This article has not yet been professionally approved. The information is based on the sources listed below.
Hair analysis in horses: what it says about minerals
What a hair or hair mineral analysis in horses can measure, why according to the research it does not reflect mineral status and which values are more meaningful for the ration.
The short answer
For mineral supply, hair analysis is of little value. In a study with 62 horses, the values in mane hair and liver did not match for zinc, selenium, manganese and iron, and only weakly for copper 1. The authors do not consider the method supported for determining mineral status in the field. Hay analysis and ration calculation are more meaningful for the ration.
What a hair analysis measures
In a hair or hair mineral analysis, a sample from the mane or tail is tested in the laboratory for elements such as zinc, copper, selenium or heavy metals. The method measures what is in the hair. Whether that says anything about the body's supply remains open.
Hair comes into contact with the environment, dust and skin secretions. The authors of the Dutch study name the uptake and leaching of elements from the environment, as well as processes during hair formation, as likely causes of fluctuating values 1.
What the study shows
The study examined 62 horses with paired samples of mane hair and liver; the liver is considered a storage organ for many trace elements 1.
| Element | Correlation |
|---|---|
| Copper | weak (r = 0.27) |
| Zinc | none |
| Selenium | none |
| Manganese | none |
| Iron | none |
| Lead | none |
Correlation between hair and liver values in 62 paired samples; the weak copper value is considered clinically unusable 1.
And what about blood?
Blood values are also of only limited help for trace elements. Plasma zinc was not an indicator of liver zinc content, and there is no simple relationship between plasma and liver copper 2. Which test makes sense if illness is suspected is decided by your vet practice.
What helps for the ration
For feeding, the question is not what is in the hair, but what arrives with the feed. A hay analysis using standardised methods provides the contents of your forage 3. Together with the amounts of all feeds, the supply can be compared with the requirement values 45.
A hair result is therefore no reason to supplement trace elements. Excesses are risky with selenium in particular; it is only supplemented on the basis of a lab value.
Key takeaways
Frequently asked questions
Is hair analysis useful for horses?
For determining mineral status, not according to current research. In 62 paired hair and liver samples, there was a significant but too weak correlation only for copper 1. For zinc, selenium, manganese and iron, there was none.
Does hair analysis show exposure to heavy metals?
In the same study, lead in hair did not correlate with lead in the liver; cadmium in hair was mostly below the limit of quantification 1. No reliable statement about exposure could be derived from this.
Sources & studies
The content is based on the references listed below. It does not replace individual veterinary or feeding advice.
Show list of sources (5)
- van der Merwe D, van den Wollenberg L, van Hees-Valkenborg J, de Haan T, van der Drift S, Vandendriessche V (2022): Evaluation of hair analysis for determination of trace mineral status and exposure to toxic heavy metals in horses in the Netherlands. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 34(6):1000–100562 paired hair and liver samples: no significant correlation for zinc (r = −0.048; p = 0.71), only a weak one for copper (r = 0.265; p = 0.037). The authors do not consider hair analysis supported for assessing mineral status in horses in the field
- Cymbaluk NF, Christensen DA (1986): Copper, Zinc and Manganese Concentrations in Equine Liver, Kidney and Plasma. Canadian Veterinary Journal 27(5):206–210Plasma zinc was not an indicator of liver content; there is no simple mathematical relationship between plasma and liver copper (125 livers, 81 kidneys)
- VDLUFA – Methodenbuch III (Futtermittel)Reference methods of agricultural testing laboratories (LUFA) for the analysis of feeds and forages
- GfE (2014) – Empfehlungen zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von PferdenSpecialist reference in German-speaking countries (GfE, German Society of Nutrition Physiology), Committee for Requirement Standards
- NRC – Nutrient Requirements of Horses, 6th ed.International reference for the nutrient requirements of horses (National Research Council)