Comparison of the Mineral Profile of Two Types of Horse Diet, Silage and Commercial Concentrate, and Their Impacts on Hoof Tensile Strength
Gabriel Rueda-Carrillo,
René Rosiles-Martínez,
Luis Corona-Gochi,
Anaid Hernández-García,
Gabriela López-Navarro,
Francisco Trigo-Tavera
Affiliations
Gabriel Rueda-Carrillo
Departamento de Medicina, Cirugía y Zootecnia para Equinos, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
René Rosiles-Martínez
Departamento de Nutrición Animal y Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Luis Corona-Gochi
Departamento de Nutrición Animal y Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Anaid Hernández-García
Departamento de Genética y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Gabriela López-Navarro
Departamento de Medicina, Cirugía y Zootecnia para Equinos, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
Francisco Trigo-Tavera
Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av Universidad 3000, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
The type of diet that a horse consumes is one of the most important factors determining the mineral profile and tensile strength of its hooves, so the quality and nutritional value of the supplied feed are fundamental to achieving satisfactory hoof quality. The objective of this study was to compare the differences in the mineral concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and Iron (Fe) between two diets, namely silage and a commercial concentrate, using atomic absorption spectrometry and to determine which led to higher increases in the hoof tensile strength of horses consuming these diets. Thirty-two Spanish horses were randomly divided into two groups, where the diet of the horses in group 1 was silage oat hay, and that of the horses in group 2 was a commercial concentrate and oat hay. Both diets were provided for 12 months. The hoof tensile strength was then measured using an Instron universal testing machine. Mg and Fe levels were higher (p p p 2 and −0.003 N/mm2, respectively for each mineral.
