October 2012 - Ethical Agents

Edited by:
Dennis Scott BVSc
MACVSc
Inside this issue:
EA’s International
Conference
What is Stabilized
Chlorine Dioxide?
Oestrus Synchronisation
- Is It Worth
It?
EquiShure Hindgut
Buffer For Horses
Special points of
interest:
The myth of stabilized
chlorine dioxide
Cost benefits of
planned mating
Hindgut acidosis in
horses
Funnies!
2
3
4
6
Ethical Agents Ltd
54 Hobill Ave Wiri
PO Box 97-110 Manukau City
Manukau 2241
New Zealand is one of
the few countries in the
developed world that
does not regulate disinfectants,
and their
claims, in the way that
medicines and veterinary
medicines are regulated.
This can be a double
edged sword as, on the
one hand, top of the
range modern disinfectants
such as SteriGENE
(formerly TriGene Advance)
can be very quickly
and easily assimilated
into the New Zealand
Market but, on the other
hand, inferior products
with spurious claims can
also flourish. This now
appears to be happening
with companies flatly
refusing to supply independent
laboratory testing
to back some quite
unbelievable claims, as
outlined in the last edition
of EA News.
eCG Claims
The major article is on
the cost of oestrus synchronisation,
is it all
worth it?
The cost can be readily
justified to a sceptical
Ph 09-262-1388 Fax 09-262-1411
Freephone 0800 800-624
email eage@xtra.co.nz
website www.ethicalagents.co.nz
Is It Time To Regulate Disinfectants?
We also have pseudoscience
abounding with the
importation of amazing
claims of “stabilized chlorine
dioxide.” There is no
such thing as “stabilized
chlorine dioxide” in itself;
chlorine dioxide is one of
the most reactive molecules
known. It is possible
to generate it from
sodium hypochlorite by
the alteration of pH but
this is a two-step process,
albeit very quick
and effective. This is discussed
more fully inside.
In Australia disinfectants
are regulated by
APVMA (the equivalent
of ACVMG) and also,
even more stringently, by
TGA (the equivalent of
Medsafe). This has led to
farmer, especially if ‘add
ons’ such as eCG are dispensed
with.
The science for the commonly
used regime is
sound but there is cur-
October 2012
many hospitals, in human
medicine, only purchasing
disinfectants
that have achieved TGA
registration as proof of
efficacy. Therefore, in
some ways, the market
does regulate itself at the
top end, the hospitals.
However it is still too
easy for spurious claims,
backed by fancy brochures,
to predominate
in the veterinary market.
Do we need a controlling
body to regulate this,
protecting the end user
but the trade-off being
slower access to the latest
technology?
A few always ruin it for
the many.
rently no hard evidence
that eCG is warranted in
the majority of cases.
Streamlining the cost is
thus scientifically justified!

Page 2 EA News
EA’s International Conference
In early September Ethical Agents
Veterinary Marketing had its own
first ever international conference
at the very upmarket Shangri La
hotel in central Sydney.
The whole sales team, Greg, Dennis,
Marion, Robbie, Vesna, Tony
and the indefatigable Nagy flew
out together one Sunday for a week
of both education and R&R.
EA’s Australian agent Michael Dolphin
was there to greet the team
and join in for the week.
The weather gods were kind as the
team did a harbour bridge climb on
the first day then on the Tuesday
meetings started in earnest with a
group discussion on the Troy range
followed by a meeting with Arnaud
and the team from Ceva, with
presentations from both sides and
lunch afterwards.
In the afternoon Ken and the team
from KER travelled up from Melbourne
to present product information
then they joined us for a
top notch dinner at the top of the
Shangri La.
The whole day on Wednesday was
devoted to Vétoquinol and Yong
Work Or Pleasure
An RAF Group Captain was about
to start the morning briefing to his
staff .....
Whilst waiting for the coffee machine
to finish its brewing, the
Group Captain decided to pose a
question to all assembled.
He explained that his wife had
been a bit frisky the night before
and he failed to get his usual
amount of sound sleep.
He posed the question of just how
much of sex was "work" and how
Wei from Vétoquinol flew in to
meet the team.
On Thursday morning Greg and
Dennis had other business meetings
while Ian from Troy took the
rest of the team on a tour of his
state of the art manufacturing
plant.
Paul from Tristel flew in from the
UK and Justine from NZ and they
much of it was "pleasure"
A Wing Commander chimed in
with 75-25% in favour of work.
A Squadron Leader said it was 50-
50%.
