Functioning of zinc (Zn) in horses

In humans, zinc is the trace element that is often deficient and is important for the skin. This may be due to a zinc deficiency in the soil in many places, resulting in food containing lower levels of zinc.

Scientific name:

Zn

Type:

Trace element

Functioning of zinc in horses:

• Important component for enzymes

• Influences cell division

• Important for the skin

The highest concentration of zinc in horses is found in the pancreas, hoof horn, and liver. However, the largest amount of zinc is stored in the muscle tissue, about 56% of the total zinc. Zinc is an important component for many enzymes:

• Superoxide dismutase

• Liver dehydrogenase

• Alkaline phosphatase

Due to the involvement with these enzymes, zinc is important for many cellular processes, including DNA and RNA replication. Zinc is involved in cell division and preserving genetic information.

It is suggested that a zinc deficiency is related to insulin resistance in horses due to its involvement in glucose metabolism. However, there is still no clear evidence for this.

Zinc also plays a crucial role in skin health. A low zinc concentration affects hoof strength, hardness, and overall skin condition. However, this often coincides with other deficiencies/disorders.

Zinc deficiency in horses

Horses can have a zinc deficiency in their bodies. This is mainly due to the fact that the soil in many parts of the Netherlands is low in zinc. Zinc is present in grass and hay. In addition, an excess of proteins has a negative effect on the zinc balance in the body. Excessive proteins disrupt gut bacteria, resulting in reduced zinc absorption. Excess proteins also increase the body's need for zinc, as it is a liver detox enzyme. A zinc deficiency can be recognized by the following symptoms:

• Dull coat

• Itching resembling summer eczema

• Poor hooves

• Weak immune system

• Grease heel

• Fertility problems

• Neurotic behavior

• Problems with mucous membranes

• poor shedding

• Growth delay

• Low insulin levels

• Hair loss

A zinc deficiency can be diagnosed by a veterinarian through a blood test. You can also have a hay analysis done to see how many minerals it contains.

Zinc requirements for horses

A horse needs about 500 mg of zinc per day. It is important not to feed it together with iron or copper, as this affects absorbability. Since Dutch soils often have a higher iron content, the zinc from hay or grass is barely absorbed by the horse's body. Therefore, supplementing zinc to horses may be beneficial. Zinc is found in some concentrates. However, it is even better to supplement the zinc deficiency with a mineral mixture. This is because a mineral mixture contains even more trace elements that are also scarce in Dutch grass and hay.