Will the high protein content of Copra meal harm my horse?

When looking at the protein content of a feed, you must consider it as part of a complete diet. Cool Stance is a high protein feed (21% crude protein), however it is designed to be fed in conjunction with lower protein feeds like grass hay. Therefore when considered as part of a complete diet, CoolStance makes a valuable contribution to satisfying a horse?s protein requirements in what may otherwise be a diet which is marginal or even deficient in protein.

If CoolStance is fed as recommended, your horse?s protein requirement will be met. However, if Cool Stance is fed in conjunction with large quantities of lucerne hay or other high protein feedstuffs, your horse?s protein requirement will be exceeded. If protein is fed in excess of your horse?s requirements, it will simply be metabolised and used by the horse as a source of energy. Converting protein to energy produces waste nitrogen that must be excreted in the urine. This is a natural process and will not harm a healthy horse in any way. Likewise, excess protein is not capable of causing founder or negatively affecting your horse?s behaviour.

A protein intake that exceeds the upper limit outlined in can however have a negative effect on performance horse?s athletic capacity. This can happen when feeding high qulaity alfalfa/ lucerne hay. The digestion and metabolism of protein produces a lot of waste heat, which the horse must dissipate via sweating. In addition, getting rid of the waste nitrogen requires large volumes of urine to be produced and excreted. Thus high protein diets increase a horse?s body heat load and water loss, which in warm and humid conditions or during strenuous physical activity, can contribute to hyperthermia, dehydration and electrolyte loss. These factors all culminate in a compromised performance. The large volumes of urine excreted by horses on high protein diets also contributes to wet stalls and the build up of ammonia in poorly ventilated stables. The ammonia can damage a horses lungs and cause respiratory problems. Therefore a performance horse?s ration must be carefully balanced to avoid problems associated with excessive protein in a horse?s diet. Again, if Cool Stance is fed as directed, a performance horse?s protein requirement will not be exceeded to the point where performance is compromised.

Table ?: The recommended intake of Cool Stance for a 500 kg horse undertaking various activities and the amount of protein required and received by a 500 kg horse being fed Cool Stance and 9% crude protein (CP) grass hay.

*If the horse is not stabled excess protein in the diet will not be an issue for healthy horses.

# Problems associated with excess dietary protein may be experienced at intakes above this level.