Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Livestock Feeds - Trade Memo - T-3-106 - Vitamin Guarantees for Ruminant and Horse Feeds

Dietary requirements of the fat soluble vitamins (Vitamin A, Vitamin D and Vitamin E) for ruminants and horses have been well established. Dietary sources of other Vitamins, such as the B-Vitamins, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and choline chloride have not been proven to provide any specific benefits to these species. As such, the Animal Health and Production Division has established the following guidelines for vitamin guarantees for ruminant and horse feeds.

1. Guarantees for levels of Vitamins A, D and E shall be stated on the label of ruminant and horse feeds as outlined in the Canadian Feeds Regulations.

2. Feed manufacturers may guarantee levels of vitamins other than Vitamin A, D and E in feeds for calves (up to three months of age) and lambs (up to two months of age). This is essentially the pre-ruminant stage of the animal when the rumen has not become fully functional.

3. Feeds for lactating dairy cows may guarantee levels of niacin in addition to, the Vitamin A, D and E guarantees.

4. Feeds for horses may guarantee levels of riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in addition to, the Vitamin A, D and E guarantees.

5. Vitamin guarantees other than those indicated in items 1, 2, 3 and 4 above will be acceptable on feeds for horses, cattle or sheep provided the following "Note(s)", where appropriate, appears on the feed label:

(a) Dairy Feeds:

"Feeding Vitamins other than Vitamins A, D, E, and niacin to dairy cattle older than three months of age may not have a beneficial effect".

(b) Beef and Sheep Feeds:

"Feeding Vitamins other than Vitamins A, D and E to ruminants older than three months of age (or two months in the case of lambs) may not have a beneficial effect".

(c) Horse Feeds:

"Feeding Vitamins other than Vitamin A, D, E, riboflavin, pyridoxine and thiamin to horses may not have a beneficial effect".

Please note that feeds for ruminants and horses with vitamin guarantees other than vitamins A, D, and E require registration and that the addition of any new guarantees to a product label will be considered significant changes and will require an amendment to registration.

As dietary requirements are established for vitamins other than those stated above this memorandum will be amended. Companies are reminded they may submit any information pertaining to this issue to the Animal Health and Production Division for evaluation.

Feed Section
Animal Health and Production Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0Y9
Tel: 613-225-2342 Fax: 613-228-6614

T-3-106 - VITAMIN GUARANTEES FOR RUMINANT AND HORSE FEEDS