Amino Acids

Horses are able to make most amino acids in their digestive tract.

It is believed that only 10 amino acids are required to be supplied to the horse in the feed. The addition of amino acids to animal diets may improve weight gain and feed efficiency by maximising the use of protein from feed ingredients

Essential

Isolecuine

All Species

Involved in protein synthesis and energy production

Dogs

Supports optimum growth in immature dogs

Leucine

All species

Regulation of protein turnover and energy metabolism.

Maintains muscle strength especially during times of physical stress and intensive exercise. 

Inhibits the breakdown of muscle proteins that may occur after trauma or severe stress, and stimulates insulin release.

Dogs  

Optimises growth and nitrogen balance in young dogs

Lysine
  
All species
  
Improves appetite and excretion of gastric juice, promotes the growth of young animals, especially bones, and optimises nitrogen balance in tissues Protects from anaemia and hypo proteinosis

Helps the body absorb and conserve calcium, and helps in development of collagen and ossification

Aids in the production of antibodies, hormones & enzymes
 
Stimulates cell division. 

Utilised in synthesis of carnitine

Horses     
 
Influences the growth of young horses

Promotes release of metabolic hormones insulin and prolactin
 
Methionine
  
All species
 
Essential sulphur source, and methyl donor; contributes to the synthesis of creatinine, sarcosine and adrenaline. 

Helps prevent excessive fat accumulation in the liver and supports the liver in detoxification mechanisms 

Sulphur donor; assists in the strengthening of collagen.
 
Essential for optimum growth and nitrogen balance in tissues. 

May partly compensate deficiencies of Choline or vitamin B12. 

Precursor of cysteine/cystine and bile acids production

Precursor of carnitine production  (essential compound for energy production and muscle building)

Horses
  
May assist in the keratinisation of hooves

May be utilised in place of Choline

Dogs  

Prevents symptoms associated with deficiency including anorexia, poor growth, severe skin lesions on neck, tail and foot pads
May assist in the prevention of cystitis by acidifying the urine

Phenylanine 
 
All species  

Improves nitrogen balance in tissues

Prevents loss of pigmentation of skin and hair

Precursor of catecholamine and tyrosine production

May be converted to L-dopa, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (three compounds that are involved in the functioning of the nervous system)

Threonine
   
All species 

Involved in protein synthesis and energy metabolism. 

Essential for optimum growth, feed conversion and nitrogen balance in tissues

Component of digestive enzymes and immune system. 

Aids prevent fat build-up in the liver

Precursor of glycine synthesis

Horses 

Important constituent of collagen

Tryptophan
 
All species  

Maintains growth and nitrogen balance in tissues and regulates growth hormone. 

Promotes feed intake

Aids the immune system, reduces hypertension, anxiety and depression, and increases blood sugar and zinc absorption. 

Alleviates a niacin deficiency through metabolic conversion to niacin (vitamin B3)

Precursor for production of serotonin (vasoconstrictor and stimulator of muscle construction)
  
Horses  

May aid in the control of nervous behaviour

Dogs  

Essential for optimal growth of weanling dogs

Valine
  
All species
 
Improves energy metabolism and protein synthesis
Maintains muscle strength especially during times of physical stress and intensive exercise to maintain

Dogs  

Optimises growth and nitrogen balance in young dogs

Non essential 

Alanine
    
All species 

Source of energy for the muscle tissue, brain and central nervous system. 

Helps strengthen the immune system by producing antibodies. 

Improves metabolism of sugars and organic acids

Aspartic Acid
  
All species
 
Aids in the expulsion of harmful ammonia from the body.
 
Increases resistance to fatigue and increase endurance

Horses
 
Promotes release of growth hormone (potent in females)

L-Carnitine
  
All species
 
Synthesises from lysine and methionine. Aids to release energy from fat and relieve muscle soreness

Cystine
  
All species  

Sulphur-containing amino acid allowing bonding and maintaining the structure of proteins in the body. 

Component of the antioxidant glutathione. 

Precursor of taurine production

Glycine
 
All species  

In combination with glucose, aids re-hydration by maintaining of the oxygen release to the energy requiring cell-making process. 

Assists in manufacturing of hormones responsible for a strong immune system

Glutamic Acid
  
All species
 
Involved in protein synthesis and as a source of energy for cells lining the intestine 
Facilitates immune function and improves anti-inflammatory effects. 

Aids in preventing and healing of peptic ulcer and ulcerative colitis

Horses  

Promotes release growth hormone in both sexes (more significant in males)

Histidine
  
All species
  
Essential for protein synthesis

Involved in carnitine and haemoglobin synthesis. 

Effective in allergic diseases and tension of the autonomic nervous system 
resulting in prevention of peptic ulcer

Maintains erythropoiesis and leucopoiesis – protects from anaemia

Assists in the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. 

Precursor of histamine

Dogs
  
Improves growth, feed efficiency, and nitrogen retention in immature and adult dogs
  
Ornithine
  
All species  

Promotes muscle building activity in the body. 

Supports wound healing

Precursor of proline synthesis

Ornithine Alpha- Ketoglutarate
  
All species  

Ornithine in combination with glutamine enhances the body’s release of the muscle-building hormones such as growth hormones and insulin Increases arginine and glutamine levels in muscle

Proline
  
All species
  
Precursor of hydroxyproline, which the body incorporates into collagen, tendons, ligaments and the heart muscle. 

Improves skin texture, helps in the healing of damaged cartilage, and the strengthening of joints, tendons, and heart muscle. 

Assists in tissue repair after injury and any type of wound healing. 

Involved in energy production

Serine
   
All species
 
Utilised as a source of glucose by the liver and muscles 

Strengthens the immune system by providing antibodies. 

Synthesizes fatty acid sheath around nerve fibres

Taurine
  
All species  

Involved in protein synthesis, and component of bile acids. 

Regulates heartbeat, and helps prevent brain cell overactivity

Aids in the clearing of free radical wastes

Tyrosine
  
All species
  
Synthesised from phenylalanine by the body. 

The structural component of almost all proteins in the body. 

As a precursor of neurotransmitters such as L-dopa, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine, helps prevent stress and other mood changes. 

Promotes the healthy functioning of the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands.