WHAT are keratin, methionine, and biotin and what have they got to do with a horse’s hoof?

Hoof problems can be a major concern for any horse owner. If they become severe, then the horse is at increased risk of lameness, as well as loss of performance and general wellness. There are several factors that affect hoof growth including genetics, age, exercise, environmental conditions, illness, and hoof maintenance.

Nutritional factors such as energy intake, protein and amino acid intake, and mineral and vitamin intake also play an important role. A well-balanced diet is required in order to provide the nutrients necessary for overall health and well-being, but this is also important to help support sound hoof growth.

The hoof wall is made up of mostly protein, and hence it is believed that high-quality dietary protein and amino acids are required for hoof growth. But what are proteins and amino acids? Proteins are large molecules that are an essential part of all living organisms.

Proteins themselves consist of hundreds or thousands of smaller units called amino acids, which are attached to one another in long chains. Proteins are required by a horse’s tissue and organs, where they give structure and carry out important functions such as key chemical reactions and act as messengers coordinating biological processes between different tissues and organs.

KERATIN

Keratin is a structural protein, and is the principle structural material making up hair, nails, and the hoof wall of a horse. Individual keratin protein molecules join together, forming packed layers, resulting in a strong durable material. Important bonds that join the keratin protein molecules together, contributing to its material strength, are called disulfide bonds.

Particular amino acids are needed to be present in order for keratin to make these important disulfide bonds. These are the sulfur containing cystine and methionine amino acids. It is important to note that while cystine and methionine are recognised as important for keratin structure, other amino acids also play a role and hence the need for a well-balanced and nutritious diet.

So where does biotin come in? Biotin is a vitamin that acts as a cofactor in a number of enzyme systems. An enzyme is a type of protein that carries out a chemical reaction in the body and a cofactor is a molecule that helps an enzyme carry out that chemical reaction. Even though all the scientific details are not fully understood, it is known that biotin deficiencies lead to problems in keratinised structures, like that found in the hoof wall of a horse.

Studies have shown that biotin supplementation can have positive effects on hoof quality in some horses, but not all. Other reports indicated that biotin helps the growth of new hoof as opposed to existing hoof, and hence results can take some time to appear, again with some horse responding to biotin supplementation more strongly than others.

A well-balanced diet and high quality feed is important and additional supplementation should be done in consultation with your vet and/or nutritional advisor. The bottom line here is that good nutrition is key for hoof quality and a happy healthy horse. After all, no foot, no horse!