Topic:Minerals
Minerals are inorganic elements that are essential for various physiological functions in horses. They are involved in numerous biological processes, including bone formation, nerve function, and enzyme activity. Key minerals required by horses include calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and trace elements such as zinc, copper, and selenium. The balance and bioavailability of these minerals are important for maintaining optimal health and performance in horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the roles, dietary requirements, and effects of mineral imbalances on equine health and performance.
Mineral and vitamin intoxication in horses. Horses are subject to poisoning from many sources. This article considers poisonings from minerals and vitamins of nutritional significance and from minerals as environmental contaminants.
The influence of mineral supplementation on growth and skeletal development of yearling horses. Forty-six Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were used in two experiments to evaluate the effect of mineral supplementation on growth and skeletal development. In the first experiment, concentrate and bermuda-grass hay diets providing 2.82 Mcal DE/kg (estimated), 13.0% CP, .62% Ca and .43% P on a DM basis were supplemented with trace minerals (TM) by adding 0, .5 or 1.0% TM premix to the concentrate. The TM content of the three diets (concentrate and hay) in mg/kg DM were: Fe 150, 162 and 176; Mn 56, 60 and 64; Zn 36, 53 and 69; and Cu 7, 8 and 11 for the low, medium and high TM levels, ...
Relationship of cadmium accumulation to zinc or copper concentration in horse liver and kidney. The concentrations of Cd, Zn, Cu, and metallothionein (MT) in the liver, renal cortex, and renal medulla were determined in 24 male and 15 female younger thoroughbreds (age 27 to 97 months) and two old male horses (age 154 months and 190 months). High correlations were found between Zn and MT in the liver (partial correlation coefficient 0.836), between Cd and MT in the renal cortex (partial correlation coefficient 0.786), and between Cd and Zn in the renal cortex (partial correlation coefficient 0.675), while the correlation between Cd and MT in the liver was low (partial correlation coeffici...
[Sublimation-dried mare’s milk and the possibility of its use in creating infant and dietary food products]. The main biological parameters were studied in sublimated mare's milk: protein fraction composition, amino-acid spectrum, fatty-acid composition of lipids and the content of vitamins and mineral substances. A high biological value of the sublimated mare's milk has been proved, as well as significant proximity of its composition to human milk. Preliminary data have evidenced expediency of mare's milk use for the development of adapted milk mixtures for baby foods. However, the fatty component of the mixtures needs certain correction by addition of vegetable oil. The sublimated mare's milk can b...
Scanning electron microscope observations of hoof horn from horses with brittle feet. Two types of defect were observed when hoof clippings from horses with brittle feet were viewed in the scanning electron microscope. The first defect showed a loss of structure and horn in the stratum externum. This defect was remedied after biotin treatment. The second defect showed poor attachment of the horn squames and failed to respond to biotin treatment alone. An improvement in this case was achieved by the addition of powdered limestone to the diet.
Enteroliths in horses. Many cases of enteroliths were reported in the nineteenth century but the number greatly decreased in the early twentieth century. However, in recent years the number of cases in certain parts of the United States such as California has greatly increased. The reasons for the increase are obscure. The intake of nitrogen, magnesium and phosphorus (the primary components of enteroliths) from water and food is likely to be a factor. Arabians may be more likely to develop enteroliths than horses of other breeds. A nidus such as a small stone is needed because a nidus has been found in every enterol...
Lactation in the horse: the mineral composition of mare milk. Changes in the mineral composition of mare milk during lactation were studied. Milk samples were obtained from five Thoroughbred mares one to three times weekly from the first to the eighth week of lactation and from two of the mares for an additional 8 wk. Samples averaging 500 mL were obtained after oxytocin was administered to the mares. Each sample was analyzed for total solids, ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper and zinc. The concentration of all constituents except sodium and potassium decreased throughout lactation. The rates of decline of ash, calcium, phosp...
Metabolism of some essential minerals in ponies fed high levels of aluminum. The effect of dietary aluminum on the absorption, retention and pathways of excretion of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron and copper was studied in balance trials in mature ponies in a three by three latin square experiment. A basal diet consisting of one third each of oats, beet pulp and a commercial pelleted, complete horse ration and containing 336 ppm aluminum was supplemented with AlC1(3) . 6H2O. The middle and high level aluminum diets contained 1370 and 4500 ppm aluminum respectively. There was little difference in effect between the middle level aluminum and basal diets. The ...
Generalized steatitis associated with selenium deficiency and normal vitamin E status in a foal. A 7-month-old male Quarter Horse was examined because of severe cachexia, which had begun 2 months earlier. The foal was emaciated and weak despite an excellent appetite. Percutaneous biopsy revealed multiple areas of subcutaneous steatitis with mineralization. Radiography demonstrated calcification of the nuchal ligament. The foal died 9 days after admission. Necropsy revealed mineralized lesions throughout the fascial planes and adipose tissues of the thorax, abdomen, and skeletal muscles, with little to no involvement of muscular tissue. Serum magnesium, copper, and thyroxine concentrations...
Copper, zinc and manganese concentrations in equine liver, kidney and plasma. Five groups of horses were fed different diets of known trace mineral concentration for a minimum of six months. Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) concentrations were measured in livers of 125 yearling horses and kidneys of 81 yearling horses as an assessment of trace mineral status. Plasma Cu and Zn determinations were made for all horses.Mean hepatic Cu concentrations of horses fed diets containing 6.9 to 15.2 mg Cu/kg dry matter (DM) feed were 0.27 to 0.33 mumol/g DM tissue. Plasma Cu concentrations ranged between 22.8 to 28.3 mumol/L. There was no simple mathematical relationship b...
A comparison of the mineral composition of milk of domestic and captive wild equids (Equus przewalski, E. zebra, E. burchelli, E. caballus, E. assinus). Milk samples were obtained in early and/or late lactation from Przewalski horses, Hartmann's zebras, Grant's zebras, domestic horses, ponies and a mule mare made pregnant by embryo transfer. Samples were compared for their content of total solids, ash, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, zinc and iron. Milk from the Przewalski horses, Hartmann's zebra and the domestic horse had similar mineral composition and the content of minerals was higher in early than in late lactation. Milk from the domestic mule contained the lowest concentration of calcium, phosphorus and zinc b...
Three-year study on trace mineral concentration in the blood plasma of Shetland pony mares. Changes in some trace minerals concentrations (calcium, inorganic phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, iron, copper, sodium and potassium) in blood plasma were investigated during a three-year period in Shetland pony mares. Blood plasma mineral concentrations were determined by the atomic absorption method and colorimetric method. The three-year averages were in micrograms/ml; Na 4630 +/- 168; K 277 +/- 3.8; Ca 171 +/- 3.8; P 31.5 +/- 0.74; Fe 1.92 +/- 0.14; Zn 1.07 +/- 0.04 and Cu 1.06 +/- 0.02. Two trace minerals (magnesium in inorganic phosphorus) showed only long-term tendency changes--upward or d...
Skeletal abnormalities in young horses associated with zinc toxicity and hypocuprosis. Four young horses grazing pastures near industrial plants developed illthrift, lameness and skeletal abnormalities characterised by periarticular enlargement of the long bones. The clinical signs and lesions were attributed to hypocuprosis induced by an excessive intake of zinc from pasture. High pasture intakes of iron may have further compounded the problem.
Mineral metabolism and immobilization osteopenia in ponies treated with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol. The left thoracic limb was immobilized in a plaster cast in 6 grade weanling ponies for 6 weeks. Two ponies were injected intramuscularly each day with 2.4 micrograms of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol [25(OH)D3] per kg bodyweight, two with 1.2 micrograms and two received no injections. Immobilization of 25(OH)D3 treatment had no significant effect on mineral metabolism. Immobilization resulted in significantly decreased weight and specific gravity of metacarpus III (MCIII). Histologic examination and triple fluorochrome incorporation showed that the osteopenia was caused by atrophy of osteoblasts w...
Assessment of the calcium and phosphorus nutrition in horses by analysis of urine. Studied were made to determine if a practical assessment of the calcium and phosphorus nutrition of horses could be obtained from an analysis of urine samples. The concentrations of Ca and P in urine samples changed markedly when groups of 4 mares were fed diets containing from 1.0 to 3.9 g Ca/kg and from 1.5 to 6.1 g P/kg, but serum concentrations of Ca and P remained relatively constant. The concentrations in single urine samples were considered unreliable indicators of excretion of the minerals because of variations in water excretion, and two methods to overcome this problem were examined....
Renal cadmium and zinc concentrations in horses in Norway. Much of the recent interest in cadmium has been inspired by concern about the increasing levels of this element in the environment. Exposure to low levels of cadmium may cause chronic effects. The intake of cadmium takes place mostly via foods. Therefore it is of interest to determine the cadmium levels in domestic animals in order to evaluate possible hazards both to animals and man.
Some nutritional problems of horses. The effects of overfeeding, calcium-phosphorus imbalance, misuse of supplements and false advertising on equine nutrition are discussed. Overfeeding is known to cause disorders in several species but, although a similar relationship has been suggested on clinical evidence, no controlled trials on horses have been reported. It has also been suggested that overfeeding is a problem only for those horses with a genetic predisposition to skeletal problems. The importance of adequate calcium and phosphorus levels has been known for many years but severe cases of calcium deficiency still occur. Clien...
[Circadian variations in the content of plasma constituants in the brood mare]. Twenty-one circadian blood sample profiles were made in heavy brood mares during pregnancy, lactation or the dry, non-pregnant period. The mares were fed forage-rich diets containing different levels of energy and nitrogen (table 1). Each profile consisted of 7 samples taken at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 7 p.m., 11 p.m., 4 a.m. and 8 a.m. The animals were fed at 8:30 a.m. The eleven plasma components evaluated were glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, acetate, alanine, insulin (energy metabolites), urea, total protein (nitrogen metabolites), calcium, inorganic phosphorus an...