HOLY HAY; SAINFOIN/ESPARCETTE
Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a traditional forage plant for horses and has only been replaced by alfalfa in the last 50 years of our high-performance agriculture due to its relatively low yield. Compared to alfalfa, sainfoin not only has a higher protein content, but above all an even better amino acid pattern. The essential amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine are present in higher concentrations here. This allows the horse to better convert the protein contained in the body's own structures and has to excrete fewer unnecessary amino acids as urea through the kidneys. Sainfoin can therefore confidently be viewed as a “starch-free concentrated feed”. The ideal supplementary feed for all horses.
Growing young horses, sport horses and pregnant and lactating broodmares also benefit from the good protein quality of sainfoin. If particularly nutrient-poor hay is used for a reduction diet for overweight horses or the hay ration is stretched with straw, protein must be supplemented in order to avoid undesirable muscle (instead of fat) breakdown. The sainfoin has proven itself here too. And last but not least, the sainfoin in soaked form is ideal for mixing in unpalatable but necessary therapeutic supplements due to its strong taste. Sainfoin is quite rightly experiencing a renaissance in our horse feed!
Another wonderful fact about Sainfoin is that it contains tannins. Tannins are considered to work as antipathogens and it has been reported that they have an anticarcinogenic activity.
Also, Sainfoin’s high tannin levels reduce gas production in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the likelihood of colic or bloat. How cool is that!
The tannins also increase the utilization of protein throughout the body. This produces better topline and more effective maintenance of topline/muscling in hard-working horses and improved hoof horn.
When or why to use sainfoin;
- As an alternative to alfalfa and soy
- As a variety of the use of proteins
- To help fight parasites naturally
- As a protein source
- To support the growth of the foal
- To support the maintenance of topline/muscling
As an equine nutritionist I find it important to have variety in the diet. For example I wouldn’t feed alfalfa all year long as a protein source. We don’t eat the same thing all year long either. When you only provide your horse with one type of protein source then there is a big chance that you disturb the balance of all nutrients and get an imbalance in minerals.
So I wouldn’t feed Sainfoin all year long either, especially not because of the high tannins. Variety is key!
Healthy protein sources are;
- Spirulina
- Sainfoin
- Hemp plant/seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Herbs
- Alfalfa ( not suitable for every horse )
- Certain grass nuts
At The Horse Therapist we work with herbs and also stock hemp seeds, spirulina, and Sainfoin!
Source:
1. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/8/955
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751731117001124
3. https://blog.cheshirehorse.com/2023/02/09/holy-hay-reintroducing-sainfoin-forage/