Vitamins!! Composed by Meghan Shoop & Christy Dobrosky & Sarah Cousino

What is a vitamin? Organic ingredients in food needed in small amounts for good health and growth. They regulate……….. – Body functions – Digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients – Construction of new cells – Development of vision, bones, hair, skin, and muscles! – Protection against diseases – Maintenance and sustenance of the nervous system

Fat soluble VS. water soluble Fat soluble: » Carried by fats » Vitamins A, D, E, and K » They contain hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon Water soluble: » Vitamins C and B » They contain oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, chlorine, nitrogen, and cobalt or sulfur

What vitamins are important in a horse’s diet? Maintenance: These horses have only enough vitamins to sustain themselves. They will not gain weight or be able to reproduce on this amount of vitamins. Pregnant: During the last 3 months of gestation, energy, protein, calcium and phosphorus supplements need to increase drastically because of the rapid growth of the foal (1 lb. per day!) Lactating: Vitamins A and B for energy and other bodily functions Growing foals: lots of vitamin D for calcium absorption for strong bones

What are the requirements of these vitamins? State of ProductionVitamin AVitamin DVitamin E Maintenance15,000 IU3,300 IU500 IU 12 months14,500 IU5,600 IU642 IU Early Pregnancy33,000 IU3,300 IU800 IU Lactation33,000 IU3,300 IU1,000 IU Moderate exercise22,500 IU3,300 IU900 IU

How are these requirements met? Vitamin K: forages Vitamin E: feed Vitamin B: feed and microbes in the cecum and colon Vitamin D: sunshine Vitamin A: green forages

Toxicity and deficiency Vitamin A Toxicity: fragile bones and abnormal growth Deficiency: excess shedding, dry coat, susceptible to infections Vitamin D Toxicity: calcium deposits in soft tissues Deficiency: the body cannot absorb calcium properly resulting in weakness of the bones