TRACE MINERAL NUTRITION FOR HORSES
 
 

Trace minerals such as copper, zinc manganese, cobalt, iodine and selenium are commonly added to horse feeds. These are necessary for red blood cell formation, bone and cartilage growth, reproduction and many enzyme functions. Trace mineral needs are higher in horses that are pregnant, lactating, growing and training.

Inorganic trace minerals such as oxides and sulfates are usually added to horse feeds. These minerals vary widely in their bioavailability. Organic trace minerals are sulfates which have been chelated with kelp (sequestered), amino acids or hydrolyzed protein. Organic trace minerals are utilized better than inorganic sources because less is tied up in the feed and/or gut and made digestible.
 
 

SEQUESTERED ( CHELATED) TRACE MINERALS

Sequestered (SQM) Trace Minerals are a chelate made by a patented process whereby sulfate trace minerals are reacted with kelp. This sulfate/kelp chelate is very stable in feed and the upper digestive tract yet easily absorbed from the small intestine. Sequestered Trace Minerals are listed as a polysaccharide complex in the ingredient section on a feed label. SQM Trace Minerals provide the following benefits in horse feeds:

• Resist being tied up and made indigestible by mineral antagonists in the feed such as excess calcium (alfalfa), molybdenum (some hays), phytic acid (grains and soybean meal), fiber (roughage's) and high sulfates in certain water.
• Up to four times more available than oxides and sulfates.
• Support maximum bone and cartilage formation.
• Assist in fertility functions such as timely rebreeding.
• Maintain strong hooves and healthy hair coat.

SEQUESTERED TRACE MINERAL RESEARCH

Buckeye Horse Feeds now contain Sequestered Trace Minerals. SQM Trace Minerals have been used successfully in Buckeye Foal-Aide, Foal Starter and Endurance 101. The foal products support key growth factors that reduce nutrition related problems involved with Developmental Orthopedic Disease (DOD).

Research done at Cornell by Dr. Hintz compared SQM Copper, copper sulfate, SQM Zinc and zinc oxide. This was a balance trial where ponies were kept in metabolism crates and the waste products were collected. All the feed and waste products were assayed for copper and zinc content. The difference in mineral between the feed and the waste was the amount actually absorbed and utilized. This research showed the SQM Trace Minerals were significantly more available than the inorganic sources (see below table).

RELATIVE MINERAL ABSORPTION

	Copper	Zinc
SQM Trace Mineral	155%	125%
Inorganic Sources	100%	100%

Field research in Oregon showed even more dramatic results! In this trial, the amount of trace mineral required to achieve an acceptable blood level of copper and zinc was determined. The trace mineral sources evaluated were SQM, oxide and sulfate. The results shown below indicated it took 240% - 400% more of the inorganic sources to support the same mineral level in the bloodstream as compared to the SQM Copper and SQM Zinc.
 
 

This research and the success using Buckeye Foal-Aide clearly indicate SQM Trace Minerals are highly bioavailable to horses. This improved trace mineral nutrition supports maximum bone growth and strength in growing and training horses, superior fertility, sound hooves and a healthy hair coat.