Copper for MF

[shan]

Does anyone feed a copper supplement alone for MF (or any other reason)? How much do you give and what differences have you noticed? Thanks

[mel16]

copper needs to be balanced to zinc and manganese, taking into consideration the iron levels.

[donnalex]

I wouldnt just give copper for the reasons mel has just said.
If you cant go down the analysis route then perhaps feed an all in supplement for feet such as Farriers Forumua or Forageplus winter balancer as the zinc has to be in the right ratio to copper. If you give copper without the right amounts of zinc then you could end up with zinc deficiency problems one of the problems with this being the skin, the very thing you are trying to improve.

[shan]

Thanks for the replies, yes I appreciate the balance has to be kept, sadly I'm not in a position to have expensive tests done - think I'll stick to balancer & a lick with copper in then

[mel16]

The tests aren't expensive Shan, comes to around £60 for the nutritional and mineral. Unless of course the forage supply keeps changing. I spent a fortune on bagged commercial balancers that really didn't touch my boys sides, in fact he was very poor on it (well known, big name expensive brand). Have you looked at Probalance or Prohoof by progressive earth? They are one of the better balanced mixes.

[shan]

Are they? That's reasonable - I thought I saw on here that they were £199. Must have read that wrong and instantly dismissed it... My hay is always changing, depending on where's convenient and what vehicle I have at any given time, as we have very little storage space.
I will look at the Progressive Earth ones, thank you. She's been on Baileys Lo Cal which seems to suit, and now Top Spec (thanks to the IH voucher, thank you IH!) with MagOx and seaweed, but that's just to make sure she's getting some vits & mins - whether they're being processed adequately is anyone's guess! We're going to get our soil tested as well, and I'm tentatively considering Thunderbrook's range. thunderbrook.co.uk/

[donnalex]

You could try putting a tub of loose table salt in your stable so he can help himself when necessary. That will help with the magnesium use. It is cheap and if the sodium levels are low in your land (I even I have to give a little only 1.4 miles inland) then it will be a benefit to him.

[shan]

Yeah I have a rock salt lick and a salt/mineral lick with copper, she defo used the rock and I think she takes a little of the mineral block too, so I'll just leave them for her