BREEDERS EXCEL
A fat and fatty acid supplement for mature breeding horses

FEATURES

• Essential Omega 3 fatty acids - 15 g/lb
• Concentrated DHA - 15 g/lb
• Vitamin E - 1000 IU/lb
• Palatable

dac® Breeders Excel provides a balance of essential fatty acids to mature breeding horses. Omega 3 fatty acids include α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), all of which are polyunsaturated. Omega 6 fatty acids are unsaturated. Both Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore must be supplied in the diet as they are considered essential for metabolism. A deficiency of the essential fatty acids (EFA) creates problems with coat, skin, immune function and reproduction.

Omega 3 – Semen from stallions contains high levels of Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids. High concentrations of Omega 3 fatty acids in semen have been shown to increase fertility. Omega 3 fatty acids are considered essential to the horse and may possess the following beneficial properties: increase red blood cell count, increase semen quality, increase vitamin E status and decreases inflammation.

DHA – Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid) is a major poly unsaturated fatty acid in semen. Stallions supplemented with DHA have been shown to have significantly increased number of sperm per ejaculate, increased motility of sperm and decreased dead and abnormal sperm compared to non-supplemented stallions. Supplementation with DHA also increases the number of motile sperm after cooled or frozen storage.

Vitamin E – is a fat-soluble vitamin that has an important role as a potent anti-oxidant. It has a concurrent yet independent role with selenium, an essential trace mineral. Vitamins E is an important antioxidant needed by sperm cells. Sperm cell membranes contain a high concentration of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which makes them susceptible to oxidative damage. Several steps in sperm cell maturation and eventual fertilization can produce reactive oxygen metabolites that can damage sperm cells or decrease their motility if antioxidant defenses are depleted. Antioxidants in seminal plasma protect sperm against oxidative stress which may be induced by cooling and freezing, common methods of storage and transportation of equine semen. Additional improvements in stallion semen quality (motility, longevity, morphology as well as total sperm count) have been shown after dietary intake of antioxidants in combination with Omega 3 fatty acids.

FEEDING DIRECTIONS
dac® Breeders Excel can be fed with either fortified or unfortified grains. Fortified grains contain added vitamins and minerals and require a lower feeding rate of dac® Breeders Excel. Feed dac® Breeders Excel at the following rates:

Barren Mares: 8 scoops (8 ounces) per/horse/day

Pregnant Mares: 8 scoops (8 ounces) per/horse/day

Stallions: 16 scoops (16 ounces) per/horse/day

dac® Breeders Excel should be introduced into the diet gradually to avoid feed refusal. dac® Breeders Excel should be introduced into the diet a minimum of 60 days prior to the first intended date of breeding. Feeding rate based on 1000 lb horse.