Description
What is Vitamin E?
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant vitamin that cannot be made by the horse and must be obtained from the diet. Vitamin E is essential for healthy functioning of muscles, the immune system, reproductive function and the nervous system. Many horses may have an increased need for Vitamin E, including those on low Vitamin E intake due to low quality forage, those on diets with added oil, those in work, “older” animals and those used for breeding. Many Vitamin E supplements use the much cheaper synthetic forms of Vitamin E. Natural E, as the name suggests provides a natural source of Vitamin E which has up to double the biological activity than synthetic forms of Vitamin E. Natural E also contains organic selenium which is essential for the optimal activity of Vitamin E. Natural E deliver 3000IU of Vitamin E activity and 1mg of selenium per daily horse feeding rate.
What does Vitamin E do?
Vitamin E is central to muscle and nerve function, heart health, immune function, lung health and skin health.
Where do horses get Vitamin E from?
Horses cannot make Vitamin E and must get it from their diet. It is therefore essential that sufficient Vitamin E is fed or supplemented.
What form of Vitamin E is best – Natural or Synthetic?
Many Vitamin E supplements use the much cheaper synthetic forms of Vitamin E. Natural E, as the name suggests provides a natural source of Vitamin E which has up to double the biological activity than synthetic forms of Vitamin E. Natural E also contains organic selenium which is essential for the optimal activity of Vitamin E.
Vitamin E in different horse feed materials
Vitamin E is higher in fresh forage than in preserved forages. Vitamin E levels in commercial dry horse feeds are naturally very low due to processing and so Vitamin E must be supplemented. As Vitamin E is a relatively expensive feed ingredient the levels added may be on the low side.
