KER-A-FORM            Get the most for your money!
Ker-A-Form is a source of biotin, methionine, iodine and zinc supplementation for
all classes of horses.



Biotin, methionine, iodine and zinc are included at levels shown to support the
maintenance of healthy hooves and hair. These ingredients are combined with
lecithin and full-fat soybeans to provide a source of essential fatty acids, an
ingredient that supports a normal, healthy hair coat. Yeast cultures are included and
play a role in the maintenance of normal digestive function.

Ker-A-Form is a well-rounded, affordable supplement.

WHEN AND HOW TO USE    

What horses need Ker-A-Form?
Show and sale horses
Horses with weak hooves
Horses prone to losing shoes
Feeding Directions:

Feed all classes of horses 1-2 ounces per day mixed with their feed (1 scoop = 1
ounce).

How much Ker-A-Form do I feed?

Research has found that 20 mg of biotin per day significantly improves hoof health
and coat condition. In controlled studies, there were no differences in rate or
quality of hoof growth when more than 20 g of biotin was offered daily. One
ounce of Ker-A-Form contains 20 mg of biotin.

How do I feed Ker-A-Form?

Ker-A-Form is a powder that is mixed with the horse's grain meal.

 
How long does Ker-A-Form take to work?

Skin and hair condition is the first improvement noticed when horses are started on
Ker-A-Form. This can occur in as little as two to three weeks. In combination
with a well-balanced diet, healthy hoof growth will be apparent approximately 8 to
12 weeks following the start of supplementation.

How will Ker-A-Form help my horse?

Ker-A-Form supplies horses with the micronutrients necessary to soften and slick
coats and decrease grooming time. Ker-A-Form also toughens hooves, eliminating
the appearance of toe cracks, quarter cracks, and other hoof abnormalities that
stem from weak hoof walls. Horses that have been supplemented with Ker-A-
Form also hold shoes longer because farriers nail them to less brittle hooves,
which translates into fewer lamenesses and more riding time.

 
What's in Ker-A-Form that will help my horse?

Ker-A-Form contains a blend of full-fat soybeans, biotin, zinc, methionine, and
iodine–ingredients scientifically proven to boost hair and hoof health.

INGREDIENTS THAT WORK  
Guaranteed Analysis (per ounce):
Biotin 20 mg
Zinc 200 mg
Methionine 2,500 mg
Lecithin 5 g
Iodine 2 mg



Why is biotin important?

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that is essential for the maintenance of
connective tissue found in skin, hooves, and hair.

Why is zinc important?

Zinc is a trace mineral vital to protein metabolism. Because hooves are
predominantly composed of protein, zinc is integral to hoof strength. Zinc is also
critical to proper immune function. Ker-A-Form contains zinc proteinate, the form
of zinc most easily digested by horses.

Why are fat sources important?

Ker-A-Form contains full-fat soybean meal and lecithin. Both of these ingredients
are abundant in fatty acids, which help maintain elastic skin and slick, glossy
coats. In addition, fatty acids contribute to hoof health by creating a barrier that
repels excessive moisture.

Why are methionine and iodine important?

Methionine is an amino acid necessary for proper hoof growth. Hoof-building
processes depend largely on methionine to bind keratin fibers in the hoof. The
bonds that occur during growth give the hoof wall strength and resiliency. Iodine
controls the production of thyroid hormones, which are necessary for optimal
health of hair and hooves.

KER-A-FORM: GETTING THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY

Kentucky Performance Products (KPP) markets Ker-A-Form, a hoof and coat
supplement that features biotin as a primary ingredient. Ker-A-Form sits on feed
and tack stores shelves among many other hoof supplements. What makes it
different than the pail of hoof supplement that is displayed next to it? What makes
it a good value for your money?

Ker-A-Form
GETTING THE MOST FOR YOUR MONEY  
Providing proper nutrition for your horse is one of the most basic ways to ensure
his well-being. High-quality forage and well-formulated, properly fortified
concentrates should provide the basis for his diet. Occasionally, however, these
components are not enough to guarantee optimal health. In cases in which
beneficial nutrients cannot be delivered through a diet of forage and concentrate,
scientifically proven supplements should be considered. Care should be taken to
read and understand the reason why certain ingredients are included in a given
product. Then and only then can a judgment be made on the true value of a
supplement—from a nutritional standpoint as well as a monetary one.

