Equine Amino is a quality blend of the key essential amino acids based on Dr Eleanor Kellon’s VMD recommendations
An essential amino acid is one which has to come from the intake, as the other type, non-essential amino acids can be manufactured by the horse. This blend includes three of the essential amino acids that are considered to be the most likely deficient in a horse’s intake and can make a difference with topline and muscle building, and hoof quality: lysine, methionine and threonine.
Protein is the key component required for muscle building and in hooves, the hoof wall is about 93% protein on a dry matter basis.
The three amino acids considered the most likely deficient are:
Lysine
The number one ‘limiting’ amino acid known to limit muscle development/topline also plays a role in production of hormones, enzymes, antibodies, collagen, elastins in bone matrix, skin, tendons and articular cartilage plus keratin protein in hooves, coat, mane and tail.
Lysine is known to enhance calcium absorption, important for healthy bones and supports muscle and nerve function.
Methionine
This amino acid can make a difference more with muscle function rather than bulk because methionine combines with lysine to form the amino acid carnitine, a carrier required for the muscle to burn fat. It’s known as a structural amino acid which means it’s found in all the proteins of the body, from skeletal muscle to haemoglobin, antibodies and enzymes. Methionine is converted into the amino acid cysteine, which is a sulfur-containing molecule that helps proteins maintain their structure. It is especially important for glucosamine, collagen, and keratin formation, which are proteins that are abundant in joints, connective tissue and hooves. Insufficient methionine can play a role in crumbling and cracking hooves.
Another feature is that methionine is converted to s-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), an important methyl donor in cells. It provides a methyl group to compounds like DNA and proteins which alters their function.
Threonine
The next limiting amino acid after lysine, threonine can also limit the ability to build muscle and inhibits fat accumulation in the liver. It is an immunostimulant, promoting the thymus gland which as a very important role to play in the immune system. Threonine has a role in the digestive tract and nutrition absorption. Between 60 and 90% dietary threonine is used by tissues in the gut, for example, the production of mucin proteins which are a protective barrier. When dietary threonine is low, mucin production is a priority and there may be less for muscle growth or protein synthesis.
Combined in Equine Amino, these amino acids help to support performance, strong muscles, digestive gut health and quality hooves. “Production of the summer coat is critically dependent on adequate protein and essential amino acid intake.” Dr Kellon.
Equine Amino can be fed with any of the mineral mixes, Postbiotic Gut Support, Hydrate Support and the toxin binders Elitox and Mycosorb A+. This article on toxin binders explains their differences.
Information sheet for Equine Amino.
