Trace Mineral Pak

Calcium iodate is a stable, bioavailable source of iodine used in equine diets to support normal thyroid hormone synthesis. Iodine is required for the production of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), hormones that regulate metabolic rate, growth, thermoregulation, and energy utilization.

By contributing to normal thyroid function, calcium iodate helps maintain energy balance, muscle performance, and overall metabolic efficiency. Compared to other iodine sources such as potassium iodide, calcium iodate provides superior oxidative stability and shelf life in mineral premixes and pelleted feeds.

Iodine requirements in horses depend on workload, diet composition, and life stage. Supplementation ensures adequate intake where soil or forage iodine levels are low or variable, supporting consistent thyroid hormone activity and metabolic health.

Cobalt carbonate is an inorganic source of cobalt, an essential trace mineral required for the microbial synthesis of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the equine hindgut. Vitamin B12 is necessary for red blood cell production, energy metabolism, and the conversion of propionate to glucose during exercise, contributing to normal stamina and metabolic function.

In horses, cobalt status influences hindgut fermentation and nutrient utilization. The microbes in the large intestine incorporate cobalt into cobalamin, which supports methylation reactions and normal protein, carbohydrate, and fat metabolism. Stable cobalt supply is therefore vital for maintaining vitamin B12-dependent pathways.

Among cobalt sources, cobalt carbonate offers good stability in premixes and comparable bioavailability to organic forms. It is commonly included in trace mineral blends to support overall vitality, especially in horses on hay-based diets or in regions with cobalt-deficient soils.

Copper is an essential trace mineral involved in multiple enzymatic processes that support connective tissue formation, antioxidant defense, and energy metabolism. It is a cofactor for lysyl oxidase, an enzyme required for cross-linking collagen and elastin, helping maintain strong tendons, ligaments, and bone matrix integrity. Copper also contributes to melanin synthesis for normal coat pigmentation and supports red blood cell formation through iron metabolism.

In horses, adequate copper status is associated with joint soundness, tissue repair, and optimal hoof and coat condition. Copper also plays a role in antioxidant defense as part of superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that helps neutralize free radicals generated during exercise or stress.

Organic forms such as copper proteinate are more bioavailable than inorganic sources like copper sulfate or oxide, allowing for more efficient absorption and utilization. Supplementing with organic copper helps maintain normal copper levels in horses consuming forages grown in low-copper soils or diets high in competing minerals such as zinc, iron, or manganese.

Manganese is an essential trace mineral required for the development of bone, cartilage, and connective tissue in horses. It functions as a cofactor for several key enzymes involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, reproductive health, and antioxidant defense. One of its most important roles is activating the enzyme manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), which helps protect cells from oxidative damage.

This mineral also contributes to the synthesis of chondroitin sulfate, a critical component of joint cartilage, supporting soundness and long-term joint integrity. Adequate manganese intake is therefore particularly important for growing horses, broodmares, and equine athletes with high structural and metabolic demands.

Organic sources such as manganese proteinate offer improved bioavailability compared to inorganic forms like manganese oxide, enhancing absorption and utilization. This allows for more effective support of skeletal strength, enzyme activity, and metabolic efficiency.

Selenium is an essential trace mineral and a critical component of the horse’s antioxidant defense system. It is incorporated into selenoproteins that protect cells from oxidative damage, support normal muscle and heart function, and maintain healthy immune and thyroid activity. Adequate selenium intake helps horses recover from exercise and supports overall metabolic health.

Organic forms such as selenium yeast provide selenium bound to amino acids (mainly selenomethionine), making them more bioavailable and efficiently utilized compared to inorganic forms like sodium selenite or sodium selenate. This enhanced absorption allows for safer, more consistent selenium delivery, particularly in performance horses or those in low-selenium regions.

Selenium requirements vary depending on diet, workload, and regional soil content. Horses consuming hay or feed grown in selenium-deficient soils often benefit from supplementation to help maintain optimal antioxidant balance and muscle function.

Zinc is an essential trace mineral required for numerous enzymatic processes involved in metabolism, tissue repair, immune defense, and antioxidant protection. It supports normal hoof growth and integrity, skin and coat condition, joint health, and reproductive function in horses.

In the body, zinc participates in more than 300 enzymatic reactions related to protein synthesis, collagen formation, and insulin regulation. Adequate zinc status contributes to normal glucose metabolism, muscle recovery, and wound healing, while deficiency can impair growth, immunity, and integumentary tissue quality.

Zinc proteinate is an organic, chelated form in which zinc is bound to amino acids or small peptides, improving intestinal absorption and bioavailability compared with inorganic forms such as zinc oxide or zinc sulfate. This form helps ensure more consistent mineral uptake under dietary or physiological stress and supports optimal trace mineral balance when fed alongside copper and manganese.