Chapter 4 - Labelling and Guarantees

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4.4 Vitamin Guarantees for Ruminant and Horse Feeds

Dietary requirements of three fat soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, and E) for ruminants and horses have been well established. Dietary sources of other vitamins, such as vitamin C, vitamin K, and the B vitamins, including niacin and choline, have not been proven to provide any specific benefits to these species. As such, the CFIA's Feed Program 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 Feeds Regulations.
2. Feed manufacturers may guarantee levels of vitamins other than vitamins A, D, and E in feeds for calves (up to three months of age), kids, 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 horses may guarantee levels of riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamine, in addition to the vitamin A, D, and E guarantees.
4. Vitamin guarantees other than those indicated in items 1, 2, and 3 above will only be allowed on feeds for horses, cattle, goats or sheep provided the following "Note(s)", where appropriate, appear(s) on the feed label:
   1. Cattle Feeds:
      "Feeding vitamins other than vitamins A, D, and E to cattle older than three months of age may not have a beneficial effect".
   2. Sheep Feeds:
      "Feeding vitamins other than vitamins A, D, and E to sheep older than two months of age may not have a beneficial effect".
   3. Goat Feeds:
      "Feeding vitamins other than vitamins A, D, and E to goats older than two months of age may not have a beneficial effect".
   4. Horse Feeds:
      "Feeding vitamins other than vitamins A, D, E, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamine 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 the addition of any new guarantees to a product label will be considered significant changes and will require an amendment to registration.

This section will be amended as dietary requirements are established for vitamins other than those stated above. Changes to registered ruminant product labels as a result of the current amendment will be required on registration renewal. Companies are reminded that they may submit any information pertaining to this issue to the Feed Program for evaluation.

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