Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.
Below you will find Part 1 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.
Q: Does sulphur play a critical role in developing high quality hooves?
By J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS, and Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS, Life Data Labs
Adequate amounts of sulphur are needed to build the strong cross links necessary for developing healthy hoof horn.
However, excessive amounts of sulphur can interfere with copper metabolism, leading to weak connective tissue structure and poor hoof quality.
J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS and Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS are veterinarians and equine nutritionists at Life Data Labs, Inc.in Cherokee, Ala.
Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is brought to you by W.F. Young Co. (Absorbine). 
Like many significant achievements, Absorbine® grew out of humble beginnings—and through the tenacity of someone willing to question the status quo. In this case, it was a young woman in late 19th-century Massachusetts: Mary Ida Young. Her husband, Wilbur Fenelon Young, was an enterprising piano deliveryman who relied on the couple’s team of horses to make deliveries throughout the Northeast. Inspired by Mary Ida and Wilbur’s vision, Absorbine® has continued to add innovative products throughout the years — products used every day by horse owners around the world. Which is why, since 1892, we’ve been The Horse World’s Most Trusted Name®.
Click here to read Part 2 of the Feb. 1, 2019 installment: My farrier says one of my horses has hoof horn that is brittle and easily chipped or split. How can I correct this situation?
Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.