Could there be a relationship between too much iron in the feed and a poor hair coat is my question.
My farrier and I engaged in a conversation regarding what I feel is a poor hair coat on a few of my horses. I have never had this problem before. I have been feeding Strategy for quite a while and I like the way my horses body condition is in, with the exception of what I think is a not good and rich hair coat. Without saying, regular de-worming and good grooming are a must around here but I have noticed my horse’s hair coats are not as shinny as they should be. At first I contributed it to body clipping and the summer sun, but they are inside the barn when the sun is beating down during the hottest part and again, the hair has never looked this dull to me before. I do not add hair coat supplements (other than a little BOSS here and there) nor do I care to start now.
I am questioning Strategy (and my farrier was questioning about the copper in Welsolve which she feeds on her forum) and we were both wondering about the content of adding too much iron since our area is over abundant in iron. So she called Purina and they said the iron it is based on 270 parts per million (if that means anything to anyone) but that does not include what is already in the grains before they dump more iron and that it could at times at be some 800 parts per million because it’s not a gaurenteed analysis. Could too much iron be causing my lousy hair coats?
Seems to me when feed is milled in a State, Region, or environment when you have way too much of a certain nutrient such as I have here with iron, that food should be taylor made to your area and that shouldn't be too much to expect but then I guess I am really reaching with that one.
I am also wondering what other changes have been made in some of their feeds recently.
Your thoughts please?
My farrier and I engaged in a conversation regarding what I feel is a poor hair coat on a few of my horses. I have never had this problem before. I have been feeding Strategy for quite a while and I like the way my horses body condition is in, with the exception of what I think is a not good and rich hair coat. Without saying, regular de-worming and good grooming are a must around here but I have noticed my horse’s hair coats are not as shinny as they should be. At first I contributed it to body clipping and the summer sun, but they are inside the barn when the sun is beating down during the hottest part and again, the hair has never looked this dull to me before. I do not add hair coat supplements (other than a little BOSS here and there) nor do I care to start now.
I am questioning Strategy (and my farrier was questioning about the copper in Welsolve which she feeds on her forum) and we were both wondering about the content of adding too much iron since our area is over abundant in iron. So she called Purina and they said the iron it is based on 270 parts per million (if that means anything to anyone) but that does not include what is already in the grains before they dump more iron and that it could at times at be some 800 parts per million because it’s not a gaurenteed analysis. Could too much iron be causing my lousy hair coats?
Seems to me when feed is milled in a State, Region, or environment when you have way too much of a certain nutrient such as I have here with iron, that food should be taylor made to your area and that shouldn't be too much to expect but then I guess I am really reaching with that one.
I am also wondering what other changes have been made in some of their feeds recently.
Your thoughts please?
Last edited by a moderator:
