Everest Diaries speaks to one of the pioneers in 'low lactose science'. His product DiVetelact was the first low lactose animal milk food produced as a hydrolysed milk powder in the world.

 

Q: How you start on this journey?

A: Years ago I started working on removing lactose from skim milk powder for ice cream as lactose creates the icicles in ice cream. Eventually the low lactose product we created was used to help aboriginal children and orphan kangaroos.

 

Q: What are your products?  

A: My breakthrough products included DiGestelact and De-Lact Infant which were the first of their kind. Now owned by Danone, De-Lact is sold in pharmacies and supermarkets around the world.

 

Q: So have you completely moved away from human products?

A: Yes, I have always owned, loved and prioritised my veterinary products. And I spend a lot of time and energy in researching the best possible formulation for animal milk food formulations. I have a special interest in Kangaroo nutrition.

 

Q: Can you tell us about DiVetelact and how this can help improve horse nutrition?

A: DiVetelact is very useful to pregnant or lactating mares and foals. Orphan and rejected foals, will find DiVetelact provides complete nutrition until they are completely shifted to grain and plant based food. It will improve their health considerably and make them much stronger.

 

Years ago I had a horse for sale together with a friend. The horse was an orphan and we thought about the reserve price we should set. My friend wanted to set a low price as he was an orphan. But I believed he would fetch a higher price. Ultimately he fetched A$5,000 more because he was a well-nourished foal, who had been on DiVetelact.

 

Q: And can DiVetelact be useful for early weaned foals?

A: Yes of course. Many breeders choose to wean their mares off the foals early. Those foals can become weak but if they are on DiVetelact they will stay well-nourished and develop as they should into great racehorses.

 

Q: What exactly happens to orphan, rejected or early weaned foals?

A: The intestine of neonatal mammals like horses must be able to secrete lactase enzyme to hydrolyse lactose in its mother's milk. If the mother is not present or is unable to secrete lactase, it results in failure to digest lactose. This results in diarrhoea, weight loss, failure to thrive, lethargy, colic and abdominal distension. Lactose intolerance may occur secondarily to intestinal bacterial infection.

 

Q: How is DiVetelact helping Australia’s drought?

A: Animals tend to reject their babies under certain conditions called ‘protection of the species’. Wildlife carers (who are Australia’s unsung heroes), rescue and care for sick and injured native animals around the clock. These use DiVetelact to feed and nourish those rejected babies. DiVetelact is flying off the shelves in these difficult situations.

 

Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com