FREE CHOICE MINERALS FOR HORSES
 
 

Technical Bulletin 1-93

Buckeye Equine Nutrition's recommendation of free choice minerals for all horses is to provide Harvest Salt as the only source of salt in known copper and selenium deficient areas (see U.S. map) and provide the appropriate major mineral mixture, Alfa Plus Mineral with legume forages (alfalfa and clover) or Grass Plus Mineral with grass forage (bluegrass, timothy, bermuda)

1. Low: Approximately 80% of all forage and grain contain < 0.10 ppm selenium
2. Variable: Approximately 50% of all forage and grain contain > 0.10 ppm selenium
3. Adequate: Approximately 80% of all forage and grain contain > 0.10 ppm selenium

Salt and trace mineral are the first nutrients which are inadequate in a high forage diet, so we combined these and called it Harvest Salt. The levels of trace minerals (manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, and selenium) in Harvest Salt were determined based on the horses requirements and the amount of salt they will consume each day. These levels are the result of Buckeye Equine Nutrition's extensive research on trace mineral absorption to determine the horses daily requirements.

Selenium was added to Harvest Salt because we are in a selenium deficient area. Every ounce of Harvest Salt contains 1.0 mg of selenium. Remember, there is no selenium in white or trace mineral salt. If the only selenium you are feeding is in the grain mix and intake is limited, the available selenium is also limited.

The next limiting nutrient in a high forage diet is Phosphorus. We do not mix or recommend mixing phosphorus and salt together when providing free choice minerals. We do not want salt to inhibit phosphorus consumption nor do we want to force excess phosphorus, which can be detrimental, with the salt. The amount of phosphorus in grasses and legumes is very similar. However, these different forages vary greatly in protein and several other minerals (see figure 1). Therefore, Buckeye Equine Nutrition has formulated two different major mineral mixes. With a legume forage, Alfa Plus Mineral, with a 8:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio, is recommended. With a grass forage, Grass Plus Mineral, with a 3.5:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio, is the choice to best complement your forage. The amounts of all other nutrients in each mineral mix is based on: 1) the nutrient levels in each type of forage (figure 1), 2) the horses daily requirements of all major minerals, trace minerals and vitamins, and 3) the amount of phosphorus required daily.
 
 

Figure 1: Mineral Content in Legume vs. Grass Forage

Figure 2: Mineral Profile to Complement Legume or Grass Forage

As you can see, the mineral levels which are low in forages are high in the appropriate free choice mineral, and those nutrients which are high in forages are low in the appropriate mineral. This is why we recommend feeding the correct mineral based on your type of forage. One mineral mixture will not balance both types of forage.

When the type of forage changes (i.e. summer grass pasture to alfalfa hay in the winter), Buckeye Equine Nutrition recommends changing: 1) the protein and mineral levels in your grain mix and 2) the free choice mineral to complement your forage (figure 2).

Buckeye Equine Nutrition's free choice feeding program is essential to all horses when limited or no grain mixture is fed. The built in safety feature, to prevent overconsumption of trace minerals (especially iodine and selenium), is that one half of the horses total daily requirement is in Harvest Salt and the other half is in the Alfa Plus Mineral or Grass Plus Mineral.

The most effective and accurate free choice mineral program for horses is to provide in separate containers 1) Harvest Salt and 2) Grass Plus Mineral or Alfa Plus Mineral, whichever is correct for your type of forage.

HARVEST SALT

Free Choice in all copper & selenium deficient areas

Available in 4lb. bricks & 50 lb. blocks or bags

Salt 94%
Manganese 4000 ppm
Zinc 5000 ppm
Copper 2500 ppm
Cobalt 150 ppm
Iodine 40 ppm
Selenium 40 ppm
 
 

Grass Plus Mineral Free Choice when feeding grass forages. Available in 50lb blocks or bags. Calcium.......................24% Phosphorus....................7% Potassium.....................2.5% Magnesium.....................1.5% Sulfur........................2.0% Manganese................800 ppm Zinc..........................1500 ppm Copper........................800 ppm Cobalt........................25 ppm Iodine........................15 ppm

Alfa Plus Mineral Free Choice when feeding legume forages. Available in 50 lb. blocks or bags. Calcium.......................9% Phosphorus....................12% Magnesium.....................2.5% Manganese.....................1200 ppm Zinc..........................2200 ppm Copper........................1000 ppm Cobalt........................30 ppm Iodine........................20 ppm Selenium......................12 ppm Vitamin E.....................1350 IU/lb. Selenium......................10 ppm Vitamin E.....................1000 IU/lb.