Complementary feeding stuff rich in trace elements,...
Zinc
Function: Zinc (Zn) is present in the body as a component of more than 100 enzymzes including many metalloenzymes.
Function:
Zinc (Zn) is present in the body as a component of more than 100 enzymzes including many metalloenzymes. Zn is crucial for normal growth and maturation and it plays an important role in neural activity.
Sources:
Many feedstuffs contain 15 – 40 mg Zn/kg dry matter. Inorganic salts.
Daily requirements (NRC, 2007):
40 mg Zn/kg dietary dry matter (DM). Max: 500 mg Zn/kg ration.
N.B. 500 kg horse eats approximately 2% of its body weight per day i.e. 10kg dietary DM/day.
Deficiency:
Inappetence, reduced growth rate, parakeratosis, alopecia, developmental orthopaedic disease, impaired reproduction.
Excess:
Enlarged epiphyses (region of bone growth adjacent to joints), stiffness of gait, lameness, osteochondrosis, weight loss.
When problems may occur?
- Copper deficiency induced by zinc toxicosis.
- Calcium deficiency induced by zinc deficiency.
- Foals managed on grassland contaminated with industrial polluants (e.g. zinc, cadmium) have an increased prevalence of osteochondrosis.