Influences of the Seasons of the Year and Physiographic Regions on the Levels of Calcium, Copper and Zinc in the Hoof Capsule of Foals Pre- and Postweaning Raised in Native Pasture.
Authors: Silva Paula Moreira, Silva Jamir L S, Bonemann Daísa H, Ribeiro Anderson S, Silva Lucas O, Pizzi Gino Luigi Bonilla Lemos, Martins Charles Ferreira
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Mineral content in foal hooves fluctuates significantly depending on both geographic location and time of year, with this Brazilian study demonstrating substantial regional variation in calcium, copper and zinc levels across five distinct physiographic zones and four seasonal periods. Researchers analysed hoof samples from 41 pre-weaned and 28 post-weaned Criollo foals alongside forage and soil mineral analyses, revealing that whilst calcium showed no consistent relationship with pasture composition at any life stage, copper and zinc displayed meaningful positive associations with native pasture minerals in pre-weaned foals (R = 0.69 and 0.43 respectively), with copper remaining significantly correlated post-weaning (R = 0.74). The findings suggest that nutritional interventions and supplementation protocols cannot be standardised across different regions or seasons; farriers and veterinarians monitoring hoof quality and growth rates should consider local soil and pasture mineral profiles alongside conventional dietary assessment, particularly during the critical pre-weaning period when foals are entirely dependent on forage nutrition. For practitioners in temperate climates with native grazing, seasonal mineral testing of pasture—especially for copper and zinc—may better inform supplementation decisions and explain variation in hoof integrity that cannot be attributed to management or conformation alone.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Hoof mineral status in foals reflects local pasture composition; assessment of regional soil and forage mineral profiles can inform supplementation strategies for growing foals
- •Seasonal variation in pasture mineral content requires adjustment of nutritional management protocols throughout the year, particularly for copper and zinc in preweaning foals
- •Hoof capsule mineral analysis may serve as a practical indicator of foal nutritional status in grazing systems, especially for copper and zinc availability
Key Findings
- •Calcium, copper and zinc concentrations in foal hooves varied significantly across five physiographic regions and four seasons (P < 0.05)
- •Copper and zinc showed positive association with native pasture concentrations in preweaning foals (R = 0.69 and 0.43; P < 0.05), with copper remaining associated postweaning (R = 0.74; P < 0.05)
- •Preweaning foals showed no association between hoof calcium levels and forage calcium across physiographic regions
- •Seasonal and regional variation in pasture mineral composition directly influences mineral accumulation in foal hoof capsule during critical growth periods