General topics of Interest Magnesiun

Magnesium: Good afternoon all, Our last newsletter a few days ago stimulated a flurry of questions, in particular the feeding of dolomite. The main queries being:

1. Should I keep feeding dolomite if also using the Anti-Al MAG?


2. What is the difference between forms magnesium?


3. How do you calculate the magnesium content from those products?


4. What is an ion and why is it easily absorbed?

Answers

1. Yes keeping feeding dolomite In all, just 5.7% of dolomite is actually magnesium. This means a level tablespoon of dolomite will deliver just 1 gram of magnesium. Even then, its bio-availability is considered low. It is made up of about 80% calcium carbonate (of which, 23% is calcium), and 20% magnesium carbonate (of which 12% is magnesium) because it has calcium as well and that is as important as magnesium to maintain the correct ratios between the two.


2. The following are crude forms that may be fed as supplements. • MgO Magnesium oxide has more magnesium but not easily absorbed• MgCO3, or dolomite not readily absorbed but does contain calcium• MgSO4 or Epsom salts the most easily absorbed but can cause scours. Lastly there is magnesium aspartate


3. Horses require 13mg of elemental magnesium per kg of bodyweight per day. The way a horse absorbs magnesium is dependant on the pasture, its health, metabolic processes, its liver and the state of the cell walls ie the lipid layer which is maintained by essential fatty acids or omega oils.


4. What is an ion? Put simply it is the magnesium element Mg+ with an electrical charge and that is the most easily absorbed form of magnesium ie directly through the intestinal wall into the blood stream.

Why certain oils will help improve absorption of supplements and feeds? T

There are two types of oils you can feed your horses.

1. Omega oils (essential fatty acids) act on the inflammatory response and re-coat the cell wall with lipids to improve the exchange of nutrients and oxygen.


2. Vegetable oils like rice bran or sunflower will help maintain condition, lower the GI and help with absorption via the liver.

Finally if you have any things that would be topical for winter months you would like discussed let me know either by replying to this post or emailing me at info@hiralabs.co.nz and I will put something together.