Why is Copper Important for Breeding Stock?

Copper plays an essential role in the equine diet, particularly in youngstock. Forage (grass, hay or haylage) will provide some level of copper however, in Ireland and the UK, grass alone, whether fresh or preserved, will not meet the requirements needed for breeding stock. As a result, all broodmare and youngstock will need additional copper supplementation.

What does copper do?

Copper is an essential mineral and it’s needed for a number of vital roles in the body. However, the main reason copper is so talked about when feeding breeding stock is because copper deficiency has been linked to Developmental Orthopaedic Disorders (DOD).

Although the amount of copper needed by young, growing horses has been debated for years, what is clear is that it is vital to ensure that pregnant mares receive adequate levels. Research evaluating the effect on copper supplementation of broodmares and foals has shown that foal’s whose dams receive supplementary copper during pregnancy are born with higher copper stores in their liver. This is important because mare’s milk is low in copper and therefore the foal relies on these mineral stores to support healthy skeletal development during the first few months of life. In addition, the foals from mares supplemented with copper had lower inflammation of their bone growth plates (physitis) and fewer cartilage lesions compared to those whose mothers were not supplemented. Therefore, it is critical to ensure broodmares and youngstock receive adequate copper intake during pregnancy and growth.

Supplementing Copper

A well balanced stud feed, when fed at the recommended levels, will usually provide good levels of copper. However, additional copper supplementation is prudent if:

• You live in an area with low soil copper levels and/ or high levels of antagonising minerals such as iron and molybdenum.
• You are feeding preserved forage with less than average levels of copper and/ or high levels of antagonists.
• You are feeding significantly less that the manufacturers recommended intake of a specifically formulated stud feed.

Even if these situations don’t apply many breeders choose to provide additional copper to their mares during the beginning of their final trimester. This can help to ensure that the foetus develops optimal stores of copper in its liver. Equally, when the foal is between 4-7 months of age, extra copper supplementation is often sensible as the foal will have utilised the stores it developed in-utero but may not yet be consuming adequate levels of hard feed to ensure optimal copper intake. Feeding supplementary copper during stressful periods (e.g. weaning and sales prep) can also be beneficial and may help to support joint health and immune function, as well as improving coat colour.

If your mares or youngstock need additional copper as part of their daily ration, we recommend using Foran Equine Coppervit. This palatable liquid supplement contains chelated copper, along with chelated manganese, another important mineral for bone health. The powerful antioxidant vitamin E is also included to help support immune function and colostrum quality and biotin is added to support hoof health. Coppervit can be added daily to the feed throughout pregnancy and is also suitable for youngstock needing extra copper.

Alternatively, where daily supplementation is not needed, or is not practically possible (e.g. horses at pasture), we recommend Foran Equine Copper-Max paste. This convenient and easy to use syringe provides a highly concentrated source of chelated copper. Depending on your horse’s individual requirements 3 syringes, given 7-14 days apart, may be required.

For more information on copper or supplements designed to help support broodmare and youngstock, please contact of expert nutritional team .