Soy Substitutes for Sensitive Horses

Providing essential amino acids like lysine is important for all equine diets, especially those designed for young, growing horses.

Soybean meal is a rich source of lysine, and for that reason it makes up part of many equine rations as an ingredient in prepared grain mixes.

Some horses are sensitive to soy and can’t safely eat rations that contain this source of high-quality protein. Joe Pagan, Ph.D., president of Kentucky Equine Research, suggests that rations for soy-sensitive horses can boost protein levels by including canola meal, sunflower meal, peanut meal, linseed meal, or dehydrated alfalfa in prepared feeds.