A Flight Lieutenant responded
with 25-75% in favour of pleasure,
depending upon his state of inebriation
at the time.
There being no consensus, the
Group Captain turned to the young
Corporal who was in charge of
spent Thursday afternoon in discussions
with the team.
The reps did reports for Tristel on
Friday morning then Paul and Justine
shouted the whole team a harbor
cruise replete with lunch.
It was then an early start on Saturday
for a tired and bedraggled
lot flying back home after a thoroughly
enjoyable and eminently
valuable trip to the big smoke.
making the coffee. What the Group
Captain wondered was his opinion?
Without any hesitation, the young
Corporal responded, "Sir, it has to
be 100% pleasure."
The Group Captain was surprised
and, as you might guess, asked
"And, why exactly would that be
the case?"
The young Corporal replied, "Well,
sir, if there was any work involved,
the officers would have me doing it
for them."

Ethical Agents Ltd Ph 09-262-1388 Page 3
What Is Stabilized Chlorine Dioxide?
Chlorine dioxide is an incredibly
unstable chemical, and it is this
instability that makes it an excellent
biocide. Chlorine dioxide is a
molecular free radical looking for
electron donors, thus it is a strong
oxidising agent. As a highly reactive
molecule chlorine dioxide cannot
be stabilized as a gas or in solution
or gel.
The compound called "stabilized
chlorine dioxide" by some manufacturers
is, in fact, sodium chlorite,
although the phrase is too often
used as synonymous with chlorine
dioxide. The "stabilized" term attempts
to describe a formulation
which has the same or similar
chemical properties to the now familiar
disinfectant, chlorine dioxide,
and its many applications.
Chemically this disguise would be
similar to calling sodium chloride
table salt, "stabilized chlorine."
Stabilized chlorine dioxide is prepared
by buffering sodium chlorite
with carbonate or phosphate, and
hydrogen peroxide. This approach
stabilizes the chlorite not the chlorine
dioxide, and the stabilized
compound is not the same as chlorine
dioxide, nor does it have the
same oxidizing properties.
ClO2 in "stabilized chlorine dioxide"
solution exists in the form of
chlorite ClO2 - ; carbonate exists in
Shingles
Tony walked into a doctor's office
and the receptionist asked him
what he had. Tony said: 'Shingles.'
So she wrote down his name, address,
medicare number and told
him to have a seat.
Fifteen minutes later a nurse's
aide came out and asked Tony
what he had.
Tony said, 'Shingles' So she wrote
the form of bicarbonate. Therefore,
it is considered that "stabilized
chlorine dioxide" solution is mixed
solution of ClO2 - and HCO3 - , its pH
being 8.5. (ref: Junli H, Lihua C,
Zhenye Z. Technical note the pattern
of ClO2 stabilized by Na2CO3/
H2O2. Water Res. 2001 Jul;35
(10):2570-3.)
In order for stabilized chlorine dioxide
salt to release chlorine dioxide
by chemical reaction, the compound
is usually mixed with a relatively
strong acid to overcome the
heavy buffering involved in its formulation.
The reaction can be summarised
as:
Chlorate + Acid + reducing agent
→ Chlorine Dioxide + By-products.
So, while it is common to mix chlorine
dioxide with bicarbonate and
call the resulting blend “stabilized
chlorine dioxide” the actual stability
is from the ions involved dissociating
out as sodium chlorite and
bicarbonate ions and it needs addition
of acid, i.e. lowering of pH to
activate it as chlorine dioxide. In
reality there is no such thing as
stabilized chlorine dioxide, there is
however a chlorite salt that may be
activated into chlorine dioxide
quite rapidly by reducing pH.
So it really is a matter of pH, at
the elevated pH of the “stabilized
down his height, weight, a complete
medical history and told Tony
to wait in the examining room..
A half hour later a nurse came in
and asked Tony what he had. Tony
said, 'Shingles..' So the nurse gave
Tony a blood test, a blood pressure
test, an electrocardiogram, and
told Tony to take off all his clothes
and wait for the doctor.
chlorine dioxide” there is little killing
power, certainly not the rapidity
of activated chlorine dioxide. In
normal conditions drying time is
around seven
minutes, a lot Chemically this
more than disguise would be
enough contact
similar to calling
time for acti-
sodium chloride
vated chlorine
table salt,
dioxide but not
near enough
"stabilized
for “stabilized chlorine."
chlorine dioxide”
unless there are strong acid
conditions.
