Conference noted::equitation

    Thanks for the info. I'll check it out here in Colorado & see if
    we will be affected. We have enough trouble with horses as it is.
    
                                                    Steve
    
    
    
    

    I wanted to clear up information about the corn.  It's not JUST
    that the corn was grown on the East Coast...It's any corn damaged
    by a very dry growing season and very wet harvest, such as that
    grown on the east coast.
    
    The toxins created when the moldy corn is ingested are the real
    killers.  They affect the blood vessels in the brain and are evident
    through necropsy -- a little late for the horse.

    I am in Alabama. My feed comes from Nashville, Tn.  I feed Omelene
    and Horse Chow.  What do I need to check for on the labels ?
    Thank you.

You might call your distributor. I spoke to mine. I approached the
subject by asking where he bought his corn. He responded by asking
me if I was worried about LEM. He told me that corn can be tested 
for the presence of the LEM bugs by culturing it. Apparently it is 
commonplace for corn to be randomly tested. Corn that passes the 
test is called "LEM free", but that is no guarantee. He makes his own 
mixes, and to be safe, he does not buy any local (South Carolina) corn.

I don't know if what he said is 100% accurate. But, I was relieved to
find out that he was aware of the problem, and had done what he could
to avoid it.

    After several requests for the letter sent me by my vet RE the corn
    problem, I've decided to print it in notes for gen. dist.
    
    "The proper name for this disease is Equine leukoencephalomalacia
    (LEM).  It was first described in the U.S. in 1850 and has since
    been associated with several cases.
    
    "The specific toxic fungus is Fusarium monoliforme.  There are usually
    more cases seen after a harvest of a damaged corn crop as was the
    case last summer.
    
    "Clinical signs are first seen 2-24 weeks (average 3 weeks) after
    the initial ingestion of moldy corn.  In general, the signs are
    referable to the central nervous system (the brain) and include
    depression, unresponsiveness, head-pressing, circling, aimless
    wandering, blindness and occasionally unprovoked excitement.  Finally
    you have recumbency, paddling, coma and death.  These horses are
    usually not feverish which helps distinguish this disease from the
    clinically similar viral encephalomyelitides (EEE,WEE).  Rabies,
    brain tumors and abscesses can cause similar signs, but are easily
    diagnosed during a post-mortem.  The lesions seen at necropsy consists
    of areas of liquefaction and death in the brain.
    
    "Treatment is only supportive and the mortality rate approaches
    100%.
    
    "Unfortunately, it is very difficult to identify the mold in the
    feed by simple visual examination.  This fact coupled with the long
    incubation period makes it very difficult to eliminate the toxic
    feed and prevent future cases.
    
    "Until recently, all cases in this (Maryland) area have been confined
    to farms that are feeding home stored corn.  In one particular case,
    in which (the vet) was the attending veterinarian, the horse was
    fed corn purchased from a local supplier of feeds.
    
    "At present, my recommendation would be to feed only those feeds
    that avoid locally (Eastern seaboard) grown corn as its energy source
    or to feed mixes that avoid corn altogether."
    
    In a later discussion with this vet, he said there was no test for
    the fungus that was reliable.  By the time the toxins are present,
    it's probably too late for the horses that have been fed the grain.
    
    Southern States has taken the corn OUT of their sweet feed mixtures,
    except for Silver Stirrup.  They are keeping the same protein levels
    by using other grains.  I assume that Purina is doing the same.
     Personally, I will not feed any corn products until my vet has
    proof that it's OK -- probably after this year's corn crop has been
    processed.  My horses won't die without the corn; they could die
    with it.