Date of Completion

Spring 5-1-2024

Thesis Advisor(s)

Amy Safran

Honors Major

Animal Science

Disciplines

Other Animal Sciences

Abstract

Vitamin E is an essential antioxidant in equines that has a significant role in the nutritional requirements of horses to keep bodily systems functioning at optimal levels. Vitamin E deficiency is often associated with serious incurable neuromuscular diseases such as equine motor neuron disease and equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Many horses stabled in urban areas are often deficient due to the lack of adequate grazing time as their natural source of vitamin E is from grass, and therefore should receive supplementation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of different forms of Elevate vitamin E supplement on the serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in fourteen developing horses ranging from ages one to five that received either a daily liquid or powdered form of supplement over ten weeks. Blood samples were shipped to an off-site lab for analysis and results were analyzed using a statistical analysis program, SAS. There was no significant difference between the serum vitamin E concentration results from the two groups of horses in the study. However, there was a statistically significant difference when taking into consideration the group of horses on pasture vs. those in a dry lot. Further research on the benefits of vitamin E supplementation should be conducted to explore the potential significance of differences in breeds and other factors. In addition, spreading more awareness of the benefits of vitamin E supplementation as a preventative maintenance measure to owners in the equine industry could help reduce vitamin E deficiency-related diseases.

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