economical and is delivered in an alfalfa base with a hint of molasses. For the exact costs per day and per unit please review the costs & dosages links through the site.

NUTRITIONISTS
Randall D. Robbins Ph D.
Internationally Respected Equine Nutritionist

Dr. Robbins has been a practicing nutritionist in the U.S. equine industry for more than 20 years. He has been a specialist in many different aspects of the industry, from researcher to professor to graduate student to product developer and manager.

Dr. Robbins is the developer of the CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ fomulas and the designer of the OrganiCAL™ bone density and bioavailability studies at West Texas A&M University. These studies were presented to the scientific community in Baltimore, MD during the week of June 4, 2007. 

Dr. Robbins is the president and founder of Advanced Nutrition Technologies, Inc. and currently manages a brand of highly-respected and successful equine feeds.

Throughout his career, Dr. Robbins has been active in developing equine product lines for major feed manufacturers while always incorporating his career-long objective of bringing research-based innovations to the equine industry.

Dr. Robbins holds degrees from Oklahoma State University, Michigan State University and Texas Tech, where he was responsible for developing equine evaluation programs and teaching undergraduate courses in equine management.

Dr Robbins’ primary role with Advanced Nutrition Technologies is consulting with key industry clients.  Developing the CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ formulas was a rewarding experience.

“CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ represent a major break-through for anyone faced with the challenge of maintaining ideal bone matrix in horses. Each product contains state-of-the-art technology and safe, clinically-proven ingredients, and is palatable for horses. I believe CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™ will create a significant impact for any operation that uses it.”

Alexis Atwood, B.S. and M.S.
Equine Nutrition Researcher
West Texas A&M University

Alexis Atwood, a director for an equine industry feed manufacturer, completed her B.S. and M.S. degrees from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas in 2004 and 2006, respectively. She holds an undergraduate degree in Equine Industry and Business, and a graduate degree in Animal Science.

As a graduate student, Atwood compared the effect on bone of OrganiCAL™ (the organic calcium source contained in CAL Density™, CAL Pellets™ and CAL Pellets Plus™) versus an inorganic calcium source in a study titled “The Effect of Calcium Carbonate and Calcium Proteinate (OrganiCAL™) on Bone Density and Biochemical Markers in Exercised Yearling Stallions.” Atwood’s research interest continues to lie in the area of organic calcium and its effect on bone density and nutrient digestibility in horses.

Atwood is an active member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Equine Science Society. She has more than 20 years of experience in the horse industry, and in her spare time enjoys training and marketing young horses.  She resides in Canyon, Texas with her husband.

Lysine and Threonine Research

Proteins are made up of linked amino acids. They serve as structural components for muscle and ligaments in the body and are a source of energy. There are 22 amino acids that are needed by the horse, but not all of them are necessary in the horse’s feed. Non-essential amino acids are produced in the body tissues and therefore are not necessary. However, the essential amino acids must be provided in the diet or synthesized by the microorganisms in the intestine. CAL Density™ contains two of the most important essential amino acids - Lysine and Threonine. There is powerful research supporting the supplementation of these essential amino acids in the diets of developing equines.