Feed manufacturers tend to describe their feeds in terms of the percentage of protein it contains. However, this is not always an indicator of quality and a high level of protein does not equal more energy or is necessarily the best choice for your horse. Protein is an expensive ingredient so also has an impact on the overall price of a feed.

Proteins are essential building blocks for body cells and all ages of horse require adequate amounts of protein to enable them to grow, reproduce, heal and add muscle. Your horse’s endurance and condition can be impaired if their protein requirements aren’t met.

What does ‘crude’ mean?

The word "crude" on the label explains that not all the protein listed will be totally digestible by the horse. There will always be a percentage that their guts can’t process. If you are working out rations, factor in a reduction of 2-5% of the crude protein value to get a practical percentage to work with. So if a good quality mix has 12% protein you can deduce that your horse will be getting between 7 to 10% protein when digested.

What feeds contain protein?

In an average diet, horses will get their protein mainly from forage such as hay. Most grass hays contain approximately 6-10% protein and specialist hays such as alfalfa or haylage can have values around 12-14%. Grass grazing will contain low amounts of protein, around 5%, but this varies according to soil type, grass type, accessibility and time spent grazing. 

Soybean meal contains good levels of the amino acid lysine, which is important in metabolism, a healthy nervous system and proper immune function. Linseed also contains good levels of protein and is a great additive if you wish to also improve coat sheen and overall condition of your horse.

How much protein should I be feeding?

This depends on your horse’s body condition and the type of work he or she is doing. The suggested amount varies depending on all these factors, so while a mature horse may need around 10% protein in his diet, a foal may need around 18%.

As with all feeds and feeding regimes, it is important to seek advice if you are unsure of what and how much to feed. Many feed companies now make bespoke feeds for specific ages and workloads so the calculations are simple.