Mitavite’s Turbo Sustaina has taken the lead in race feed formulas by successfully releasing the natural power trapped in traditional feed ingredients.

Whilst an exaggerated analogy, the splitting of the atom confirmed scientists’ long held belief that nature had been hiding away almost limitless amounts of pure energy. In the same way, Mitavite’s veterinary scientists and nutritionists believe in the untapped energy reserves in feedstuff and the multiplier effects or synergy through combinations of different feed ingredients. To unlock the reserves of energy and realise other benefits it was recognised that new feed processing technology, biotechnology and scientific balancing of all nutrients held the keys to producing a high performance racing formula.

Steam-extrusion and micronization maximise Turbo Sustaina’s digestibility.

Turbo Sustaina contains steam-extruded maize and micronized barley to achieve around a 90% level of digestion in the small intestine - a significant lift from unprocessed maize (29%) and barley (21%).

The steam-extrusion and micronization (infra red cooking) processes untangle the nutrients in grains allowing the natural enzymes in the horse’s gut to work more efficiently, improving availability and absorption of the different nutrients including uptake of energy from starch.

Unprocessed hard feed can’t be fully digested in the small intestine with partly digested and undigested feed passing to the caecum, in the process losing almost half the value of important nutrients including energy.

With increased absorption in the small intestine the balance of amino acids, crucial to the horse’s ability to build bone and lean muscle versus laying down fat, can be maintained. For the thoroughbred and standardbred, daily uptake of quality protein and amino acids is important and aids in the repair of damaged muscle cells, brought about through hard training and racing.

Turbo Sustaina helps reduce the heat, ammonia, acid and gas that restricts optimum performance.

If undigested hard feed progresses to the caecum it ferments, changing pH levels and permitting overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Under these conditions there are increased risks of problems such as colic, diarrhoea and laminitis. Even at subclinical levels a horse’s performance can be affected and research indicates, for example, almost half of horses in training experience subclinical laminitis.

Fermentation of feed in the caecum is responsible for the heat, acid and gas build up which can cause erratic behaviour and loss of concentration often associated with high levels of raw grain feeding.

Fermentation in the caecum generates heat and during exercise if overheating occurs, blood is directed away from working muscles to cool the skin, with increased sweating, fluid and electrolyte loss, further restricting a horse’s ability for peak performance.

Micronization and steam-extrusion promote digestion in the small intestine improving feed safety and producing a ‘cooler’ result. International research repeatedly confirms the dangers of large meals of raw grains and consistently demonstrates the safety of steam-extrusion and micronization in meeting high energy demands without causing excessive heating. Mitavite is the only brand of feed offering steam-extrusion in Australasia.

Feeding Turbo Sustaina helps reduce the gut ballast that can impede respiration.

The highly digestible nature of the steam-extruded maize and micronized barley components of Turbo Sustaina, combined with added energy from oils, reduces the overall weight of feed needed to meet energy requirements. A lower weight of feed means gut ballast, the ‘hidden handicapper’ of performance, is reduced. Studies indicate each kilogram of fibre holds 6-8 kilograms of water in the gut and the greater the weight of feed the greater the dead weight the horse has to carry.

This ballast affects horses’ speed. An extra 23 kilograms of weight can reduce speed 0.64 metres per second and an extra 66 kilograms can slow speed by up to 1.3 metres per second.

Gut ballast or ‘dead weight’ can restrict lung capacity. During fast exercise abdominal contents, including the intestines, slide backwards and lurch forwards during inspiration and expiration. To increase speed horses lengthen stride, but there is a limit to the cycle and ultimately the diaphragm becomes inhibited in its movement and lung capacity is compromised - obviously the less ballast carried the greater the speed before this restriction occurs and the better the overall performance.

Turbo Sustaina combines different sources of energy to meet the needs of high performance.

Turbo Sustaina’s steam-extruded maize and micronized barley component increases uptake and absorption of energy in the form of glucose from starch digested in the small intestine. Due to increased digestibility little of the energy is lost, but is supported by a second source in the form of oil.

High oil content can provide enormous advantages for heat load, temperament and performance but some feeds, like pellets, are simply unable to carry oils at sufficient levels to make a meaningful difference.

To realise the advantages of oil the diet must contain between 10-12% and Turbo Sustaina includes oil at 10.5%. At this level oil provides a steady supply of energy, allowing the horse to preserve blood glucose levels. This glucose sparing effect helps delay the onset of fatigue and whilst horses can’t increase their top speed, they are able to maintain it for longer. In delaying the fatigue factor, risk of accidents and injury also decreases.

Turbo Sustaina contains Mitaze 888 and Vitamite Omega 3 (with blended ratios of Omega 3 and Omega 9 oils) to balance the Omega 6 oils found in maize which increase inflammatory responses. Apart from ‘clean’ high energy, Omega 3 oils have the unique ability to increase suppleness and flexibility of red blood cell membranes significantly improving circulation and the important function of oxygen delivery to working muscles.