It seems even the marketers of
“stabilized chlorine dioxide” products
in many countries are well
aware of this as their product data
sheets quote kill rates for chlorine
dioxide itself and not their own
specific product. One company’s
product information sheet even
goes so far as to quote kill rates for
its product against streps and
staphs, easily killed vegetative
bacteria, then immediately goes on
to mention the kill rates of chlorine
dioxide itself against a wide range
of harder to kill micro-organisms,
thus falsely implying that its own
product has undergone this selfsame
testing. It pays to read the
fine print.
An hour later the doctor came in
and found Tony sitting patiently in
the nude and asked Tony what he
had.
Tony said, 'Shingles.'
The doctor asked, 'Where?'
Tony said, 'Outside on the truck.
Where do you want me to unload
'em??'

Page 4 EA News
Oestrus Synchronisation - Is It Worth It?
The effects of nutrition on cattle
health are certainly very well documented.
For example many scientists
claim that good nutrition is a
much more economical way to supply
energy to the transition cow
than the use of starter drenches. In
that they are correct but, like the
accountants who advised the government
years ago to dispense with
rabbit boards, they are not taking
cognizance of the ways of the real
world. With our pastoral farming
system and calving in late winter
the vagaries of the weather make
it difficult for even the best of
farmers to have all cows in top condition
score at calving in every season.
If the nutritional status of the cows
and the pasture supply are compromised,
then that is when starter
drenches come to the fore as
suppliers of rapid energy to a cow
in negative balance.
Similarly in reproduction it is
claimed that most non-cycling cows
will eventually cycle if on good nutrition.
Many farmers are aware of
this and use it as an argument
against the immediate cost of an
oestrus synchronisation programme
and practitioners often
have difficulty convincing farmers
that such programmes are worth
the expense.
In reality a lot of non-cyclers will
eventually come into oestrus if left
to their own devices and nutrition
and body score are good. However,
like our government accountants
and the nutrition scientists mentioned
above, this is only part of
the story; the caprices of nature
need to be considered.
Those cows that do eventually cycle
will still be some weeks behind
those that had cycled naturally
early in the post-partum period,
and there will still be a proportion
that do not come on at all and so
intervention will finally need to be
applied. Thus the expense of an
oestrus synchronisation programme
is avoided but the calving
pattern is once again drawn out, a
much more costly exercise than
synchronising all the non-cyclers
earlier on.
Oestrus synchronisation using
prostaglandins, progesterone inserts
and GnRH injections are now
well proven for non-cycling cows
and any avoidance has been well
proven to be a false economy.
That is not to say however that the
programme costs cannot be
streamlined, as cost per cow is an
overriding factor when treating
large numbers. Despite generic
products driving down the overall
costs it is the new innovative prostaglandin,
Dalmazin, and GnRH
injection, Dalmarelin, that have
been shown to be just as effective
at lower concentrations
(McDougall and Compton, data on
file) that have really brought economy
into the marketplace, making
it much easier for clinicians to justify
the process to their clients.
There have been claims in some
quarters that the addition of equine
chorionic gonadotrophin
(eCG) to an
oestrus syn-
McDougall and Compton:
chronisation
CP = control products
increases the
IVP = investigation products
first service
conception rate
but how true
exactly is this?
What it certainly
does do
is add to the
cost, meaning
more justification
from clinician
to client is
required as the
total overall bill will now be consid-
erably higher. While scientific evidence
strongly supports the economic
model of the standard type
of oestrus synchronisation programme
the same cannot be said
for the use of eCG in such a programme.
Jacob Malmo presented
research from Australia at the
DCV Conference in 2009 suggesting
that there is a possible response
in certain categories of cows
but not in others. Other data since
seems to confirm this premise.
The trial data has been quite varied,
with some work showing a response
in younger cattle, others a
response only in older cattle.
Certainly a highly promoted trial
(Shepherd) showing a response in
two year old cows that skews the
results so much that the overall
response is up slightly when the
data is pooled, suggesting that
there maybe little or no response
in other animals. Another paper
(Bryan et al) shows a response in 5
year old and older cows, but not so
much in the rest of the herd. Taking
only these two papers into account
it seems that there is only a
response in cows at either end of
the milking life cycle, i.e. those
likely to be in more of a battle for
available nutrients.
(Continued on page 5)

Ethical Agents Ltd Ph 09-262-1388 Page 5
Oestrus Synchronisation - Is It Worth It?
