Protein is essential to all living things like human beings in particular. It is an important component of every cell in their body and is a known building block of their bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. In addition, protein is used in making enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. In horses, protein provides structure, supports nutrient transport across cell membranes, regulates metabolic function, a component of the immune system, and acts as a buffer to minimize fluctuations in body pH levels.
PROTEIN’S ROLE IN EQUINE PHYSICAL BODY GROWTH
Protein is essential to all living things like human beings in particular. It is an important component of every cell in their body and is a known building block of their bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. In addition, protein is used in making enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals. In horses, protein provides structure, supports nutrient transport across cell membranes, regulates metabolic function, a component of the immune system, and acts as a buffer to minimize fluctuations in body pH levels. Playing an integral role in equine growth, muscle development, and performance, protein is necessary for body growth and maintenance. It is broken down in the small intestine into amino acids that are recombined to make proteins in the body that make up
muscle, hair, and hoof.
If protein is not sufficiently supplied in the horse’s diet, protein deficiency happens.
Some symptoms may include:
• Poor hair quality.
• Poor hoof growth.
• Reduced milk production in lactating mares.
• Low stamina
• Poor growth as identified by lower average daily gain
• Loss of muscle mass
POPULAR EQUINE PROTEIN SUPPLEMENTS
There are so many supplements available in the market, two of the most popular are Muscle Builder and Calf-Manna:
Muscle Builder:
With proper dietary management, exercise program, and veterinary care, horses can normally get back on track from muscle disorders. But with Muscle Builder, your horse will get optimum levels of key amino acids helpful for the development of muscles, strength, stamina, and easy recovery from exercise. Thanks to its main component, the gamma oryzanol (one of the amino acids that combine to form proteins), that is an antioxidant, and supports the growth of lean muscle tissue and healthy levels of digestive enzymes. Perfect for horses in training and competition.
Calf-Manna:
An ideal performance supplement for horses, Calf-Manna contains high-quality proteins enhancing the nutritional value of any feed; has great palatability attracting horses to stay on feed during stress times (e.g. breeding, performance, long travel, illness, or changes in the environment, etc.).