Vitamin B2
What it does
Riboflavin — vitamin B2 — takes part in the reactions that release energy and is likewise needed when fat and protein building blocks are converted.
Why it matters
In an ordinary ration this item fulfils itself. It appears in the calculation so that it can be ticked off as checked rather than forgotten.
When it becomes critical
Undersupply has so far only been produced under experimental conditions; in everyday stable life it plays no role. More than needed via feed is harmless.
How much a horse needs
Maintenance: about 21 mg a day for a 500 kg horse, equivalent to around 2 mg per kg of feed dry matter.
A building block of two helper substances without which the cells cannot obtain energy from the feed. As with B1, the gut microbes produce a large part themselves; green forage supplies more. The requirement is the same in every stage of life — it rises neither under work nor in pregnancy.
Cited values
| Type | Value | Unit / context |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | 0.2 | mg/kg metabolic body mass per day (maintenance, work, pregnant, lactating and growth — the same at every stage) |
“Metabolic body mass” is a calculated figure, not a weight: body weight to the power of 0.75. For 600 kg that is about 121 — the requirement is multiplied by that figure, not by 600. That is why the number looks small even though it isn't.
Possible deficiency signs
- Hardly described in feeding practice.