Milly Gaines
Phosphorus is the second-most abundant mineral in a horse's body, with about 80% found in their teeth and skeleton. It is important for bone growth and skeletal health. While calcium is the major player, phosphorus makes up 14-17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton. It is also vital in energy transfer, DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes. Therefore, phosphorus is an important aspect of mineral nutrition. Phosphorus deficiencies are typically not seen in mature horses, even when exercising. However, attention needs to be paid to broodmares and foals, which are most at risk of phosphorus deficiency. Inadequate intake can lead to problems with bone formation or slow growth in young horses.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Phosphorus is important for | Bone growth and skeletal health in horses |
| Phosphorus makes up | 14-17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton |
| Phosphorous is vital in | Energy transfer (ATP), DNA and RNA synthesis, cell membranes |
| Calcium and phosphorus | Comprise about 70% of the mineral content of the horse's body |
| Calcium and phosphorus | Play a critical role in numerous other body functions |
| Calcium | Is necessary for blood coagulation, cell membrane function, glandular secretion, temperature regulation, the regulation of the activity of many enzymes, and mitochondrial and neuromuscular functions |
| Phosphorus deficiency | Can show up as muscle weakness and trembling |
| Calcium deficiency | Can show as lameness, weak bones, and low-quality growth and performance |
| Calcium and phosphorus deficiency | Can result in osteomalacia or osteoporosis (thinning of the bone) in older horses |
| Calcium and phosphorus | Should be in the ratio of 1:1, 2:1 or 4:1 |
| Calcium supplement | Finely ground limestone or dicalcium phosphate |
| Phosphorus supplement | Dicalcium phosphate |
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What You'll Learn
The importance of phosphorus for bone growth and skeletal health
Phosphorus is essential for bone growth and skeletal health in horses. It is a macro-mineral, along with calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and chloride, and is needed in the horse's diet in concentrations of g/kg or percentages. Phosphorus comprises 14-17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton, while calcium makes up the majority.
Phosphorus is necessary for bone development, strength, and repair, as well as muscular and nervous activity. It is found in bone as hydroxyapatite, a precursor for bone and tooth construction. Inadequate phosphorus intake can lead to problems with bone formation and slow growth in young horses. This is because phosphorus is constantly being mobilised and replenished in the bone according to the horse's physiological needs.
Phosphorus deficiencies are typically not seen in mature horses, even when exercising. However, broodmares and foals, which are forming new bone, are at risk of phosphorus deficiency. The amounts of calcium and phosphorus recommended in the horse's daily diet have been increased by 15 to 20% to maximise bone strength and ash content.
Excess phosphorus in a horse's diet can lead to deficiencies in calcium absorption. This can cause skeletal disease. Therefore, it is important to maintain a balanced ratio of these minerals in the diet.
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How to balance phosphorus with calcium
Calcium and phosphorus are both essential macro-minerals that support a range of bodily functions in horses. Calcium is a major structural mineral, with 99% of the body's calcium found in bones and teeth, while the remaining 1% is found in soft tissue and bodily fluids. Phosphorus makes up 14-17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton and is vital for energy transfer, DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes.
To balance phosphorus with calcium in a horse's diet, it is important to understand the sources of these minerals in the feeds and forages provided. Legume pasture and hay (alfalfa and clovers) are typically higher in calcium than phosphorus. Most straight grass pastures and hay (timothy, orchard, fescue) have more calcium than phosphorus, but not as much as legumes. Plain grains (oats, wheat, rice) are usually much higher in phosphorus than calcium. Fortified commercial concentrates (sweet feeds or pellets) are typically balanced for calcium and phosphorus, but it is important to check the feed tag for the exact ratio.
The recommended ratio of calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) in a horse's diet is generally between 1:1 and 2:1, which means there should be 1 to 2 grams of calcium for every 1 gram of phosphorus. Ratios of up to 9:1 can be tolerated, provided the horse is meeting its minimum daily phosphorus requirement. However, it is important to note that excessive phosphorus intake may cause abnormalities, even if the diet contains adequate calcium.
To maintain a balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorus, it is recommended to routinely test your hay and pasture, feed well-balanced concentrates, and carefully review supplements before adding them to your horse's diet. Working with a trained nutritionist or veterinarian can help ensure that your horse is receiving proper levels of calcium and phosphorus and avoid potential health issues caused by imbalances.
Additionally, vitamin D plays a crucial role in calcium absorption. Supplementing vitamin D in growing horse diets can help optimize the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, along with other minerals.
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The dangers of phosphorus deficiency
Phosphorus is important for bone growth and skeletal health in horses. While calcium is the major player, phosphorus makes up 14–17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton. It is also vital in energy transfer (ATP), DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes. Therefore, phosphorus is an important aspect of mineral nutrition.
