British Breeder Magazine May 2020
Magazine for breeders of British bred sport horses. Includes breeding industry news, updates, interviews, profiles and reports.
Magazine for breeders of British bred sport horses. Includes breeding industry news, updates, interviews, profiles and reports.
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Feature - FEEDING ARTICLE<br />
Dietary Protein and its<br />
importance to the Horse<br />
Proteins are complex compounds,<br />
made up of combinations of “building<br />
block” amino acids, which are joined by<br />
peptide bonds. It is thought that protein<br />
makes up 15-19% of the total body mass<br />
of the horse and is found in almost every<br />
cell, with muscle containing the largest<br />
concentration. Protein can be found in<br />
various forms and has many roles in the<br />
body which can be loosely grouped into<br />
the following classes by function:<br />
Essential vs Non-Essential<br />
There are 21 identified amino<br />
acids, of which all but 10 can be<br />
synthesised in the horse’s body<br />
from the conversion of one amino<br />
acid to another, through a process<br />
called transamination which takes<br />
place in the liver. These amino acids<br />
are termed non-essential or<br />
dispensable. The remaining 10<br />
amino acids are known as essential<br />
• Structural (eg. muscle, skin, hair and connective tissue as well as<br />
the contractile proteins, actin and myosin)<br />
• Transport – in the blood stream (eg. haemoglobin) and across<br />
all cell membranes<br />
• Regulation of metabolic function (eg. enzymes, hormones)<br />
• Defence (eg. immunoglobulins/antibodies)<br />
• As a buffer to minimise fluctuations in body pH<br />
Although a certain amount of energy<br />
can be derived from excess dietary<br />
protein and some amino acids, this<br />
generally only happens in abnormal<br />
circumstances, such as starvation,<br />
when tissue protein is used as a source<br />
of energy. While in some cells, amino<br />
acids are important energy stores, their<br />
metabolism to usable energy is inefficient<br />
so protein is not an important source of<br />
energy, for the horse, overall.<br />
or indispensable amino acids and<br />
must be provided in the diet, as they<br />
cannot be synthesised by the horse<br />
itself or synthesis is insufficient to meet<br />
requirements.<br />
The 10 amino acids essential for the<br />
horse are lysine, methionine, threonine,<br />
valine, leucine, isoleucine, arginine,<br />
tryptophan, histidine and phenylalanine.<br />
Balancers supply protein, along with vitamins and<br />
minerals but no calories, and are ideal for ensuring<br />
optimum intake is maintained<br />
Bayfield Stud youngster canter – Even young or resting horses’ diets should supply<br />
optimum levels of protein to maintain muscle tone and tissue integrity.<br />
BRITISH BREEDER| 53
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