Soy Sensitivity

Question:

I am interested in learning about the pros and cons of feeding soy to horses.   There seems to be research supporting and not supporting using it.  I've heard that there is research indicating that soy in horse feed contributes to insulin resistance.
 
Could you give me your professional opinion on feeding soy to horses?
 
Thank you!

Answer:

Soy bean meal has been a protein source for many years in horse rations. If included in the appropriate amounts and balanced with added lysine soy is a very helpful and useful feed.

Some horses, however, appear to be sensitive to soy protein, and those horses react negatively to it. In this case these horses should not get soy in their feed.  Negative reactions include getting hot or aggressive, developing scratches or sores on their legs, and  sometimes hives.

Insulin resistance is more closely correlated to horses getting too much feed for their workload.  Horses should ideally be fed hay or pasture along with one good vitamin/mineral source, only if they cannot maintain weight on just hay/pasture should they get a concentrate feed, and then only as much as they need to maintain their bodyweight.

Most horse develop insulin resistance for the same reason that humans do, too much to eat and too little exercise, soy does provide calories and if too many calories are provided then the horse is at risk of developing obesity with all it concomitant problems.

The best way to prevent Insulin resistance is to keep the horses from getting obese and keep them exercised.

 
Hope this helps!



Dr. Melyni Worth Ph.D. - 2004 - 2007(c)

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