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Fresh forage packs a nutritional punch, providing horses with most of the energy and nutrients they require. Harvested forage, on the other hand, does not meet optimal dietary needs. Beta-carotene serves as one example of the many nutrients that degrade rapidly in forage after harvesting. What does beta-carotene do, and how do you know if your horse is getting enough?

“Beta-carotene is a vitamin A precursor molecule. Abundant in fresh forage, beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A in the body,” explained Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., a Kentucky Equine Research nutritionist.

Vitamin A, and therefore beta-carotene, play important roles in reproductive health, bone integrity, and immunity. Vitamin A also contributes to night vision in animals.

“Although not as well known as vitamin E and selenium, vitamin A also functions as an antioxidant, protecting cells and DNA from damage caused by free radicals,” Crandell said.

In a recent study of dietary antioxidants*, beta-carotene blood levels varied widely among 349 horses. The levels were highest in horses with access to a minimum of six hours of fresh forage per day. In addition, beta-carotene levels tended to follow vitamin E. If horses had adequate blood levels of vitamin E then beta-carotene levels were also sufficient.

Few owners provide supplemental beta-carotene to their horses. In fact, most vitamin and mineral supplements contain vitamin A, not beta-carotene, as beta-carotene supplements are poorly absorbed by horses compared to the carotenes found in fresh forage.

It should also be noted that no dietary requirement for beta-carotene has yet been established for horses. Even if a beta-carotene supplement is offered, the appropriate amount to give remains unknown.

If horses do not have access to pasture for at least six hours a day or if vitamin E blood levels are low, beta-carotene levels may be low also. If a horse requires a vitamin supplement, choose a high-quality product from a reputable manufacturer.

*Pitel, M.O., E.C. McKenzie, J.L. Johns, and R.L. Stuart. 2020. Influence of specific management practices on blood selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene concentrations in horses and risk of nutritional deficiency. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 34:2132-2141.

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