Brenda Khan
Protein is an essential component of a horse's diet, providing amino acids that are necessary for a multitude of key bodily functions. These include muscle building and function, neurotransmission, hormone synthesis, tissue repair, growth, and immune system support. While protein deficiency is rare in equine diets, it can occur in horses consuming mature grasses or poorly digestible or heat-damaged proteins. On the other hand, excessive protein intake is more commonly observed when high amounts of protein-rich feedstuffs or supplements are included in the diet. The amount of protein a horse requires depends on its life stage and workload, with growing, pregnant, lactating, or heavily exercising horses needing more protein. Most horses' protein requirements can be met by feeding pasture and/or hay, with commercial feeds and supplements added when necessary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Protein requirement | Determined by the horse's stage of development and workload |
| Protein sources | Grass, hay, legumes, alfalfa, clover, eggs, meat, fish, soybeans, grains, fruits, flowers, leaves |
| Protein deficiency | Rare, but can occur in horses consuming mature grasses or poorly digestible or heat-damaged proteins |
| Signs of protein deficiency | General non-thriftiness, decreased feed intake, weight loss, poor hoof and hair coat quality, inadequate muscle mass |
| Protein requirements for special cases | Growing horses, pregnant/lactating mares, athletic horses, horses recovering from surgery or injury |
| Excessive protein intake | More common, can occur when protein-rich feedstuffs or supplements are included in the diet |
| Health concerns | High ammonia levels in barns, expensive urine |
| Recommended protein levels | 8.5%-14% crude protein for mature, idle horses; 12% crude protein for adult working horses; 14%-16% for growth, reproduction, and lactation |
| Balancer pellets | Can provide protein, vitamins, and minerals without significantly increasing caloric intake |
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What You'll Learn
Sources of protein for horses
All horses need protein, but not all protein is the same. A horse's requirement for protein is determined by its stage of development and workload. For instance, a broodmare in late pregnancy needs high-quality protein to build placental and fetal tissue. Forage with a moderate percentage of alfalfa may provide this protein.
Protein is made up of different amino acids, some of which can be synthesized within the horse's body. Amino acids that cannot be synthesized are called essential amino acids and must be supplied in the feed. High-quality protein is that which supplies the essential amino acids in the proper ratios.
Grass, hay, or haylage is the greatest proportion of a horse's diet and is the most sensible and cost-effective place to start. An average 500 kg horse will consume around 10 kg of hay per day if allowed ad-lib access, which will convert to around 50 kg of grass on a green and growing pasture.
If the forage you feed your horse is low in protein and has poor quality, you can feed extra protein in the form of fibre feeds like alfalfa, soybean meal, beet pulp, or a better quality forage chop. The inclusion of soya, copra, oats, or flaxseed meal in the diet can also help. Protein supplements (whey, pea, or potato) are another way to boost protein and amino acid levels.
Horse owners typically provide too much protein when feeding their horses at maintenance and in light exercise. It is important to ensure that the horse is receiving enough of the essential amino acids.
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How much protein do horses need?
The amount of protein a horse needs depends on its age, workload, and individual needs. For example, a 500-kilogram horse in heavy work would need about 1000 grams of protein daily, while a broodmare in the first three months of lactation requires about 1.25 kg of protein each day. Adult horses only need protein for the repair and maintenance of body tissues, so their protein requirement is fairly low, with most mature horses getting all the protein they need (about 10% of the diet, on average) from grass or hay.
Horse owners typically provide too much protein when feeding their horses at maintenance and during light exercise. This is because they also meet the requirements of horses with high protein needs, which also have high energy (calorie) needs, with typical performance diets and feed ingredients. An exception would be if they are meeting a large portion of the energy requirement with oil, which doesn't contain protein.
When comparing the amount of protein supplied by different products, it is important to consider the feeding rate of the products. For example, a product that contains 25% protein but is designed to be fed at 1lb per day will provide less protein than a 12% concentrate with a feeding rate of 4lb.
Owners can confirm that their horse's protein needs are being met by having the pastures and hay analysed. If the protein level is below 10%, an easy way to boost protein consumption is to offer some alfalfa hay along with, or instead of, the grass or hay.
If a horse eats very little commercial concentrate, it may be important to supplement additional vitamins and minerals to its forage diet by feeding a product called a ration balancer. These products are designed to deliver protein, vitamins, and minerals without significantly increasing caloric intake.
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Why do horses need protein?
Protein is essential for a horse's diet as it provides amino acids, which are the building blocks used to create body proteins. If a horse's protein intake is inadequate, one or more of its bodily tissues will suffer. As a horse's priority is to stay alive, available amino acids will first be used to feed vital tissues. If there are any amino acids leftover, they will be used for less vital tissues like skin, hair, hooves, and eyes. A lack of protein can also weaken a horse's immune system, making them more susceptible to infections or allergies.
