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Building legs like steel.

Bone is formed by a complicated series of events. A simple explanation is that cells called "oesteoblasts" produce a framework of protein fibres called osteoid tissue. This tissue is calcified when the correct amounts of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other minerals are present in the blood stream.

In the development of sound, strong bone in the young horses that you breed, your primary concern should be that adequate levels of essential bone-building ingredients are provided in the feed that you give them.

While acknowledging the importance of paddocks and pastures, our concern here is with the minerals so vital for bone formation and strength. Legs like steel, don't just happen, they must be fashioned, and you are the person to do just that.

Generally speaking there is no such thing as a "perfect" environment for breeding sound, good legged horses. But there are the means available for you to achieve this goal. That drum of specially formulated bone-building minerals is what you need.

Horses at pasture have very specific mineral requirements, and Ranvet's Folactin Red caters for them in a most positive way.

The recent re-formulation of this premium-grade supplement is the direct result of two full years of research into the nutritional requirements of pregnant and lactating mares, their foals, and weanlings and yearlings.

Folactin Red provides the minerals required for bone strength and hardness; and raises and maintains the quality of a mare's milk.

Good boned, good legged horses will sell better, and perform better.

In the course of their overall skeletal development, young growing horses require a balanced intake of the following minerals: calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, copper, iron, zinc, iodine, manganese and salt. At any given time your pastures will be deficient in one or more of these bone-building minerals.

A calcium phosphorus imbalance is most likely to occur when high grain rations are fed and when horses graze tropical grasses for extended periods.

While a calcium deficiency may not reduce growth in stature, the skeleton is much weaker resulting from too little bone being formed. What is formed is porous and fragile and prone to breakdowns.

Phosphorus deficiencies usually occur when horses are restricted to grazing high legume pastures (e.g. lucerne), or pastures that are heavily manured or badly weathered.

A phosphorus deficiency produces similar skeletal abnormalities and weaknesses as a calcium deficiency, but it also retards normal growth.

If the growing horse does not have enough calcium to adequately calcify the bone, the bones become soft and weak, and in extreme cases results in rickets. A chronic lack of dietary calcium, or an excess of phosphorus, can be blamed for such a condition.

Deficiencies of manganese, sulphur, potassium, cobalt, zinc and magnesium all contribute to poor bone development, stunted growth, poor or depraved appetites and general un-thriftiness. Long term deficiencies of salt will produce similar effects.

Minerals play a vital role in building bone.

The foetus, the lactating mare and the foal.

In the overall development of sound, good legged horses, you should make the foetus your starting point.

In the last three months of pregnancy the foetus actually doubles in size, and calcification of the cartilaginous skeleton occurs. Premature foals are born without a full store of calcium and are predisposed to rickets.

To ensure soundness and proper development in the foetal skeleton adequate protein and minerals must be given to the mare. Folactin Red is the mineral supplement to feed at this time.

The demands of pregnancy and lactation.

During late pregnancy the mare draws very heavily on the calcium reserves stored in her skeleton. If adequate calcium is not made available to her the mare's own body will become severely depleted as her system caters for the formation of the foetal skeleton.

The mineral requirements of the lactating mare are far greater than those of the pregnant mare, and are almost three times greater than her normal requirements. In fact, the lactating mare loses over four times the amount of calcium than does the pregnant mare.

Another reason why mineral supplementation with Folactin Red should be of vital concern to you as a breeder is the subsequent conception rate of the mare's skeletal reserves drop below a certain level, the "factory runs out of raw materials" and therefore the mare must protect herself by missing out on pregnancy.

The nutritive requirements for milk production, especially minerals, must be catered for if your foals are to get a good start in life. It's a simple case of better milk building a better foal.

Folactin Red raises the quality of mares' milk quite significantly, and maintains that quality for a longer period; our extensive trial involving over 1000 analyses of mares' milks confirmed this.

The need for Folic Acid, Vitamins A and D.

Of all the B Group vitamins, folic acid is the first to become deficient in a ration, and is commonly lacking in summer pastures and cereal grains. Because it has the most drastic effects when it is deficient, especially on breeding farms, it becomes important that folic acid be supplemented.

A deficiency of folic acid in the pregnant mare leads to an inability to provide her developing foetus with complete red blood cells; the reason being that folic acid, in association with Vitamin B12 is essential for red blood cell formation. Subsequently, the young foal will have poor bone marrow function and impaired growth.

Vitamin A, along with vitamin D, is required in the development of strong bone structures; and a mare's requirements for this vitamin during peak lactation are almost three times her normal requirement.

Considering the large amounts of calcium and phosphorus that must be assimilated and utilized in the production of her milk, the mare's requirements for vitamin D are critical. A deficiency will result in poor quality milk and setbacks for her foal.

Adequate levels of vitamin A and vitamin D are included in the Folactin Red formulation to meet the requirements of all horses at pasture.

Folactin Red provides effective levels of essential minerals and vitamins.

While our recent research has shown us what individual nutrients are required by horses at stud, the actual chemical form of each mineral and vitamin used in our formulation ensures the maximum availability of each ingredient to the horse. The horse receives the maximum benefit, and wastage is minimal. What you pay for is what your horse gets.

The actual levels of all specific minerals and vitamins in Folactin Red are critical due to the inter-relationships between each. Too little, or too much, of one can cause the loss of another or ineffective uptake of a specific mineral. Great care has been taken in establishing the correct levels of all ingredients in our Folactin Red formulation.

Folactin Red … bone food for horses.

Extensive research determines new formulation.

The Folactin Red that you feed today is a re-formulation from that which existed over the last 15 years or so.

This recent re-formulation was brought about by the findings of our extensive investigations into the nutritional requirements of horses at stud.

During this research, over 1000 mares' milks (collected from different stud farms) and bloods of these mares and their foals were analysed.

Mineral requirements were clearly defined and a positive ratio for calcium and phosphorus was established.
Deficiencies of copper, zinc and cobalt were in evidence and these three minerals have now been included in the revised Folactin Red formulation.

The levels of folic acid have been increased quite significantly as a result of our research findings.

All the horses on your farm will benefit from Folactin Red, and this includes the stallion. It is a complex formulation providing two major minerals, four micro-minerals and three essential vitamins.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE: Mix the powder thoroughly through the feed; or alternatively, mix with a little damp bran and add to the feed. Spread doses over two feeds. A measuring spoon is enclosed. One measure equals one 30g dose.