          

One example of this is biotin. Horsemen, farriers, and veterinarians agree that
problem hooves are often helped significantly through supplementation with biotin.
Although it takes considerable time for a horse to grow an entire hoof, sometimes
a year or more, new hoof growth at the coronary band is often markedly different
than old. Stronger feet have multiple advantages: they hold shoes longer, they are
less likely to crack and crumble, and they are less prone to debilitating conditions
such as white line disease. Therefore, the value of biotin as a nutritional
supplement is well known.

Next, the price sticker on a biotin supplement must also represent value. Simply
put, the product must be worth the price you have to pay.

Kentucky Performance Products (KPP) markets Ker-A-Form, a hoof and coat
supplement that features biotin as a primary ingredient. Ker-A-Form sits on feed
and tack stores shelves among many other hoof supplements. What makes it
different than the pail of hoof supplement that is displayed next to it? What makes
it a good value for your money?

This is key: Ker-A-Form contains more than biotin. It also supplies horses with
nutrients to build strong hooves including essential amino acids and microminerals.

On a dry matter basis, hoof is thought to be approximately 93% protein, with at
least 11 individual amino acids recognized (Coenen and Spitzlei, 1997). In
supplementing for healthy hooves, it therefore becomes imperative to provide
horses with a high-quality protein source. A main ingredient in Ker-A-Form is full-
fat soybeans, a processed legume that is abundant in amino acids. In fact, full-fat
soybeans contain the highest quality protein and the greatest amount of lysine of
any plant-source protein supplement. In addition to lysine, Ker-A-Form supplies
horses with methionine, yet another essential amino acid, as well as a host of other
essential amino acids necessary for optimal hoof growth.  

Aside from essential amino acids, microminerals like iodine and zinc are part of the
formulation. Research has shown that horses consuming a diet deficient in zinc
and copper were more likely to be diagnosed with white line disease, a painful and
debilitating hoof ailment, than horses that were supplemented with higher levels of
these minerals (Hihami, 1999). A study performed by Coenen and Spitzlei (1997)
demonstrated that supplementation with 300-500 mg of zinc per day led to
increased zinc concentration in the hoof. The addition of Ker-A-Form to a well-
balanced diet that includes a fortified feed makes certain that the zinc requirement
is fulfilled.

Some researchers believe that the form of zinc offered is important when trying to
improve hoof condition, with organic minerals more highly digestible than
inorganic minerals. Zinc proteinate is a form of organic zinc found in Ker-A-Form.
Organic mineral sources such as zinc proteinate have undergone a process called
chelation in which the mineral is bound to an amino acid. Because amino acids are
readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, zinc absorption is thought to
improve when the mineral is chemically attached to an amino acid.

          
Iodine is less frequently included in hoof-building supplements. Ker-A-Form
contains the mineral because of its known effects on coat condition. Iodine
deficiency can cause a dry, lusterless coat and patchy or diffuse hair loss (Fadok
and Wild, 1983).

Moreover, Ker-A-Form also acts as a coat conditioner due to the inclusion of full-
fat soybeans. These soybeans are a source of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Addition of fat to the diet adds pliability to the skin and bloom to the coat. Few
other hoof supplements offer these benefits and those that do are usually more
expensive than Ker-A-Form.
SCIENTIFICALLY FORMULATED

Research studies have proven that feeding 20 mg of
biotin daily toughens hooves and promotes the
growth of healthy hoof wall. In addition to 20 mg of
biotin, Ker-A-Form contains zinc, methionine, and
iodine, rounding out the nutrients necessary for a
healthy foot.

BIOTIN BASICS

Biotin has become commonplace in feed rooms
across the world because of its reputation as an
effective hoof supplement. And while this is true,
some horsemen believe it to be a man-made and
mystical creation. Nothing could be further from the
truth.

KER-A-FORM FACTS

Keratinization is the process which builds hoof horn.
Research has shown that the following nutrients are
essential for keratinization.

Biotin is a water-soluble B vitamin that activates the
production of keratin. It is required by all animals for
its action as a coenzyme in many metabolic processes.

Methionine is an essential amino acid that contains
sulfur. Sulfur-to-sulfur bonds are responsible for the
cross-linking of keratin within the hoof, giving it
strength and integrity.

Zinc is a macromineral important for its contribution
to the health and integrity of horses' hooves and is
critical in enzymatic reactions controlling protein
metabolism.

Iodine is an essential element for the production of
thyroid hormones which control the growth and
development of all tissues and help regulate
metabolism.

Yeast culture increases nutrient digestibility and
mineral absorption, and promotes efficient protein
utilization.

Fatty acids form a protective hoof barrier that helps
seal the hoof from excessive environmental moisture.
Fatty acids also contribute to improved coat condition.