What is vitamin A for horses?

Vitamin A is important in equine diets because of its powerful antioxidant action. This vitamin also supports vision, reproductive functions, and the equine immune system.

How much vitamin A do horses need?

The vitamin A requirement of adult horses at maintenance is 30 IU/kg (1 kg equals 2.2 pounds) of body weight. For growing and exercising horses, it is 45 IU/kg of body weight. A 500-kg (1,100-pounds) horse would therefore need 15,000 IU of vitamin A per day at rest and 22,500 IU per day when working.

Is grass high in vitamin A?

Cattle grazing green grass get plenty of vitamin A. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz. Vitamin A is an important nutrient for beef cattle. While grazing green grass, cattle get plenty of vitamin A but during the winter vitamin A may be deficient and should be supplemented.

How much vitamin A is too much for a horse?

The upper safe limit of 16,000 IU/kg DM breaks down to 320 IU/kg BW/day, whereas toxicity levels have been recorded at around 1,000 IU/kg BW/day. For example, if a 1,100-lb (500- kg) horse consumes 1 lb (0.45 kg) of a ration balancer that contains 20,000 IU/lb, it would supply a total of 20,000 IU of vitamin A.

Is vitamin A in hay?

As shown above, high-quality hay may contain 50 to 100 percent of the Vitamin A needed.

Ask the Vet - Why do horses need Vitamin E?

Where do horses get Vit A?

Vitamin A is synthesized in the horse's intestine from beta-carotene, which is abundant in fresh forage, so grazing horses are usually well supplied. Freshly cut hay also contains some vitamin A, but the level declines quickly after the hay is baled.

Does alfalfa hay have vitamin A?

Alfalfa has a high nutritional quality, containing vitamins A, D, E, K, U, C, B1, B2, B6, B12, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Inositol, Biotin, and Folic acid.

How do you treat vitamin A deficiency in horses?

Feeding a fortified grain product at the recommended level will provide vitamin A to horses that do not have access to fresh forage. Diets that are deficient in vitamin A will result in problems in bone growth, defects in growth and differentiation of epithelial tissues, and lowered resistance to disease and infection.

Are horse supplements a waste of money?

However, horse supplements are not all the same, and some don't include effective ingredients and are a waste of money. Horses develop arthritis and other types of joint pain from overwork, age, or genetics. The use of joint supplements is a common way to combat arthritis and other types of joint pain in horses.

Can you over supplement a horse?

Besides dietary inefficiency, piling on too many supplements could increase the risk of accidentally overloading a horse on one nutrient which could cause health problems or toxicity.

How do animals get vitamin A?

The best source of this vitamin is beta-carotene, a pigment in green plants that animals convert to vitamin A. If cattle are grazing green grass they will get plenty of vitamin A. Deficiencies can be an issue at times when the grass isn't green such as winter or during drought.

Do horses get vitamin D from the sun?

Horses derive vitamin D through the feedstuffs they ingest, but horses can also synthesize vitamin D when their skin is exposed to sunlight. Under natural conditions, grazing horses are exposed to many hours of sunlight every day, theoretically producing enough vitamin D to meet their needs.

Do horses need B vitamins?

B Vitamin Sources

All B vitamins are essential to horses and are therefore needed in the diet on a regular basis. B vitamins are plentiful in grass and some cereal grains. Microorganisms, primarily in the hind gut, synthesise B vitamins which are absorbed through the intestinal wall.

Does my horse need a vitamin supplement?

Horses need vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K for optimal health. The quantities needed are small, but the effects are important. For some vitamins, too much in the horse's diet is just as bad as too little.

What supplements should a horse have?

Horses need antioxidant vitamins like vitamins A, E, and K. They may also need Vitamin C and D as well as biotin to maintain hoof health. A horse also needs balanced minerals like iron, calcium, phosphorus, selenium, and other trace minerals.

What vitamins are in grass for horses?

Grass contains key nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins A and E, but those nutrients are reduced when it is cut, dried, and stored as hay. Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to your horse's well-being because they help support cellular health and a normal response to inflammation.

Is turmeric good for horses joints?

Perhaps the most important and relevant benefit of turmeric for horse owners is its incredible anti-inflammatory effects, which is excellent news for joint health in horses—turmeric is able to reduce inflammation and the associated pain substantially when added to your horse's diet.

What is the best anti-inflammatory for horses?

NonSteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as phenylbutazone (Bute), flunixin meglumine (Banamine) and firocoxib (Equioxx) are commonly used in equine patients to help relieve pain, decrease inflammation, and control fever.

How do you know if your horse needs magnesium?

How do you tell if a horse has a mineral deficiency?

What are the causes of vitamin deficiency in horses?

In general, equine vitamin deficiency can be attributed to a diet that does not fully meet your horse's needs. Feed composed primarily of poor-quality hay, for example, can lead to vitamin E and K deficiencies, which can result in low energy levels and overall reduced health. Geography is another contributing factor.

What are the symptoms of Cushing's disease in horses?

Clinical signs include increased coat length and delayed shedding of the winter coat, laminitis, lethargy, increased sweating, weight loss and excessive drinking and urinating. The disease primarily affects those over the age of 10, with 19 being the average age at diagnosis.

What is the most nutritious hay for horses?

Legume Hay for Horses

Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.

Can too much alfalfa cause laminitis?

Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense than typical grass hay, more care needs to be taken when feeding alfalfa. Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.

What hay is best for Laminitic horses?

Generally, a mixture of grass hay and alfalfa is the best hay combination for horses prone to laminitis.