Mineral Details
The health and performance of your horse demands a solid nutrition program. Horses require a different level of nutrition based on their age, activity levels and other factors. Trace minerals including zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt are essential for horse health, growth and performance.
Best of Show in Equine Nutrition
At Zinpro, our area of expertise is trace mineral nutrition, and we did much of the pioneering research on trace minerals for the livestock industry. This research proves that it isn’t enough to simply add ordinary trace minerals to a horse’s diet, since they often pass through the animal without ever being absorbed. Zinpro Performance Minerals® are designed for optimum absorption, providing the highest trace mineral absorption in the industry.
Trace Mineral Functions
The trace minerals zinc, copper, manganese and cobalt have been proven to positively affect many vital functions in horses. Some of these functions include:
|
Hoof Condition
|
| Zinc |
Cell division to support hoof wall growth and repair |
| Hoof wall protein synthesis: collagen, keratins, cell envelope proteins and intercellular cementing substance |
| Copper |
Synthesis and maintenance of elastic connective tissue |
| Cross-linkage formation in collagen and elastin |
| Bond formation in hoof wall proteins for rigidity |
| Manganese |
Antioxidant activity to protect cell membrane |
|
Reproduction
|
| Zinc |
Reproductive tract tissue integrity |
| Conception rates |
| Sperm maturation and quality |
| Copper |
Early embryonic survivals |
| Estrus and conception rate |
| Central nervous system development in offspring |
| Manganese |
Reproductive hormone synthesis |
| Male libido |
| Fetal skeletal development |
|
Joints and Skeleton
|
| Zinc |
Cell division and protein synthesis for skeletal growth and repair |
| Copper |
Formation of connective tissue (tendons and ligaments), bones and cartilage lining joints |
| Manganese |
Chondroitin sulfate synthesis which is important for formation, maintenance and repair of joint cartilage |
| Bone matrix development and maintenance |
|
Skin and Coat
|
| Zinc and manganese |
Epidermal (skin) cell maintenance through cell division, protein synthesis and antioxidant activity to remove superoxide radicals |
| Facilitates wound healing |
| Copper |
Normal production and maintenance of skin and hair pigmentation |
|
Immunity
|
| Zinc, copper and manganese |
Humoral immune system: builds antibodies in response to vaccination |
| Cell-mediated immunity |
| Non-specific immunity |
| Antioxidant activity to remove free radicals and protect cell membranes |
|
Feed Digestibility
|
| Cobalt |
Cecal fiber digestion by bacteria resulting in increased energy availability from forage |
| Vitamin B12 synthesis |