ABSTRACT
A major concern of every horse owner, whether a large horse-breeding farm or an individual with one pleasure horse, is proper feeding techniques and correct use of feedstuffs. A large unanswered question exists among horse nutritionists regarding the ability of the non-ruminant herbivore to utilize non-protein nitrogen or poor quality protein supplements. The chapter discusses the research which helps to answer some of the questions concerning the qualitative and quantitative protein requirements of the lactating mare. Cattle through fermentative digestion, can improve protein quality of low-quality feedstuffs provided an adequate N supply is available in the rumen. There are two different schools of thought that concern N metabolism in the mature horse. Most reports suggest that the majority of protein digestion and absorption of amino acids takes place in the small intestine and that horses are susceptible to amino acid deficiencies like other non-ruminants.
