The Truth About Protein For Horses

We’ve all read articles on horse feed and the amount of protein that should or shouldn’t be in our horses’ diet.  Some are very informative, others not so accurate, and then of course there is advice from a variety of online ‘experts’. To give owners an informed view on protein we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions to dispel those myths and common misconceptions…. 

Firstly, What Is Protein And Why Is It So Important?

Proteins are large, complex molecules that are made up of amino acid chains. These amino acids are converted into muscle tissue and are essential for building muscle mass  and muscle repair. Essential amino acids are those that cannot be synthesised within the horse’s body and therefore need to be sourced from feed . Lysine is the most important essential amino acid for youngstock in particular as a deficiency will limit growth and development

What Makes A Good Source Of Protein For Horses?

Many feedstuffs contain protein but not all contain essential amino acids. The mark of a good source of protein for the horse is the amount of essential amino acids it contains. Alfalfa and other legumes such as soya are rich in protein but most importantly they provide good levels of quality protein. Cereals on the other hand have relatively low levels of quality protein. Alfalfa is a great addition to the ratio if you want to build muscle tone and top line.

How Much Protein Should I Feed?

The amount of protein a horse requires is linked to its age or its level of work with young stock and horses in hard work having the highest requirements. A 500kg horse at rest or in light work needs a minimum of 600 to 700grams per day – 1kg of alfalfa provides 120grams so if fed at the feeding rate of 2-2.5kgs per day can make a significant contribution to the horse’s requirements alongside forage.

For comparison, the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Horses gives a reference value for mature cool season grass hay at 10.8% protein and 0.38% lysine. Alfalfa, therefore, supplies 1.8x as much lysine as average hay. This means alfalfa can be particularly useful for feeding alongside poor-quality hay.

Can I Improve And Maintain The Condition On An Alfalfa Diet?

Yes.  Supplying good quality protein can help with weight gain and maintaining condition without causing over-excitability. Topline is achieved through the horse working correctly and the diet supplying sufficient quality protein to build muscle tone. When fed alongside plenty of forage, alfalfa-based horse feeds provide sufficient protein and energy to meet the requirements of most horses. To make sure vitamin and mineral requirements are being met, top up with a broad-spectrum supplement or balancer to provide micronutrients.

Is Protein Responsible For OCD In Youngstock?

One myth that has well and truly been dispelled is that excessive protein causes DOD. It is now generally agreed that the most dangerous type of diet is in fact one that is high in energy and low in minerals as this stimulates a rapid rate of growth without supplying the building blocks to support it. Straight cereals are an obvious culprit as they provide lots of energy but have a poor vitamin and mineral content.

Using alfalfa alongside a broad-spectrum supplement or balancer intended for the young stock is the safest way to provide essential nutrients required for growth and development.