There is a saying that everything has both its good and bad side, this rule also applies to the very important bodybuilding food called ‘protein‘.
When looking at the effects of too much protein in horses’ diet, it is important to note that protein makes up a majority of the cellular structure of living animals. It helps to balance and regulate the chemical process and it is one of the basic nutrients in which animals grow and repair worn out tissues. When protein is taken in excess, however, it can lead to hyperproteinemia.
Hyperproteinemia has found to cause different illness in living animals and below, we will look further into how it affects horses and also identify all the conditions that horse owners need to be aware of.
Dehydration
To break protein down, a high level of water most be made available. However excess protein intake increases thirst in horses. kidney requires more water, which in return pulls water from the horse’s body to match up with the excess protein. Horses living in a cool climate condition may not pose a threat especially when not use for strenuous activities. On the other hand, horses that live close to the equator will have more challenge.
Restlessness
As a result of heat produced by the intake of protein, restlessness can set in for horses. It’s often speculated that reducing the intake of protein can keep your horse calm. However, a diet with higher energy which is more than what the horse actually needs can continuously make a horse restless. Protein is not actually the cause of the restlessness but the energy got from pasture eaten.
Wet bedding
Horses under certain diets will process the protein gradually and mange to burn it up, unlike carbohydrate. But when digested protein produces poisonous substance like nitrogen and when process it brings about waste called urea and then passed out as urine.
Horses under high proteins diet drinks will also urinate more often. For a horse exposed to a lot of water, this effect is not noticeable. However, a horse that stays more in a stable, intake of high protein will lead to uncontrollable wet bedding a situation like this is fatal.
Greater risk can crop up if not cleaned often again.
The area of its urine can harbour harmful bacteria that can affect the nostrils of the horse which is dangerous. Ammonia can create an allergy in the airway of the horse respiratory track and when cross ventilation is not observed, it is risky.
Increase in temperature
More heat gained as a result of digestion of protein is not noticed in carbohydrates and fat. So horses that majorly consume protein emit excess heat. The horse body then engages in a mechanism to expel the heat. Due to this effect sweating occurs. The increase in sweating in combination with excess urine will surely affect the rate of water intake.
Frequent urination
As a result of excess protein, the ammonia levels rise which then increases the water intake. This lead to frequent urination.
Kidney problems
It is well known that the kidney is responsible for removing harmful substances like urea from the body. A horse which suffers from chronic kidney disease, shouldn’t take too much protein to help prevent any additional damage to the kidney.
Feeling Lethargic
When diet high in protein eaten, especially when taking in large amount can feel heavy this also implies in horses. Horses are likely to feel lethargy. Although protein can help the horse stay full for along hour with fewer urges to eat. But eating too much can lead to an imbalance in the body system.
Essentially, grains are easier to digest, resulting in rapid digestion. Proteins are difficult to digest in horses, which is a good thing. But overtaking it can cause the gluconeogenesis process, which the horse undertakes when breaking down protein, is a fluctuation in the horse cortisol levels, making it feel fatigued.
Benefits of Protein in Horses Diet
Loss of weight: It good to know eating more protein in horses is an advantage when trying to lose weight eating food high in protein is best for obese horses.
High level of protein increases satiety and to a large extent decrease appetite and hunger, this is because protein is not easily broken down when compared to carbohydrate.
A horse suffering from obesity can take more protein than carbohydrate. This will help to suppress the appetite. Adding protein into meals is a major way to lose weight. A study has shown that over 50% of horses that consumed higher protein from a scale of 15 to 50% calories from protein had greater satiety and little or no taste for more.
However, another study shows that when horse consumed meals based on different protein content, but with a total of the same calories, horses that ate a higher protein often felt full for a longer period. The key point is that increasing protein will aid the feeling of being full and play a major role in losing and maintaining the weight of your animal.
Age: The age of a horse plays an important role in the protein level of its diet. A high amount of protein needed at its tender age. It should have quality protein like milk, of a range of 14% to 16%. This should continue until it gets to about 2 years old.
Level of activity: Active horses that train regular should have a higher protein meal than those horses for ‘pasture ornaments‘ the higher the activity the more calories that will burn due to their regular training excessive. A horse that plays a role of reproduction and breeding function “broodmare and stallions” need more calories and protein in a certain cycle of gestation, lactation.
What to worry about
Under a high protein diet, as previously before, pastures rich in protein plays a critical role in the diet of a horse. Problems will not occur if the horse is healthy and living in temperate conditions or outdoor surroundings, undergoing less strenuous activity.
For horses living close to the Equator or moderately hot places, efforts made to regulate the intake of protein should not stop. Where possible, the workload can be restricted to help them adapt to the environment.
Regulating protein intake by keeping your horse from grazing at day or night is also effective.
Final Thoughts on Too Much Protein in Horses Diet
If you own a horse that;
- Lives in a high temperate region.
- Often stays in the stable.
- Engages in strenuous activities.
- Suffers from pre-existing kidney disease.
Adding more protein to your horse diet will do it more harm than good.
