Quality pasture helps to meet a horse’s protein requirements (Image courtesy of Kentucky Equine Research).
How much protein is required? The protein requirement for horses depends on life stage and workload.
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Rebecca Ham: Equine nutritionist
The current National Research Council recommendations for protein intake in a 500kg adult horse in work is 540g per day, for horses in light work 699g per day, and those in moderate work 768g per day. Quality pasture, hay and well formulated feeds or balancers are usually adequate in meeting these requirements. When it comes to protein, quality is far more important than quantity. A higher
Meet our expert REBECCA HAM, who has a degree in Equine Science and is a member of the Kentucky Equine Research team. We asked for her advice on keeping condition on Thoroughbreds.
quality protein more effectively delivers the essential amino acids required by the horse that cannot be made in the body. A high-quality protein source can be fed in relatively small amounts. Feeding a lower quality protein at a
