Minerals:
Horses process nutrients differently than ruminants. Their ability to utilize trace minerals and their needs are also different from ruminants.
Selenium:
Ruminants only absorb about 29% of the available dietary selenium while horses can absorb up to 77% (NRC, 1989, p. 17).
Selenium is used in the molecule glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase is an antioxidant which protects cells from damage (reduces lipids to alcohols and H2O2 to water) (NRC, 1989, p. 17).
Calcium/Magnesium:
Calcium/Magnesium are needed in proper ratio to each other. Two parts calcium to one part magnesium is optimal but availability of these minerals in soils differs by geographic region, weather, soil type and pH. Different plants uptake each mineral differently and this can lead to imbalances.
Magnesium is not well absorbed from the diet. 60-70% is used in the skeleton and the rest in neuromuscular transmission, nervous system and enzyme reactions. Superphosphate fertilizers can also inhibit magnesium (and other minerals).
Deficiency symptoms include muscle tremors, travel tetany, nervousness, ataxia, sweating, paddling, death. Pastures that are too low in magnesium for ruminants may still support horses but tetany can occur during times of stress.
In cases of founder/laminitis, acute cases can be corrected in a matter of hours with magnesium, chronic cases will require more work but still respond well to supplementation. Uneven bone growth or healing from imbalance will occur.
Toxicity has not been well-studied but ratios with calcium and phosphorus are important.
(NRC, 1989, p. 14; Coleby, 2010, p. 20-21, 100, 107)
Magnesium deficiency is one of the easier deficiencies to spot in horses because it leads to nervousness and laminitis. Laminitis has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and contributes to loss of production in horses being shown and worked. Because magnesium is used by the body to offset stress of any kind, animals in stressful situations have increased need for magnesium and are at risk for deficiencies.
References:
Coleby, P. 2010. Natural Horse Care. TX: AcresUSA
National Research Council. 1989. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 5th Ed. Wash. DC: Natl Academy Press.
Horses process nutrients differently than ruminants. Their ability to utilize trace minerals and their needs are also different from ruminants.
Selenium:
Ruminants only absorb about 29% of the available dietary selenium while horses can absorb up to 77% (NRC, 1989, p. 17).
Selenium is used in the molecule glutathione peroxidase. Glutathione peroxidase is an antioxidant which protects cells from damage (reduces lipids to alcohols and H2O2 to water) (NRC, 1989, p. 17).
Calcium/Magnesium:
Calcium/Magnesium are needed in proper ratio to each other. Two parts calcium to one part magnesium is optimal but availability of these minerals in soils differs by geographic region, weather, soil type and pH. Different plants uptake each mineral differently and this can lead to imbalances.
Magnesium is not well absorbed from the diet. 60-70% is used in the skeleton and the rest in neuromuscular transmission, nervous system and enzyme reactions. Superphosphate fertilizers can also inhibit magnesium (and other minerals).
Deficiency symptoms include muscle tremors, travel tetany, nervousness, ataxia, sweating, paddling, death. Pastures that are too low in magnesium for ruminants may still support horses but tetany can occur during times of stress.
In cases of founder/laminitis, acute cases can be corrected in a matter of hours with magnesium, chronic cases will require more work but still respond well to supplementation. Uneven bone growth or healing from imbalance will occur.
Toxicity has not been well-studied but ratios with calcium and phosphorus are important.
(NRC, 1989, p. 14; Coleby, 2010, p. 20-21, 100, 107)
Magnesium deficiency is one of the easier deficiencies to spot in horses because it leads to nervousness and laminitis. Laminitis has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. and contributes to loss of production in horses being shown and worked. Because magnesium is used by the body to offset stress of any kind, animals in stressful situations have increased need for magnesium and are at risk for deficiencies.
References:
Coleby, P. 2010. Natural Horse Care. TX: AcresUSA
National Research Council. 1989. Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 5th Ed. Wash. DC: Natl Academy Press.
By Alethea Kenney, copyright 2018-2019. Do not copy or reprint without permission.