fbpx
An image of two types of soybeans tested for trypsin inhibitors, the left is red indicating the presence of trypsin inhibitors and the right is yellow, indicating that it is safe for horses

The Role of Trypsin Inhibitor in Soybean for Horses

/in /by

What is a trypsin inhibitor and how does it affect your horse?

Soybean naturally contains an anti-nutritional factor called trypsin inhibitor. Trypsin inhibitor is a compound that actually blocks the action of trypsin (which is an enzyme, or as I call them, a little pair of scissors, in the horses gut that cuts up protein so it can be absorbed by the horse). When trypsin is blocked by soybean a horse can no longer digest protein… not very useful right?!

Why would you feed soybean to horses?

So, if soybean contains stuff that stops a horse from digesting protein, why on earth would we use it in a horse’s ration?

This is talked about a lot and often given as a reason why soybean should not be fed to horses. BUT, if you’ve been hanging around us here at FeedXL for a while you will have heard us say many times that if soybean is cooked properly trypsin inhibitor is destroyed which then makes soybean perfectly safe to feed. And given it is the best of the best when it comes to quality plant protein it makes a valuable addition to diets in so many ways.

Make sure your soybean is safe for your horse

To check soybean products to see if they have been cooked properly there is a test kit called FeedCheck Soy (https://cbsbioplatforms.com/Store)… this kit gives a rapid visual check on whether soybean has been cooked enough to destroy the trypsin inhibitor. Soybean products that still have active trypsin inhibitor will show red coloring while properly cooked products will have no red coloring at all.

The photo above shows a test we did on two samples. We had completely raw full fat soybean on the left which is clearly bright red indicating it has all of its trypsin inhibitor still present. The product on the right is a commercially available (branded) product, which has been extruded and shows no hint of red coloring to demonstrate beautifully how, when done properly, trypsin inhibitor can be destroyed without destroying the actual soybean and all of its amazing protein! Happy days for those of us who love the benefits soybean can bring to a diet!

 

 

Do you have a question or comment? Do you need help with feeding?

We would love to welcome you to our FeedXL Horse Nutrition Facebook Group. Ask questions and have them answered by PhD and Masters qualified equine nutritionists and spend time with like-minded horse owners. It’s free!

Click here to join the FeedXL Horse Nutrition Facebook Group

 

11
Shares
You might also like
Seeds in a glass bowl and oil in another container, both sources of omega 3 fatty acids for horses What is the Safest Form of Flaxseed – Whole, Ground, Heat Treated or Oil?
Photo of a horse in a field Does Your Horse Need Electrolytes?
Gut Bacteria and Human Health
Diagram of a horse's stomach Avoiding Gastric Ulcers in Horses
A horse wearing a saddle and bridle being led up a rocky hill The Link Between Regular Forage Meals and Gut Health
Black horse on brown pasture How Stress Affects Your Horse’s Gut
© FeedXL
How Use Body Condition to Know if Your Horse Is Eating EnoughA grey horse walking in a field of grassMany horses grazing on grass and eating out of buckets on the groundDigestive Enzymes – What Do They Do for Your Horse?