Cal-XTRA is formulated as a critical supplement for horses grazing in regions with oxalate-containing grasses, commonly in Queensland, The Northern Territory and parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
Tropical and sub-tropical grass, particularly setaria, para, buffel, teff, pangola, kikuya, couch grass and green panic, contain oxalates which bind up and reduce the absorption of calcium, resulting in calcium deficiency which can lead to bone weakness.
Cal-XTRA is a concentrated source of bone minerals, especially calcium, to ensure extra supply and help prevent bone demineralisation that would otherwise lead to lameness, osteoporosis and Big Head.
Horses on high grain diets also benefit from the calcium and other nutrients supplied by Cal-XTRA to help bone strength and soundness during moderate to intense training.
Kohnke’s Own Cal-XTRA is the result of more than 12 years of research and field trials by equine veterinarian and horse nutrition authority Dr John Kohnke, especially in the areas where horses are known to have poor calcium uptake and Big Head.
Cal-XTRA is highly concentrated and contains more palatable forms of calcium compared to ‘chelated’ calcium supplements, making it a superior and more economical choice.
It is scientifically formulated to protect calcium absorption in the presence of oxalates through a stable coating technology which shields calcium from oxalate binding with a specialised micro-coating process. This allows optimum calcium uptake to ensure bone strength and soundness, even when horses are grazing tropical grass pastures.
Cal-XTRA provides high strength additional calcium and important bone minerals in cases where extra is needed, for example, during bone regeneration, or when rapidly growing tropical grasses are the dominant pasture type available to the horse.
Cal-XTRA is a concentrated source of important bone minerals, including calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in an optimum ratio to correct low or inadequate levels in the diets of growing, breeding, working or resting horses, especially those with a predominately grass-based diet.
For horses at rest, provide 60 grams daily of Cal-XTRA when grazing tropical grass pastures during slow growth periods. Provide 120 grams daily during rapid growth periods or high oxalate pastures.
For ponies, provide half these amounts.
For working horses, provide 80 grams per day during slow growth periods, and 150 grams per day during periods of rapid growth. For ponies, provide half these amounts.
Seasonal Influences or Fertilised Paddocks
Rapid grass growth periods, for example in Spring and Summer, or when paddocks are irrigated or fertilised (especially with nitrogen and phosphate fertilisers), further increase oxalate production, thus it is especially important to provide Cal-XTRA to horses grazing in these conditions.
For Horses with ‘Big Head’
If horses have suffered bone weakness from grazing oxalate containing grasses, it is important to optimise Cal-XTRA supplementation. Our studies have shown that curbing grazing behaviour for approximately 1 hour before providing Cal-XTRA, and for 1 hour after the feed is consumed, will further optimise calcium absorption to correct deficiencies that have resulted in bone weakness. Where practical, remove the horse from the oxalate grass and provide the feed containing Cal-XTRA in a yard or stable to reduce pre- and post-feed grazing and ensure optimal calcium absorption from Cal-XTRA supplementation.
Combining Cal-XTRA with Lucerne Hay
Lucerne as a legume crop contains higher levels of calcium and magnesium compared to other common hay varieties. Each kilogram of lucerne as hay or chaff provides approximately 12 grams of calcium, thereby reducing the necessary supplementation rate of Cal-XTRA. For horses on high oxalate pastures fed 2 kg of lucerne per day (1 biscuit hay plus lucerne chaff in feed), provide 40 grams of Cal-XTRA per day for horses at rest and 60 grams daily for working horses (400-600 kg body weight). For more specific dose rates combining various rations with Cal-XTRA, contact our Nutritional Advisors at www.kohnkesown.com