The amount of protein a horse requires depends on its stage of development and workload. Growing, pregnant, lactating, or heavily exercising horses require more protein than idle horses. For example, a broodmare in late pregnancy needs high-quality protein to build placental and fetal tissue, while a horse doing moderate to heavy work needs about 2 to 2.15 pounds of protein per day.
Protein sources for horses include grass, hay, legumes such as alfalfa, and commercial feeds or supplements. While protein deficiency is rare in horses, it can occur in those consuming mature grasses or poorly digestible or heat-damaged proteins. Signs of deficiency include weight loss, poor hoof and hair coat quality, and inadequate muscle mass.
On the other hand, excessive protein intake is more common, especially in equine athletes, as it can be challenging to meet energy requirements without providing too much protein. Excess protein is broken down by the body, resulting in ammonia and urea formation, which can lead to potential health concerns associated with high ammonia levels.
It is important for horse owners to ensure their horses are receiving adequate amounts of high-quality protein to maintain their health and well-being.
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Risks of too much or too little protein
Protein is a major component of body tissue and plays a key role in enzymes, hormones, and antibodies. Horses require six nutrient classes to meet their nutritional requirements, one of which is protein. The amount of protein a horse requires depends on their age, physiological state, and workload. Young horses that are growing, horses under heavy exercise, and pregnant or lactating mares will likely require supplemental protein.
Risks of Too Much Protein
Protein is frequently overfed to horses. Excessively high protein feeds are not only more expensive, but they are also unhealthy. Most active adult horses do not need a feed with more than 14% protein. A balanced diet requires a relationship between nutrients and energy. A formula that is concentrated with excess nutrients, such as protein, is not balanced.
When a horse is supplied with too much protein, the urea content in the urine will increase, leading to increased water loss. This will, in turn, increase the horse's water requirement, which could be problematic for horses under intense exercise or those who may already struggle with hydration. Other problems with increased urea excretion are that it can negatively impact air quality in the barn, leading to respiratory problems, and cause issues with the acid-base balance during exercise. Research has also reported earlier fatigue during exercise when protein is oversupplied.
Additionally, the digestion and metabolism of protein generate more heat than the digestion and metabolism of fat and carbohydrates. So, a horse on a high-protein diet will need to get rid of more body heat and will sweat more. This increased rate of sweating, together with the extra urine production, can lead to problems with dehydration and heat stress, especially for horses in moderate to heavy work or those living in hot climates.
Risks of Too Little Protein
Although less common, protein deficiency can also have negative consequences. The current published nutrient requirements for horses (NRC, 2007) state a requirement for lysine, but research has not fully elucidated the horse's requirements for other essential amino acids. The first three limiting amino acids in an equine diet are lysine, threonine, and methionine.
It is important to note that the risks of too little protein may be mitigated by providing a protein-rich forage, such as quality hay, and then adding supplemental protein as needed.
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How to calculate protein requirements
All horses need protein in their diet, but not all protein is the same. Protein is made up of different amino acids, some of which can be synthesized within the horse's body. Amino acids that cannot be synthesized are called essential amino acids and must be supplied in the feed. High-quality protein provides essential amino acids in the proper ratios.
A horse's requirement for protein is determined by its stage of development and workload. Adult horses need protein only for the repair and maintenance of body tissues, so their total requirement is fairly low. Many mature horses get all the protein they need (about 10% of the diet, on average) from grass or hay.
To calculate a horse's protein requirements, first, determine how much protein a horse gets from the forage they consume, as it makes up most horses' diets. Testing the forage, whether it be hay or pasture, is the best approach for finding nutrient levels, including protein. Most feed and supplement manufacturers include nutritional values on their product packaging. Once you’ve calculated the total amount of crude protein (CP) in the horse’s diet, compare it to the National Research Council (NRC) requirements for the horse’s age and workload. For example, a 500-kilogram horse in heavy work would need about 1,000 grams of protein daily. If the total CP in the horse’s diet is less than that, consider adding protein via a supplement or additional feed or forage.
It is important to note that horse owners typically provide too much protein when feeding their horses at maintenance and in light exercise. In many cases, this is largely unavoidable and of less concern from a health standpoint. However, providing excessive amounts of protein in the diet can result in expensive urine and possible human/horse health concerns associated with high ammonia levels. When in doubt, an equine nutritionist or veterinarian can evaluate a horse’s diet to ensure it contains adequate protein levels for its life stage and workload.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, protein is an essential part of a horse's diet. Protein provides amino acids, which are the building blocks used to create body proteins.
The amount of protein a horse requires depends on its age, workload, and life stage. A mature horse doing moderate to heavy work needs about 2 to 2.15 pounds of protein per day. A horse's diet should include various protein sources to ensure it gets all the essential amino acids.
Signs of protein deficiency include general non-thriftiness, decreased feed intake, weight loss, and poor hoof and hair coat quality. Visible withers and hip bones may also indicate a need for better quality protein.
Good sources of protein for horses include grass, hay, legumes such as alfalfa, and commercial feeds or supplements. It is important to ensure that the horse's diet contains a variety of protein sources to meet its amino acid requirements.
