Zinc And Copper Supplement For Horses

Zinc plays an important role in improving the immune system and aids in wound healing better stress tolerance and fewer infections.

Zinc and copper supplement for horses.

If a horse is deficient in copper symptoms can be joint problems in growing horses uterine artery rupture in older broodmares weakened aortic ring heart anemia and a lack of hair pigmentation. Zinc in combination with copper supports the production of melanin in darkly colored manes and coats. Dramatic improvements in hoof quality are often seen following adequate zinc and copper supplementation. High copper levels interfere with zinc and selenium absorption.

High levels of calcium and copper can reduce zinc absorption so the kind of hay being fed may have an impact on the amount of zinc required by the horse. Copper and zinc levels need to be present in the correct ratios. First of all copper and zinc are classified as trace minerals because they are required in far less quantities compared to ca p na cl etc. This month we will discuss two important trace minerals copper cu and zinc zn.

For a 1 100 pound horse at rest this is 50 mg of copper and 200 mg zinc. The national resource council s nutrient requirements of horses 2007 recommends that zn and cu be fed in a 4 1 ratio 4 parts zn to 1 part cu for mature horses to ensure proper absorption of. Only dietary analysis can tell you the precise amounts needed but consider a ballpark figure of 300 mg of copper and 750 mg zinc as the starting point for horses showing outward evidence of deficiency. We will discuss them together as they are most commonly discussed in relation to developmental orthopedic diseases in young horses.

Poor coat mouth. It would rarely be the right thing to add copper to your horses feed on it s own. Supplementing the diet with copper can cause problems. Poor hoof quality despite good health care such as brittle flaking hoof walls thrush etc may indicate a zinc deficiency.

A significant amount of zinc about 20 21 mg l is lost in sweat. Copper aids in utilizing iron and it is also important for horses with allergies as it is able to lower the concentration of histamine in the body. Copper is closely involved with several other vitamins and minerals. In the hard working horse this zinc loss can be substantial.

While the minerals we previously. An excess of one will cause a problem with the absorption of the other. Order copper and zinc supplements for horses from kauffman s a division of daniel baum company and build on your equine s healthy diet with coat hoof and bone support.