From Souza et al
(Continued from page 4)
What seems to be the common denominator
is condition score, the
lower the condition score the better
a chance of a response, and this
was graphically demonstrated (see
above graph) in a paper by Souza
et al, whereby a statistically significant
response was seen in cows of
very low condition score (

Page 6 EA News
EquiShure ® Hindgut Buffer For Horses
When Ethical Agents took over the
Kentucky Equine Research range
one of the first products to move
was EquiShure ® , a time-released
hindgut buffer.
Subclinical acidosis is, after stomach
ulcers, the most common cause
of digestive upsets in the horse and
is a diagnosis to be considered for
every horse that does not respond
to ulcer treatment.
Signs of subclinical acidosis may
include: Decreased feed intake or
complete inappetence in severe
cases, Mild to moderate colic signs
of unexplained origin, Poor feed
efficiency and subsequent weight
loss, Loss of performance, Development
of stereotypies such as wood
chewing, weaving, and stall walking.
Subclinical acidosis is thought to
result from overconsumption of
either high-starch concentrates or
pasture grasses rich in fructans.
The demands placed on horses as
athletes and as breeding animalsdictate
that substantial quantities
of energy-rich feeds be consumed.
When large grain meals are fed to
horses, it is often impossible for the
stomach and small intestine to sufficiently
digest and absorb the
massive onslaught of starch.
Hence, some starch moves into the
hindgut without being sufficiently
digested. As digestion of easilyfermentable
starch progresses in
the hindgut, the production of volatile
fatty acids (VFA) and lactic
acid increases, causing a significant
decrease in the pH. When the
hindgut endures insults such as
this several times a day it teeters
on becoming overwhelmed with
acid. Additionally, because lactic
acid is a stronger acid than the
VFA, it can cause serious damage
to the intestinal mucosa. In severe
cases, lactate may contribute be-
tween 50 and 90% of the total acids
in the hindgut.
The shift in pH provides an unfavourable
environment for some of
the many microorganisms that inhabit
the hindgut and aid in digestion.
In particular, fibre-digesting
bacteria such as Ruminococcus albus
and Fibrobacter succinogenes
are sensitive to precipitous decreases
in pH. For optimal performance,
these bacteria favour an
environment with a pH between
6.5 to 7.0. When pH drops to below
6.0, fibre-digesting bacteria become
less efficient and begin to die off.
In contrast to fibre-digesting bacteria,
lactate-producing and lactateutilizing
bacteria thrive in an environment
with a low pH. Certain
microorganisms such as Streptococcus
bovis actually shift their
metabolism and produce lactic acid
rather than VFA when exposed to
acidic conditions, serving only to
compound the problem.
Changes in the pH of the hindgut
due to alterations in the microbial
populations and acid profiles cause
a condition known as subclinical
acidosis.
One of the primary signs of subclinical
acidosis is inappetence or
decreased appetite. A horse is often
reported to be "off his feed." Because
the hindgut is overwhelmed
with lactic acid when a horse is
experiencing acidosis, the intestinal
lining becomes inflamed and
irritated, causing the horse discomfort.
The irritation may be severe
enough to induce behaviour
characteristic of colic. Furthermore
and perhaps most detrimental to
equine athletes is a reduction of
feed efficiency. Long-term exposure
of the intestinal lining to a low-pH
environment may negatively affect
the absorptive capacities of these
structures, limiting the amount of
energy available for performance.
In addition to these health concerns,
a link between subclinical
acidosis and stereotypies such as
wood chewing, weaving, and stall
walking has been suggested by researchers.
Because of the precarious nature of
the hindgut of a horse afflicted
with subclinical acidosis, it is less
able to handle the metabolic crises
that healthy horses may be able to
fend off. Hence, horses with subclinical
acidosis are more susceptible
to colic and laminitis.
Subclinical acidosis is not a novel
health risk among domestic animals.
Researchers first set out to
solve the problem of subclinical
acidosis in dairy cattle. Cows afflicted
with rumen acidosis frequently
exhibit abnormal or erratic
eating patterns. More often than
not, they eat less and that leads to
decreased milk production and reduced
profit. Therefore, the need to
regulate the pH in the rumen became
apparent. Researchers and
dairymen successfully accomplished
this by adding a buffer
such as sodium bicarbonate to the
feed.
With research on dairy cattle as a
premise, the solution for managing
horses with subclinical acidosis
(Continued on page 7)

Ethical Agents Ltd Ph 09-262-1388 Page 7
EquiShure ® Hindgut Buffer For Horses
(Continued from page 6) cecal infusions of the buffer main-
seemed simple enough: supply a
buffer to the hindgut that minimizes
fluctuations in pH when significant
quantities of easily fermentable
carbohydrates are offered.
