Why Do Horses Need Amino Acids in Their Diets?

Feb 20, 2015

Kristine Urschel, PhD, associate professor of equine science in University of Kentucky’s (UK) animal and food sciences department, gave a talk about horses' amino acid requirements at the 4th Annual UK Equine Showcase, held Jan. 23 in Lexington, Kentucky.

Amino acids are one of the most significant pieces of the puzzle in a horse’s diet, she explained. They benefit all of a horse’s vital processes, as they are used to build all the protein in the body.

Horses require a total of 20 amino acids to build their body’s proteins. The horse's own body can make 11 of those amino acid but does not have the ability to create the remaining nine it needs. Some amino acids can only be made by plants and micro-organisms. These are called the essential amino acids, and a horse must obtain them from food.

“Most mature horses will meet all requirements for their amino acids by being fed a good-quality forage and concentrate and by following the specific feeding instructions for that particular feed,” Urschel said.

Source: TheHorse

Video: Exploring Precision Data in Swine Production - Dr. Janice Siegford

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show, Dr. Janice Siegford from Michigan State University discusses how precision livestock farming data can support pig health, welfare, transparency, and decision making. She explains why data ownership, privacy, consumer perception, and cost sharing must be addressed as technology becomes more common on farms. Listen now on all major platforms.

“Precision livestock farming data can support producers, veterinarians, certifiers, and consumers by enabling improved monitoring, prediction, and decision-making across the entire production system.”

Meet the guest: Dr. Janice Siegford / janice-siegford-24318839 is a Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Animal Science at Michigan State University. Her expertise in animal welfare, neuroscience, and zoology supports research on pig behavior, stress resilience, and precision livestock farming. Her work explores early weaning, genetics, and stakeholder perspectives on technology adoption to improve pig care, health, and productivity. Learn more from Dr. Janice Siegford on The Swine it Podcast Show, available on all major platforms.