- Feeding kelp meal to horses can have some health benefits, including a better coat condition, less nervousness, increased fertility and it can act as a natural antibiotic. Kelp meal is very high in amino acids and minerals that can sometimes be lacking in a horse's diet, due to overgrazing or availability of hay. The North American Kelp website states that kelp meal should only be fed at one to two percent of a horse's feed ration.
- Feeding a horse too much kelp or kelp meal can lead to many different health issues. Enlarged thyroid glands can be a result of too much iodine as seen in horses that have been overfed kelp. Iodine toxicity can be very damaging especially to pregnant mares and foals.
- At the end of the day, using moderation when feeding a horse kelp meal is best. While it can have some benefits it also has some large risks. The Equi-Therapy website states that horses should only be given 2 mg of iodine per day, so it is important to read the kelp meal label to determine how much iodine is in the meal. Horse owners that supplement with kelp or kelp meal should be sure that the horse is not receiving iodine in other feeds to avoid the risk of iodine toxicity.
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