THE HORSE GAZETTE
equine health
the way of the horse
pumping iron
By Eleanor Blazer © 2009
Has your horse got load. The small amount of iron
water is inorganic and harder
“iron-poor, tired blood”? he would loose through sweat
to absorb, but high levels could
In the late 1950’s and other bodily functions will
increase the iron in the diet.
Geritol claimed the iron en- be easily replaced with the
A popular source
riched product would cure diet.
of calcium and phosphorus in
fatigue. The Geritol ads said The lactating mare
horse feed mixes is dicalcium
the supplement would cure would be losing iron through
phosphate. It can provide as
“iron-poor tired blood”. milk production, in addition
much as much as 1,000 mg/kg
But iron supplemen- to normal loss. Her intake of
of iron in the ration. This
tation is not needed, unless the hay should be greater than the
source is also inorganic.
person is anemic due to disease, 1 ½ percent of the body weight.
Excessive amounts
loss of blood, malabsorption of She should have access to free
of iron can be toxic. Foals
nutrients, malnutrition or other choice hay. If her consumption
are especially sensitive to iron
causes for lack of red blood rate was 20 pounds, this would
supplementation and death can
cells. A balanced diet provides increase her iron level to 840
quickly follow.
more than enough iron accord- mg. per day.
The toxic threshold
ing to the United States Recom- Most lactating mares
for iron is generally stated as
mended Daily Allowances (US (and many non-lactating hors-
500mg/kg of iron in the ra-
RDA). es) are also given other feeds,
tion.
So, after years of such as grain and commercial
Iron absorption is af-
investigation the Federal Trade products.
fected by the intake levels. The
Commission ordered the mak- According to the
more iron provided the less it is
It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before!
ers of Geritol to amend the NRC here are some average
absorbed. Absorption rates of
claims to say: “only in persons iron levels in popular feedstuffs
iron can be anywhere between
who suffer from anemia (a lack given to horses: oats – 80 mg
four to 60 percent, making it
We’re not just a feed store, or western wear,
of red blood cells)”. per kilogram (2.2 pounds); bar-
difficult to determine how much
But the myth lives on ley – 70 mg per kg; corn – 54
to provide in a supplement.
hardware, tack, house wares, lawn and garden
in the world of horses. mg. per kg and cane molasses
Adding iron to the
or gifts...we’re ALL of that and MORE!
According to the – 263 mg per kg.
diet should only be done after
National Research Council’s To make things easy,
medical tests have proven it is
(NRC) Sixth Revised Edition let’s use an average of 65 mg.
required. Then it should only
of the Nutrient Requirements per kg of iron being provided
been done under the supervi- There’s something for everyone Callahan’s!
of Horses a mature 1,100 pound by the feed. If we feed 6.6
sion of a vet.
horse at an average work load pounds of the feed mix a day
Protect you horse
would require 400 milligrams we would be providing another
from iron overload by reading
Someone here knows how to custom
of iron a day. The horse with 429 milligrams of iron to the
supplement labels and avoid
the highest iron requirement, horses.
ones that add iron to the diet. shape hats, kill fire ants, thread pipes,
in that weight category, is a Our 1,100-pound
Leave the pumping of
lactating mare at 625 mg. average working horse would
iron to weight lifters and body
seasoned cast iron...
What does that mean now be receiving 1,122 mil-
builders.
we’ll be glad to share that knowledge with you.
to us? ligrams of iron a day. The
* Earn a Bachelor
I had some hay tested. lactating mare would be getting
of Science degree in equine
The iron level was approxi- about 1,269 mg.
studies or certification as a
mately 42 mg. per pound. If we For fun let’s look at
Professional Horse Trainer
Don’t forget, we also carry fresh hay & Capitol Feeds!
feed 16 ½ pounds of this hay (1 fresh green grass and iron.
or Riding Instructor. Start
½ percent of the body weight of The approximate
your new career as a riding
501 Bastrop Highway - Austin, Texas
a 1,100 pound horse) we would amount of iron in a kilogram
instructor, horse trainer, or
be providing 693 mg. of iron a (2.2 pounds) of green pasture
stable manager. All courses Phone: (512) 385-3452 - Toll Free: (800) 950-8602
day. is 275 mg (125 mg of iron in
are online. Start anytime and
Fax: (512) 385-0932
The forage provides one pound of green grass).
work at your own pace. Visit
Website: www.callahansgeneralstore.com
more than enough for the 1,100- Water can also be
www.horsecoursesonline.com
pound horse at an average work providing iron. The iron in
for information.
Call our Texas Division and ask for Don Buyse
830-537-5268
Visit: www.classic-equine.com
E-mail: don.buyse@classic-equine.com
Visit us at: www.HorseGazette.com Page 3
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