What is Biotin and how does it help my horses’ hooves?
Biotin is part of the B Group Vitamin Family. This means that Biotin, as with all Vitamin B’s, is water soluble and constantly excreted through sweat, urination or fluid loss. Due to the constant loss and inability to store, daily supplementation is beneficial to ensure replenishment of these vitamins to meet our horses’ daily needs.
Biotin is found in fresh forage and grains, but the levels found naturally are not always enough, especially for horses that have high performance demands or suffer from poor hoof growth.
Through decades of research, Biotin has been shown to improve the growth of hooves. It plays an important role in stimulating Keratin production, a protein that helps form a strong hoof structure. It also contributes to the creation of collagen and elastin, other essential nutrients for good healthy hooves.
The addition of Biotin to your ration won’t fix existing hoof damage, however it will improve the growth and quality of new hoof horn, promoting a good strong hoof wall, sole and frog. It’s important to note it doesn’t increase the rate of hoof growth, but the new growth is greatly improved and will be stronger and healthier. It can take anywhere from 8-12 months to fully grow out the old weak damaged hoof depending on the growth rate of the hoof. So, you need to be patient to see the full results!
Biotin is found in many feeds, however supplementation is the most beneficial way of adding biotin to you horses diet, as it is in a more stable form. Biotin is even more effective when feed in combination with other essential ingredients such as Gelatin, Sulphur, Methionine, Choline, Zinc, Magnesium and MSM. Ranvet’s new Hoof Food PELLET offers an 8-1 formula combining Biotin with these other important co-factors.
The average 500kg horse requires approximately 15mg/day of biotin for healthy hoof formation, as per the Nation Research Council guidelines. Once you have grown out nice strong, healthy hooves, it is advisable to maintain your horse on your chosen hoof supplement as it has been shown that when supplementation has ceased, the hoof is at risk of potentially reverting back to its prior state.
Experts in Equine Nutrition
Every product in the Ranvet range has been developed to meet a horse’s most specific need at any given time, be it in a training environment or on a breeding farm. Having pioneered the formulation of specific medications and dietary supplements for horses, the company is now recognised as a leader in the areas of equine health and nutrition.
