The intercellular cement includes minerals such as which pair?

• A. Biotin
• B. Intercellular cement
• C. Laminitis
• D. Zinc, copper

Answer: (D)

The intercellular cement in hoof horn relies on trace minerals that help bind the cells and strengthen the matrix. Zinc and copper are key minerals for this role: zinc acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in keratinization and formation of cross-links in proteins, which keeps the horn tough; copper is needed for cross-linking collagen and elastin, reinforcing the extracellular matrix that binds cells together. Biotin is a vitamin important for horn quality but not a mineral in the cement, laminitis is a disease affecting the laminae, and the term itself isn’t a mineral pair. So zinc and copper best fit the description.