Phosphorous deficiencies are typically not seen in mature horses, even when exercising. However, broodmares and foals are most at risk of phosphorus deficiency because they are forming new bone. Inadequate phosphorus intake can lead to problems with bone formation and slow growth in young horses. Phosphate is also a component of the body's main source of energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is also found within cell membranes and is a component of DNA and RNA.
A phosphorus deficiency affects a horse's muscles and glucose use. It can also cause a decrease in bone mineral density, which is a precursor to osteoporosis in humans. Horses don't really suffer from osteoporosis, but they can suffer from osteomalacia, which is a softening of the bones with accompanying pain and weakness.
To prevent phosphorus deficiency, it is important to maintain a balanced ratio of nutrients in the diet. Long-term imbalances in phosphorus and calcium can lead to bone abnormalities and poor performance. Testing your hay and feeding a well-balanced vitamin and mineral supplement can prevent complications associated with inadequate mineral intake.
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The dangers of too much phosphorus
Phosphorus is important for bone growth and skeletal health in horses. While calcium is the major player, phosphorus makes up 14-17% of the mineral component of a horse's skeleton. It is also vital in energy transfer, DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes.
However, despite its importance, too much phosphorus in a horse's diet can have negative effects. Firstly, an excess of phosphorus can inhibit calcium absorption. This can lead to a condition called secondary nutritional hyperparathyroidism, which is a bone disease caused by too much phosphorus and not enough calcium. Calcium is removed from the bone, resulting in brittle and weak bones. This condition often manifests as shifting lameness in its early stages and is also known as Big Head Disease.
Additionally, overfeeding phosphorus can result in increased excretion of phosphorus into the environment through horse manure. While horse manure contributes less to phosphorus runoff compared to poultry and swine manure, it is still an environmental concern, especially for larger stables with more animals.
Furthermore, long-term imbalances in calcium and phosphorus levels can lead to bone abnormalities and poor performance in horses. Excess phosphorus can also bind with calcium, making it unavailable for absorption and potentially leading to deficiencies.
Therefore, it is important to carefully consider the diet of horses and maintain a balanced ratio of these minerals to ensure optimal health and performance.
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Sources of phosphorus
Phosphorus is the second-most abundant mineral in a horse's body, with about 80% of it found in the horse's teeth and skeleton. It is important for bone growth and skeletal health in horses, and a deficiency can result in improper bone formation and a slowing of growth rates in young horses. Phosphorus is also vital in energy transfer, DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes.
Phosphorus is typically found in forages and grains in the form of phytate. The majority of calcium in a horse's diet is provided from hay and pasture, with fresh pasture grass and legume hays containing more calcium than grass hays. Testing your hay is important to understand the level of nutrients in your horse's diet. If your horse's diet is low in calcium, supplements or feeds can be used to increase intake.
If you live in an area that is geographically rich in phosphorus, such as Central Kentucky, forages will also tend to contain higher amounts of phosphorus. In some cases, the phosphorus content of grass forage can even exceed the calcium content. In these cases, additional calcium will be needed to improve the total dietary calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This can be accomplished by adding legumes or calcium-fortified concentrates.
Most commercial horse feeds contain the correct amounts of calcium and phosphorus for the type of horse for which the feed is formulated. However, farms that mix their own feed should have an analysis performed to ensure the amounts and ratios are correct. If a phosphorus supplement is needed, dicalcium phosphate can be added to bring the phosphorus up to the amount required.
It is important to note that the random supplementation of minerals to horses without full consideration of the diet should be avoided. The correct calcium-to-phosphorus ratio should be no less than 1:1, with the ideal ratio being 2:1 and no more than 4:1. Horses should not be fed more than 1% of their diet as phosphorus.
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Frequently asked questions
Phosphorus is the second-most abundant mineral in a horse's body. It is important for bone growth and skeletal health. It is also vital in energy transfer, DNA and RNA synthesis, and cell membranes.
Phosphorus deficiencies are typically not seen in mature horses, even when exercising. However, broodmares and foals are most at risk of phosphorus deficiency as they are forming new bone. A phosphorus deficiency can show up as muscle weakness and trembling.
Phosphorus is predominantly found in forages and grains in the form of phytate. Unfortified grains (e.g. oats or corn) naturally contain more phosphorus than calcium. Bran is also high in phosphorus, but be careful not to feed this to your horse every day as phosphorus toxicity might occur.
The correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus in your horse's diet is important to ensure that one mineral does not interfere with the absorption of the other. The ratio should be at least 1:1, ideally 2:1, and no more than 4:1.
If your horse's diet is lacking in phosphorus, you can add dicalcium phosphate to bring the phosphorus content up to the required amount.
