There are twenty different amino acids needed for protein synthesis. Synthesis just means breaking down the protein into individual units – think of taking the beads of a necklace to pieces. The body takes the protein necklace to pieces and uses the amino acids contained in the necklace to build new amino acids and also to build new proteins.

Some amino acids can be made by the tissues of the body. However, ten of these amino acids, known as essential amino acids, can only be supplied to the horse through dietary sources. These are arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.

Lysine, followed by methionine and threonine are the essential amino acids in most demand during protein synthesis in the horse. In general, lysine is the only amino acid in short supply in a forage-based diet.

Lysine enhances growth and nitrogen balance; promotes bone growth in foals; stimulates gastric juices. It is the amino acid that is often in the shortest supply in forage so it makes sense to supplement for insurance. It is particularly important for horses in heavy work, pregnant and lactating mares and growing youngsters.

It is important to make sure enough lysine and the other essential amino acids are contained in the diet in sufficient quantity because without one essential amino acid the protein necklace may not be able to be rebuilt to make the required protein for different jobs in the body.

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