Macro- and micromineral content of wrapped forages for horses.

A study of macro- and micromineral contents in wrapped forages from farms in Sweden and Norway was conducted. Haylage samples were collected from 124 farms and analysed for contents of Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, Co, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Se and Zn. Information on forage production was collected from each farm. Mean concentrations (standard deviations) of the samples were as follows: Ca, 5·3 (3·41); P, 2·7 (0·80); Mg, 1·8 (0·76); K, 21·8 (7·44); Na, 0·3 (0·61) g kg−1 dry matter ( DM); and Co, 0·09 (0·150); Cu, 4·9 (1·61); I, 0·25 (0·461); Fe, 194 (288·9); Mn, 85 (49·3); Se, 0·03 (0·054); and Zn, 23 (9·5) mg kg−1 DM. Comparisons with mineral requirements of horses indicated that for Ca, Mg, K, Fe and Mn, the mean values were sufficient for maintenance requirements, but for P, Na, Co, Cu, Zn, I and Se, mean values were insufficient. For horses with requirements higher than maintenance, average contents of all minerals except Fe and Mn were insufficient. There were moderate to weak negative correlation coefficients between contents of neutral detergent fibre and Ca, P, Mg, Cu and Se. Forage harvested at late plant maturity may contain lower concentrations of these minerals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]