Manganese

Mad Barn’s Bioplex Manganese powder is used to support healthy cartilage, efficient carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and to protect horses from oxidative stress. Bioplex manganese is a highly absorbable form of this essential mineral and provides 15% elemental manganese without additives.

In horses and other mammals, manganese is essential for proper formation of chondroitin sulfate – a key component of cartilage. It is also important for the development of strong bones.

Manganese is part of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase that protects cells from oxidative stress to keep tissues healthy. It is a co-factor for several enzymes that make energy from carbohydrates and fats.

 

 

Severe manganese deficiency is rare and not well described in horses. Young growing animals are most at risk of manganese deficiency which could cause problems related to unusual bone formation such as enlarged joints, crooked limbs, and abnormal cartilage formation which have been observed in cows and pigs. Manganese toxicity has not been demonstrated in horses.

Supplemental manganese may be required for performance horses exercising at a heavy workload or for horses on a high grain diet. The average requirement for a 500 kg horse is between 400 – 500 mg per day.

Forage is a good source of manganese for your horse and provides between 40 to 300 ppm (mg/kg). However, grains like barley and oats have lower content, ranging from 5 ppm to 15 ppm. If you are feeding a high-grain diet you may want to assess the manganese content to ensure your horse has optimal manganese intake.

The mineral content of horse’s drinking water will vary by region and could contain significant levels of manganese and other minerals. You may also want to consider having a water sample analyzed for manganese content.

This product should be used under the supervision of a veterinarian or other qualified equine health professional.

You should always consult a qualified nutritionist before altering your feed program. Submit your horse’s diet for analysis online and one of our equine nutritionists will be happy to provide a complementary review.