Because these ratios can be easily thrown off in the diet, it’s best to leave trace mineral supplement formulations up to the professionals. Another example: too much zinc can decrease the bioavailability of copper. For example, too little copper can impair the uptake of iron. Trace mineral ratios and interactionsĪnother factor that can affect the bioavailability of trace minerals (and some major minerals) has to do with their ratios in the diet. Chelation is the process of attaching a mineral to an amino acid or another organic component in order to make the mineral more bioavailable. Organic minerals come in just three forms: hydrocarbons, salts, and organic acids, but you will usually see them listed on feed or supplement tags as chelates or proteinates. This is known as bioavailability ,and the more bioavailable a mineral is, the lower the concentration that will be needed in the diet. Because carbon is the primary component of all living things, this makes organic minerals naturally more absorbable and usable by the animal. Organic, or chelated minerals for horses, on the other hand, are chemically bonded to a molecule containing carbon. In some cases, this can be detrimental to the environment. This means that a portion of inorganic minerals simply pass through the horse, coming out in urine and feces. Though inorganic minerals can be incorporated into living tissue, they aren’t fully absorbable and usable by the animal. For many years, inorganic trace minerals were standard in most horse and livestock feeds. Inorganic trace minerals are fairly easy to produce, and therefore, come at a lower cost to consumers. You will often see inorganic minerals listed as sulfates or oxides on the feed or supplement label. That is, a molecule that doesn’t contain carbon. Inorganic trace minerals are bonded to an inorganic molecule. *Selenium can be toxic if overdosed, so it’s best to have forage or blood levels tested before supplementing. The most commonly deficient trace minerals in the equine diet are copper, zinc, iodine, and selenium*, but this will vary, depending on where you live or where your hay is sourced. Many trace minerals can be found in grass and hay, but the only way to know the exact amounts is by having your forage tested. The trace minerals that all horses require in their diet include: In feeds and supplements, you will usually see them expressed as ppm: parts per million. Trace minerals are usually present in the horse’s body and in the diet at levels less than 0.01 percent (100 ppm). You will also sometimes hear them referred to as microminerals. Trace minerals are only required in small amounts, especially when compared with major minerals. There are two main classes of minerals needed by horses: trace and major minerals. Minerals help with many vital processes in the body such as energy production, metabolism, and muscle contraction. They are essential to the wellbeing of all living things, including horses, and help to make up many important parts of the body including blood cells, muscles, bone, and soft tissue. All minerals are molecules, also known as elements, that come from the earth. To back up a little, let’s discuss what minerals are exactly. However, when it comes to deciphering labels, horse owners may be unsure which forms of trace minerals are best for their horse. Feeding a commercial feed product with added minerals or a vitamin and mineral supplement for horses can help to correct any nutritional imbalances or deficiencies.
While it’s true that forages do contain some trace minerals, it’s usually not enough or provided in the correct ratios. This is especially important when it comes to providing sufficient protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Therefore, commercial feed and supplement companies have stepped in to fill in the nutritional gaps that result from the modern-day domesticated lifestyle of horses. In the real world, however, this just isn’t feasible in most situations. Ideally, horses should get all of their nutrition from grass and other plants as they roam and graze over large areas of land.
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