Page 31 - March 2007 The Game
P. 31

Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper The Game, March 2007 31
Special Advertorial Feature
Health & Nutrition 2007
hoof quality will be poor regardless of what other nutrients are present.
Protein, of course, is made up of amino acids, some of which the horse can synthesize himself. The rest, called the “essential” amino acids, he has to glean from his diet – and he puts them to work synthesizing collagen, bone protein matrix, the keratin and keratin-associated proteins, and the intercellular ‘cement’ which make up a hoof. Sulphur- containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine have been identified as being particularly important in forming cross-links in protein such as keratin (the “building block” of the hoof wall), and methionine deficiencies lead to poor growth, low stress tolerance, poor adaptation to exercise, and hoof and skin problems, according to Swenson. But as with everything in nutrition, it’s the overall amino acid balance which is most critical. Excessive levels of any one amino acid can be just as damaging as levels that are too low.
Energy derived from fibre (roughage), carbohydrates (grain) and fats (such as vegetable oil) fuels all of the horse’s metabolic functions, including his ability to grow hoof horn. A horse whose energy needs are not being met will show it not only in his lacklustre performance but also in his body condition, coat and hooves.
In addition to these two critical ingredients, there are several vitamins and minerals which are players in the formation of good hooves:
Calcium and phosphorus – essential for skeletal soundness; these two inextricably linked minerals are deposited in collagen for structural strength. They help make up the connectors between the bones in the interior of the foot and the innermost soft tissue layers.
Zinc – this mineral is a crucial component of an enzyme
which is responsible for collagen synthesis and turnover, and it helps with all kinds of growth and repair functions throughout the body. It’s also an anti-oxidant, which helps maintain cells in a healthy way. In studies, zinc deficiencies have led to bone and joint problems, abnormal skin and hooves, and poor wound healing. On the flip side, though, too much zinc can interfere with the absorption of other minerals, especially...
Copper – the formation of bone and connective tissue are dependent on the presence of copper. Cross-links of collagen fibres, which increase the strength of the hoof wall, are also formed thanks to an enzyme which contains copper. The mineral also contributes to the elasticity of blood vessel walls in the hoof and throughout the body, and acts as an anti- oxidant. But perhaps its most important role in hoof health is as an assistant in the formation of disulphide bonds in keratin. Deficiencies of copper can trigger bone and joint disease, tendon and ligament problems, and poor hoof quality ... and too much copper can depress the absorption of zinc. (Copper, in fact, has a complicated give-and-take relationship with other minerals too, including sulphur, molybdenum, and iron.)
Manganese – a trace mineral involved in fetal skeletal development and the production of chondroitin sulphate (which, as most of us know by now, is a component of healthy cartilage and an inhibitor of enzymes which seek to destroy cartilage). It also works as an anti-oxidant, helping to protect cell membranes inside the hoof. Swenson noted that supplementing zinc, copper, and manganese together often yields a bigger improvement in hoof wall quality than supplementing with zinc alone.
Vitamin A – deficiencies of this vitamin are rare unless you’re feeding very poor-quality hay (usually more than a year old) and can lead to inflammation of the coronary band.
Vitamin A helps the horse’s bones ‘remodel’ in response to repeated stresses. But overdoing this vitamin, which is fat- soluble and is stored in the horse’s tissues, can lead to abnormal bone deposits and an unusually fragile skeletal structure.
Vitamin D – regulates calcium and phosphorus plasma levels and helps control how much of these minerals are absorbed and deposited (or extracted) from bone.
Vitamin E and selenium - are another closely-linked pair that function in cell membrane protection and assist the immune system. Although horses can tolerate high levels of Vitamin E (any amount not absorbed for other uses is put to work as an anti-oxidant in the horse’s system), we have to be very careful with selenium because it’s easy to reach a toxicity level with this mineral. Supplementing too much selenium to a horse who doesn’t need it can lead to chronic hoof cracking, loss of mane and tail hair, and even the sloughing off of the entire hoof capsule.
Biotin – this B vitamin appears to be important in the adhesion of cells in the outer hoof wall, a key factor in a hoof’s strength and integrity. Said Swenson, “Biotin functions like mortar, holding the bricks together. More biotin can give you better mortar, but you still need good, solid bricks from other nutrients.” She added that biotin supplementation seems to be most effective in correcting defects in the outer hoof wall, especially in horses with shelly or brittle feet.
Building a hoof, she stressed, starts at the cellular level. “Understanding the role of nutrients and how they relate to growth, maintenance and repair is critical for decision making. Balanced nutrition is the key. Feeding high levels of one or more nutrients disrupts the balance.”
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