Concentrated
Value Pure Lysine™
contains only pure l-lysine hydrochloride (HCl), the
stable form of the essential amino acid most often
deficient in the diets of horses. Amino acids serve
as the “building blocks” of proteins. To make
proteins for growth, development, and maintenance of
tissues, the horse must have an adequate supply and
balance of amino acids in the diet. The protein of
many horse diets, especially those based on grains
and grass hay and forage, is often low in lysine.
The National Research Council calls lysine “the
first limiting amino acid in the diet of growing
foals....Inadequate protein or lysine intake results
in decreased growth and development of young
animals. Inadequate intake of protein or required
amino acids by mature horses may lead to reduced
feed intake, body tissue loss, poor hair coat, and
reduced hoof growth.
Minimum
Impact on Crude Protein Level The
calculation of the crude protein percentage of the
horse’s diet is based on many pounds of feed. Pure
Lysine™ is so concentrated that just a few grams
each day can dramatically improve the availability of
the rest of the protein in the diet. Because lysine is
only one of more than twenty amino acids found in
proteins, Pure Lysine™ makes a very small impact on
the crude protein percentage of the diet.
Lysine
in the Body Lysine is found
in a wide variety of tissues, hormones, and cells
throughout the body. Proteins that require lysine
include the collagens and elastins that make up bone
matrix, tendons, skin, and articular cartilage. The
iron-carrying hemoglobin molecule needs lysine in its
unique structure. Myosin and other muscle proteins
contain large amounts of lysine. Even the keratin
protein in hoof and hair requires lysine. Without
enough lysine, the production of these and other
proteins is restricted.
How
Much Lysine Do Horses Need? The
NRC estimates that the daily lysine needs of mature
1,100 pound horses range from 23 grams for idle horses
to 46 grams for horses in intense work. Growing horses
have the greatest need for quality protein. In growing
to a mature weight of 1,100 pounds, a horse will
require 30 grams of lysine daily at 4 months of age,
and over 50 grams of lysine as a long yearling in
training.
Grains
and grasses are lysine-poor
Unfortunately, the grains we feed to meet the energy
needs of growing and working horses are particularly
weak in lysine. For example, 10 pounds of most oats
can be expected to supply only 20 grams of lysine. The
same amount of corn, which is popular for its energy
and digestibility, supplies less than 12 grams of
lysine. When available, sufficient amounts of soybean
meal or alfalfa can make up for this lysine
“shortfall”, but these feedstuffs can be expensive
and problematic to feed. Pure Lysine™ is a simple,
low cost solution that goes right the heart of the
matter. It supplies the key missing ingredient in its
pure form, for easy feeding, excellent digestibility,
and surprisingly low cost.
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Pure
Lysine: The protein component
most often lacking in horse’s diets, in its most pure
and economical form.