As researchers delved into this possibility,
they were confronted with
a frustrating problem almost immediately.
The site of fermentation
in the horse, collectively composed
of the cecum and colon, is located
at the end of the digestive tract
rather than near the start like the
cow's rumen. Therefore, in order to
reach the horse's hindgut, a buffer
must withstand passage through
the stomach and small intestine.
Regrettably, the enzymes secreted
in these organs are not particularly
hospitable to buffers. By the time
an ordinary buffer reaches the
hindgut, it loses its efficacy. Researchers
went back to the drawing
board and found the answer, a
time-released buffer.
Research supports the use of a
hindgut buffer in cases of high
grain and high fructan intake. In
1977, scientists at the University
of Kentucky examined the effects
of a buffer infused directly into the
cecum of horses by analysing cecal
pH. Horses that received hourly
Shaggy Dog Story
One hot summer day, Nagy came
to town with his dog, tied it under
the shade of a tree, and headed
into the pub for a cold one.
Twenty minutes later, a cop entered
the bar and asked "Who owns
the dog tied under that tree outside?"
Nagy called out “It’s mine, mate."
"Your dog seems to be in heat" the
cop said.
tained consistently higher cecal pH
than horses not infused with the
buffer.
Research trials at Kentucky Equine
Research (KER) were designed
to test the efficacy of a timereleased
hindgut buffer
(EquiShure ® ) on hindgut acidosis
in horses fed a high-grain ration.
Faecal examination indicated that
non-supplemented horses
had decreased faecal pH after
feeding when compared to
horses supplemented with
EquiShure ® hindgut buffer.
In addition, EquiShure ® supplemented
horses had significantly
lower faecal lactate
concentrations, suggesting
that lactate was being used
by lactic-acid-utilizing bacteria
to produce VFA. The VFA
Nagy replied "No way. She's cool
as, 'cause she's tied up under that
shade tree."
The cop said, "No! You don't understand.
Your dog needs to be bred."
"No way," said Nagy. "That dog
don't need no bread. She ain't hungry
'cause I fed 'er this mornin'."
The exasperated cop said, "NO!
You don't understand; your dog
wants to have sex!"
are subsequently absorbed by the
intestine and are metabolized as
an energy source in the liver.
These significant results suggest
that EquiShure ® prevented the
decrease in pH associated with
rapid starch and sugar fermentation
after a large grain meal, enabling
lactate-utilizing bacteria to
thrive and convert lactate into
VFA. While VFA are weak acids
and will reduce pH, the dramatic
effects of lactic acidosis are moderated
and the associated problems
attenuated by the time-released
buffer EquiShure ® .
As the protected bicarbonate in
EquiShure ® is only released in the
hindgut it has no effect on blood
tCO2 levels so is safe to use in the
racehorse as shown in trial work
by KER.
Nagy looked at the cop and said,
"Well, go ahead. I always wanted a
police dog..."

The Perfect Man
A man walked out to the street and
caught a taxi just going by. He got
into the taxi, and the cabbie said,
“Perfect timing. You're just like
Brian!”
Passenger: “Who?”
Cabbie: “Brian Sullivan. He's a guy
who did everything right all the
time. Like my coming along when
you needed a cab, things happen
like that to Brian Sullivan, every
single time.”
Passenger: “There are always a few
clouds over everybody.”
Cabbie: “Not Brian Sullivan. He
was a terrific athlete. He could
have won the Grand Slam at tennis.
He could golf with the pros. He
sang like an opera baritone and
danced like a Broadway star and
you should have heard him play
the piano. He was an amazing
guy.”
Passenger: “Sounds like he was
something really special.”
Cabbie: “There's more. He had a
memory like a computer. He remembered
everybody's birthday.
He knew all about wine, which
foods to order and which fork to eat
them with. He could fix anything.
Not like me. I change a fuse, and
the whole street blacks out. But
Brian Sullivan, he could do everything
right.”
Passenger: “Wow. Some guy then.”
Cabbie: “He always knew the
quickest way to go in traffic and
avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I
always seem to get stuck in them.
But Brian, he never made a mistake,
and he really knew how to
treat a woman and make her feel
good.
He would never answer her back
even if she was in the wrong; and
his clothing was always immaculate,
shoes highly polished too. He
was the perfect man!
He never made a mistake. No one
could ever measure up to Brian
Sullivan.”
Passenger: “An amazing fellow.
How did you meet him?”
Cabbie: “Well, I never actually met
Brian. He died. I'm married to his
widow.”