Hoof Nutrition Intelligence Hoof Nutrition Intelligence is a twice-a-month web segment that is designed to add to the education of footcare professionals when it comes to effectively feeding the hoof. The goal of this web-exclusive feature is to zero in on specific areas of hoof nutrition and avoid broad-based articles that simply look at the overall equine feeding situation.

Below you will find Part 1 of the latest question and answer installment that you can share with your footcare clients.

Q: What’s the role of vitamin A in regard to hoof quality?

By J. Frank Gravlee, DVM, MS, CNS, and Scott Gravlee, DVM, CNS, Life Data Labs

A: Either an excess or a deficiency of vitamin A can result in poor hoof quality. The subsequent invasion of microorganisms into the hoof wall creates a hoof defect pattern in which the outer hoof wall flakes off.

Hair-like projections emerging from the hoof wall or the sole of the hoof are indicators of a vitamin A excess or deficiency.

Frank Gravlee and Scott Gravlee are veterinarians and equine nutrition consultants at Life Data Labs, Inc. in Cherokee, Ala.

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Click here to read part 2 of the July 15, 2020 installment of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence: What can I do about the brittle hooves on my 4-year-old mare?

Click here to read more installments of Hoof Nutrition Intelligence.