phosphorus : calcium ratio

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becca114

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What is the correct calcium phosphorus ratio in a horses diet? Ive looked on the internet but all the nutrition websites say different things.
 
I have spent all morning trying to find this out myself! Like you say all the nutrition websites give different ratios. So far I have found 1.1:1, 3.5:1, 1:1, 2:1 and 1.5:1. It is very confusing!
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I've been looking into this re foals and so far all I can ascertain is that there should be about 0.7% Calcium and 0.6% phosphorus in the diet for weanlings, yearlings and two year olds...

BTW why do you ask?
 
traditional thought is 2:1. However, as with everything, people change their minds... the important thing is that there is more calcium than there is phosphorus otherwise you will hit problems!
 
2:1 is the ideal for growing animals etc. But the ratio can go as high as 5:1 as long as the phosphorus requirements are met. As Zelle says as long as Calcium is the bigger number than the two. If you pay attention to labels etc you will probably notice the Calcium to phos ratio getting higher from now on as there is a world shortage of phosphorus and it now is horrendously expensive. Just for info!!
 
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