Soya in Horse Feed

Due to its high essential amino acid content, Soybean Meal is considered a high-quality protein source (Figure 1). It also contains excellent levels of oil, which are used by the horse a ‘slow releasing’ energy sources. Soya beans must be carefully processed prior to feeding them to horses. This is because raw soybeans contain a specific enzyme that blocks the action of trypsin, an enzyme needed for protein absorption.Cooking of soya beans can reduce the level of enzyme inhibitors to acceptable levels. However, the cooking must be precise – undercooking will not reduce the enzymes correctly resulting in reduced protein absorption whilst overcooking will destroy essential amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine and possibly others.