(Q& A) Q: Can I feed more HS-35 than the recommended dosage? |
A: Why would you want too??
INTAKES ABOVE REQUIREMENTS DO NOT IMPROVE PERFORMANCE. |
| The body will use what it requires and slough off the rest (in most cases) which means you will be wasting your money. HOWEVER, it is important to remember that some of the ingredients such as selenium, IF FED IN EXCESS on a long term basis, can have a toxic affect. There is a built in safety factor, so please feed the recommended amount. |
| IN FACT, A SURPLUS, IN SOME INSTANCES, CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS A DEFICIENCY. Follow ingestion instructions not only with HS-35, but with any other product, animal or human. |
| CALCIUM |
| Calcium should always be used together with magnesium since the two minerals interact and must be kept in balance at all times. (There’s that word “balance” again!). An excess of calcium can cause magnesium to be depleted and vice versa. |
| Calcium deficiency, either clinical or sub clinical, has been linked to ruptured tendons, spontaneous fractures, nasal discharges, Azotoria (tying up), poor performance and reduced exercise tolerance. It can take up to 12 months to restore depleted calcium stores in the body. |
Calcium/Phosphorous Ratio
FACT: Most grains are naturally low in calcium and high in phosphorous. |
Young horses require a calcium/phosphorous ratio of less than 3:1. The ideal is 1:1>2:1. Mature horses over 5 can have acceptable ratios up to 6:1 since bone development is complete.
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| According to the Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, “the ratio should be at least 1.5:1 or 2:1. That means 1.5 or two parts calcium to one part phosphorus. Alfalfa hay will be higher in calcium than grass hays. Oats is very low in calcium, but higher in phosphorus and will have a ratio that is opposite to what you need. If feeding a high grain diet, you may need to purchase a 2:1 or even 3:1 mineral mix to get the ration back in order. Mineral mixes are the easiest way to correct Ca:P balance as well as providing other crucial micro-nutrients. |
| "You will also notice that many have Ca:P ratios as high as 8:1. This shouldn’t be a concern except with young growing horses where the preferred ratio is 1.5:1 or 3:1. However, no detrimental effects have been reported in growing horse fed wider Ca:P ratios as long as sufficient amounts of phosphorus are eaten daily. Make sure your horse is getting the minimums recommended.” |
| Minimum Phosphorus (adapted from the National Research Council [NRC]) |
- Weanlings
- Yearlings
- Up to 2 years old
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0.30
0.212
0.18 |
| NOTE: Be advised that NRC standards were formulated in 1989 and are, in the majority of instances, OBSOLETE! Plus, they tend to provide MINIMUM requirements, not optimal. |
| WATCH FOR MUCH MORE INFORMATION IN THE UPCOMING WEEKS |
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