Feeding Game Lick

Question:

Is it bad for horses to lick gameblocks in the field containing the following: Proteien 160g/kg Moisture 160g/kg Ca 10-20g/kg PhosPhorous 10g/kg Mg 6g/kg Sulphur 1.8g/kg Vit A 9000IE/IU/kg Copper 30mg/kg Kobalt 3.75mg/kg Zinc 150mg/kg Manganese 150mg/kg Iodine 1.875mg/kg Selenium 1.0mg/kg

Answer:


According to my research, a game-block should not be harmful to your horse. Licks made for cattle are bad for horses, as they contain high amounts of urea, which cattle can utilize to make protein in their digestive tracts. Horses do not have quite the same ability, so the high levels could be toxic.
A typical equine lick will contain something like this:
Salt (NaCl) Min 62.0% Molasses 3.0% Phosphorus (P) Min. 4.8% Calcium (Ca) Min. 10.5% Cobalt (Co) Min. 400mg/kg Zinc (Zn)Molasses Min. 180mg/kg Iodine (I) Min. 167mg/kg Manganese (Mn) Min. 100mg/kg Potassium (k) Min. 900mg/kg Magnesium (Mg) Min. 200mg/kg Iron (Fe+++) Min 975mg/kg Fluorine (F) Max. 0.8% Sulphur (S) Min. 1100mg/kg
You will see that the amounts are not too different from those you sent me. THe Ca:Ph ratio in the game block is a little different, however if they are not ingesting huge amounts it should not be a problem.
Just keep an eye on how much they are ingesting - I had a horse once that loved the taste of his molasses salt and vitamin blocks and would eat the enitre thing in one sitting! A powder supplement and salt added to his daily feeds worked better for him!
If you can feed a lick made for horses, that would be best, however if they have access to the game licks it should not cause any problems.