Hoof Nutrition Intelligence 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 the form of zinc used in the diet have any impact on hoof quality and growth?

By Peter Huntington and Chris Pollitt

A: The form of zinc in the diet may have some relevance to poor-footed horses, as chelated zinc may produce hoof growth and quality results when inorganic zinc does not work as an essential mineral source.

Chelated zinc contains zinc that is bound to an amino acid and the zinc is absorbed with the protein, which potentially enhances absorption. Chelated zinc is used widely in dairy cattle to improve hoof strength and most hoof supplements contain chelated zinc.

Peter Huntington works with Kentucky Equine Research Australasia and Chris Pollitt is a retired staff member with the Laminitis Research Unit at the University of Queensland in Queensland, Australia.

Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is brought to you by W.F. Young Co. (Absorbine). 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 April 1, 2015 installment: How should a horse be fed that does not have any apparent hoof concerns?

Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.