Good hay, some concentrate and mineral feed - the horse should be well looked after. Or should it?

Horses are usually given standard mineral feed and their owners think that they can't do too much wrong with it. This is true, because there is generally not much you can do wrong with mineral feed. However, it takes more than a standardized mineral feed to specifically support your horse with regard to a deficiency. The fact that horses have a mineral deficiency is often only revealed by a blood test and this is usually only carried out when something is wrong with the horse.

The relevance of manganese was previously underestimated

Manganese is a trace element and is involved in many important metabolic processes in horses and is primarily found in the skeleton, but also in the liver, kidneys and pancreas.

Although manganese tends to take a back seat in horse nutrition, its relevance should not be underestimated. Manganese plays a decisive role in the horse's fat and mineral metabolism as well as in the formation of stable connective tissue and elastic cartilage. It is also partly responsible for bone stability, as it supports bone strength and bone growth by controlling the muscle cells known as osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Manganese is also involved in stress reduction, as it activates the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase, which promotes the breakdown of lactate after physical exertion. It acts like a catalyst for regeneration processes, so to speak.

What is the horse's manganese requirement?

The manganese requirement varies depending on the horse's use. You can calculate approx. 75-100 mg per 100 kg body weight of the horse. A 600 kg horse that is (not excessively) worked therefore requires approx. 450-600 mg of manganese per day. The manganese requirement can increase under stress, when high performance is required, in strong sunlight and at the end of pregnancy.

How do horses meet their manganese requirements?

Horses generally meet their manganese requirements mainly through grass and hay. As the levels here can vary greatly from 30-350 mg per kg of dry matter, it can be difficult to meet the horse's manganese requirements. Grass and hay from calcareous and sandy locations usually have low manganese levels, whereas the manganese content on mountainous areas is correspondingly high at up to 200-300 mg per kg dry matter.

Since herbs in particular have a high manganese content, forage rich in herbs is particularly suitable for covering the manganese requirement. As the manganese content in forage can vary greatly, manganese is generally contained in most mineral feed products. Feedstuffs containing manganese also include dandelion and oats, for example. However, these are not sufficient to cover the manganese requirement.

How does a manganese deficiency manifest itself?

A manganese deficiency can already occur in the womb due to a deficiency in the mare, but also due to stress, high performance and later deficiency. It can manifest itself in very different ways. Problems with the teeth, liver and connective tissue are not untypical with a manganese deficiency. Horses often feel sensitive after shoeing and are prone to laminitis.

The horses are tense, susceptible to infections and prone to allergies. In broodmares, a deficiency can lead to fertility problems. Manganese deficiency is often accompanied by elevated CK values. Elevated levels of CK activity indicate damage to the muscles. As manganese is involved in the formation of melanin, which is responsible for the pigmentation of the skin and coat, a manganese deficiency can also lead to a pigmentation disorder, for which a copper deficiency (copper spectacles) is often initially blamed.

How can a manganese deficiency be compensated for?

As the horse's bones have a good manganese storage capacity, manganese can easily be mobilized from the bones in deficiency situations. The liver, on the other hand, only stores small amounts of manganese. If the manganese requirement cannot be met by eating grass or hay, it is advisable to supplement manganese-rich feed supplements.

How is a manganese deficiency linked to gastric ulcers in horses?

Direct links between a manganese deficiency and gastric ulcers have not yet been scientifically proven. However, as manganese is partly responsible for stress reduction and stress favors the development of gastric ulcers, typical gastric ulcer symptoms and a low manganese level can be linked.

However, as gastric ulcers often have several causes, such as feeding errors and/or severe stress, a manganese deficiency alone can certainly be ruled out as the cause of gastric ulcers. However, if this is added to other factors that favor gastric ulcers, it is possible that the occurrence of a gastric ulcer can be promoted as a result.

More on this topic

You can find lots more information on feeding horses with stomach problems on our Feeding horses with stomach problems page.

Horses with stomach problems need additional support. It is important to know which feed is suitable for your horse and which should be avoided .