You can meet your horse’s Na and Cl needs through salt. High quality forages usually contain enough Mg, K and S. Grains are usually higher in P and lower in Ca. Legumes usually contain more Ca than grasses. The Ca and P content in forages can vary. Make sure you know the Ca and P content of all feedstuffs so you can achieve the proper Ca:P. ![]() This can happen even if the total amounts of Ca and P are adequate. If horses receive adequate P, this ratio can range from:Ī ratio less than 1:1, where the P content exceeds the Ca content, can lead to orthopedic or bone disorders especially in young, growing horses. The Ca to P ratio should be about 2:1, where there’s twice as much Ca as P. Calcium to phosphorus ratioĪn important ratio in mineral nutrition of the horse is the Ca to P ratio (Ca:P). Not only must you consider the amount of minerals you provide, but also their ratios to one another and other parts of the ration. But providing too many minerals can result in toxicity. Mineral deficiencies occur when horse’s receive less minerals than recommended. It’s best to test your forage to determine its mineral content. Forage mineral content can change greatly with soil type, species, maturity at harvest, etc. ![]() With little change in mineral content for most grains, you can use the NRC values. ![]() The National Research Council’s (NRC) “Nutrient Requirement of Horses” lists daily mineral needs and mineral content of common feedstuffs. Physiological condition (e.g., pregnant, lactating)įor example, late gestation mares, lactating mares and young, rapidly growing horses require more of some minerals (e.g. A horse's mineral requirements vary based on the following.
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