Hoof Health

Improving Hoof Health through Nutrition

 Dr C.E. Foote

Equine Consulting Services

 There are three main influences on the condition of the horses hoof:

1. Genetics - Influence on horn production, horn quality and hoof form
2. Nutrition - Influence on horn production and hoof horn quality
3. Environmental influences:
   1. Humidity, temperature, faeces and urine in beddings;
   2. Work of the horse and quality of the soil;
   3. Hoof care and farriery

Feeds and their influence on the condition of the hoof horn

Recent studies have demonstrated encouraging results where nutrition or nutritional supplements can improve hoof conditions in horses.

Proteins and amino acids

Sufficient protein supply is required for good hoof-horn quality. 

Supplements of methionine are frequently recommended as well as protein sources gelatin or sulfur components as sources for the keratin-synthesis. However, in a recent article by Kempson (2005), methionine was discussed as being vital for the healthy horse but highly toxic in excess. The effect of excess methionine on the hoof horn was discussed as being the progressive degeneration of the hoof horn, spreading outwards from the white line. The horse will apparently be intermittently lame, with sore feet and have difficulty holding the shoe on for more than a few days. Excess methionine is suggested to cause a depletion of zinc, copper and iron and can lead to growth of weak, parakeratinized horn, typical of zinc deficiency. A well-balanced diet containing adequate protein levels (10-12% protein) will not be deficient in methionine, so further justification for supplementation may be questionable.

Carbohydrates

In order to prevent laminitis, carbohydrate-overload should be avoided. 

Grains such as corn and barley are high in indigestible starch and should be minimized in the ration. 

Fructans from pasture can have the same effect.

Minerals

Calcium supplementation may be required, depending on the amount already provided in the ration. Diets based on oats and pelleted feedstuffs may contain high quantities of phosphorus as phytate, which will block the absorption of calcium from the intestines. A deficiency of calcium will cause a crumbling of the hoof horn, particularly around the nail holes and general collapse of the heel horn (Kempson, 2005). A good source of calcium is lucerne, which is readily absorbed by the horse.

Researchers have also suggested that high levels of inorganic zinc could improve hoof condition (Coenen and Spitzleik, 1996).

Copper has also been shown to be associated with hoof condition in other species, with copper deficient cattle showing more heel cracks, foot rot and sole abscesses (Puls, 1984).

Excess selenium may result in decay of the hoof horn near the coronary border (Meyer and Coenen, 2002). Since feeding supplementary selenium has become fashionable, more and more horses with poor quality horn are showing signs of selenium toxicity (Kempson, 2005).

Vitamins

Vitamin A plays a role in the development and maintenance of epithelial cells and horn tissue. The daily requirement of about 40000 units Vitamin A is met by most rations with a small supplement.

Biotin

Several studies have shown that biotin supplementation improves hair coat and hoof strength and decreases incidence of heel, heel-horn junction, and sidewall horn cracks and lameness in swine fed corn-soybean diets (Bryant et al., 1985), is of benefit in some cases for human fingernails (Irving, 1978) and therefore may be of benefit for horses.  Horses with thin, brittle hoof walls, cracks, and open white lines prone to infection have been reported to display marked improvement within five months of giving 15mg biotin/day to Thoroughbreds and twice this amount to drafts (Comben et al., 1984, Wintzer, 1987).  Improvements were noted but there were no controls.  Biotin supplemention has also been shown to be of significant benefit in a double blind study of 42 Lipizzaner stallions, 90% of which had hoof conditions described above (Linden et al., 1993).  In this study, 26 horses were fed 20mg per day d-biotin for 2.5 yrs, and by 14 months overall hoof condition was 30% better in biotin supplemented horses. It took 6 months before signs of improvement occurred, and 19 months for an improvement in white line condition, horn histology and an increase in hoof tensile strength to occur. There are other studies which describe biotin only being beneficial for specific defects. Despite previously mentioned data on methionine supplementation, tensile strength measurements in horses have been shown to reach higher values following supplementation with a combination of biotin, zinc and methionine compared to biotin alone (Munzinger, 2005).

The secret of good nutrition is a balance. With equine nutrition the key is: keep it simple, keep it natural and keep it balanced. Hoof condition will improve and the horse will shine. For further information on nutritional manipulation of rations for improved hoof condition, please contact Equine Consulting Services at info@equineconsultingservices.com.au or 0418 488 718.

Copyright Ó 2008 Equine Consulting Services

References

Much of the reference material presented in this document was sourced from:

Geyer, H. (2005). Nutritional management to keep the hoof healthy. Equine Nutritional Conference

Lewis, L. (1995). Equine Clinical Nutrition, Feeding and Care. Williams and Wilkins.

Other references cited:

Bryant, K, Kornegay, E., Knight, J et al. (1985). Supplemental biotin for swine III. J. Anim. Sci 60, 154-162.

Coenen, M, Spitzlei. (1996). Pferdeheilkunde, 12, 279 – 283.

Comben, N., Clark, R., Sutherland, D. (1984). Clinical observations on the response of equine hoof defects to dietary supplementation with biotin. Vet Rec 22/29, 642-645.

Irving, G. (1978). Chairman and Select Committee on GRAS Substances: Evaluations of the Health Aspects of Biotin as a Food Ingredient. LSRO-FASED, Bethesda, MD 20014, pp1-16.

Josseck, H., Zenker, W., Geyer, H. (1995). Hoof horn abnormalities in Lipazzaner horses and the effect of dietary biotin on macroscopic aspects of hoof horn quality. Equine Vet. J. 27, 175 – 182.

Linden, J., Josseck, H., Zenker, W. et al. (1993). The effect of D-biotin supplementation in Lipizzaner horses. Proc Equine Nutr & Physiol Soc Symp, pp 58-63.

Meyer, H., Coenen, M. (2002). Pferdefűtterung. 4. Aufl. Parey Buchverlag Berlin.

Munzinger, K. (2005). Diss. Med. Vet., Zűrich.

Puls, R. (1984). Mineral levels in animal health. Diagnostic data, 2^nd ed, Sherpa International, Clearbrook, BC, Canada.

Wintzer, H. (1987). As reported by Hintz, H: Biotin. Equine Pract 9, 4-5.