Sel-Plex® receives clearance for equine supplements

Alltech’s organic selenium, Sel-Plex®, recently received clearance in equine supplements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Sel-Plex also received clearance for complete equine feeds in 2004.

This clearance allows horse owners to offer Sel-Plex in a full range of feeding applications, including equine supplements. Sel-Plex is an organic selenium yeast produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-3060. Sel-Plex was also cleared for certain companion animals, including alpacas, llamas and rabbits.

"We’re excited to receive this clearance from the FDA," said Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech. "I’m very proud that this decision was handed down on the basis of Alltech’s data."

Selenium plays an important role in equine diets. In horses, this nutrient supports better colostrum and milk selenium, a healthy immune system in the nursing foal, exercise tolerance, and the overall health of the animal.

Sel-Plex is a unique form of selenium as it is presented in the same forms that are naturally present in plants. Organic selenium is more digestible than inorganic forms and better retained, which lets the animal build nutrient reserves against periods of increased demand without risking toxicity.

This is not the first clearance for this selenium. Alltech has been the sole leader in the United States to submit data and petition the FDA for this allowance. Selenium yeast first received allowance for use in chicken diets, followed by turkey, swine, goat, sheep, equine, beef and dairy feeds, dog diets and free-choice minerals for beef animals.

Sel-Plex also received authorization as a nutritional feed additive for use in all species diets, from the European Union (EU) under EU regulation 1750/2006.

For 27 years, Alltech has provided natural nutritional solutions such as Sel-Plex for the feed and food industries. Alltech employs over 1,800 people and has a presence in 91 countries around the world.

Alltech is the proud sponsor of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games to be held in Lexington, Kentucky, USA in 2010.