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[RC] Protein - Bruce WearyProtein concentration in the horse is overwhelmingly determined by the hay he eats. Most grass hays are from 9-16% protein, (alfalfa being 18% or more) some of which is not absorbable in the small intestine. The horse carries over 100 lbs of hay in him at any given time. If he has a pound or two of a "high" protein feed, say, Calf-Manna, at 25% protein, it is being diluted by the rest of his intestinal contents so as not to have any real effect on his total protein concentration. It is the equivalent of filling a 50 gallon gas tank with 87 octane gas, and then adding a quart or two of 100 octane. The octane level won't be significantly affected. This topic comes up often, and I hate to see people avoiding good feeds because the feed tag scares them off due to the protein rating. The "quality" of the protein (amino acid content) is more important than the amount of crude protein in any feed.Truman is always banging the "science drum," which currently states that too much protein in the diet will risk overheating and dehydrating the horse. Yet, hundreds of Tevis buckles, Tevis Cups, and Haggin Cups have been garnered on alfalfa-only diets. If winning a Haggin Cup involves wives tales and superstition, I'm buying a rabbit's foot today. Reality takes place somewhere in between stodgy clinical studies and that which experience and insight tell us to do. Ask any physician, and he'll tell you the same thing. Bruce Weary =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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