For many horse owners, dealing with dusty, mouldy, or poor-quality hay is a frustrating challenge. Horses with sensitive respiratory systems need clean forage, and steaming hay has become one of the most reliable ways to reduce harmful allergens. However, recent research shows that while steaming has clear respiratory benefits, it can also impact the protein quality of hay. Luckily, with a few simple adjustments, you can keep your horse’s nutrition in top shape while still prioritising their lung health.

In recent years, using hot steam to clean hay has grown in popularity because it creates a cleaner, safer forage option, by helping eliminate dangerous mould spores, bacteria, and dust particles from hay. These contaminants, when inhaled, can irritate a horse’s airways and, over time, lead to respiratory problems like equine asthma, chronic cough, and other allergies. Hay quality has also suffered due to the never-ending rainy spring and summer seasons we've recently had.

The protein conundrum

While steaming hay has very clear respiratory benefits, the high steam temperatures can alter the protein structure in hay. This process, known as the Maillard reaction, makes some of the protein content harder for horses to digest. Essentially, this reaction binds amino acids to sugars in the hay, making these proteins less soluble and, therefore, less available to the horse.

Research shows that steaming can reduce the digestibility of key amino acids such as lysine, methionine, and threonine by up to 50%. These amino acids are crucial building blocks for our horse’s muscles, immune function, coat, and hooves, without which our horses may struggle to maintain strong muscles, healthy hooves, and overall vitality.

A simple fix - adding Essential Aminos

The good news is that you don’t need to compromise between your horse’s respiratory and nutritional health. By adding our Essential Aminos supplement, you can help offset any potential protein loss that steaming might cause. This supplement delivers the vital amino acids your horse needs to make the most of their forage, even when it’s steamed.

Essential Aminos are particularly beneficial for:

• Muscle health: Amino acids help support and build muscles, especially important for active horses.
• Hoof and coat quality: Amino acids such as methionine are essential for strong hooves and a glossy coat. Note: our EquiVita & VitaComplete balancers also come with 3g/day methionine as standard.
• Immune Function: Lysine and threonine play a key role in immune health, helping your horse stay resilient.
  
  

By supplementing with Essential Aminos, you ensure your horse’s diet remains balanced and their health stays robust.

Equally, consider a higher protein base feedbowl carrier. Agrobs Myo Protein Flakes and Simple Systems' Sainfoin fit this bill well.

Beware soya ...

Soya contains natural toxins known as anti-nutrients, some of which interfere with the crucial protein-digesting enzymes. Furthermore, the amino acid protein of the soya bean is equine-inappropriate, leading to water in muscle tissue, and not proteinated muscle (Source: Dr Christina Fritz, Sanoanimal). See our Soya page for further information (Advice Centre from the main navigation bar/Feeding our Horses Healthy/Why what we feed has to be right).

In summary

Steaming hay is one of the best ways to keep your horse safe from respiratory irritants. While it may slightly reduce protein digestibility, supplementing with Essential Aminos is an easy way to ensure they still receive all the nutrients they need. In the end, you can have the best of both worlds: a clean, safe forage option and balanced nutrition for a healthy, happy horse.

Source: Effect of Hay Steaming on the Estimated Precaecal Digestibility of Crude Protein and Selected Amino Acids in Horses - PMC (nih.gov)