Esparcette, also known as "Sain foin" - healthy hay, gets its name for a reason. This traditional fodder plant for horses offers a valuable alternative to the often predominant alfalfa. Although sainfoin has taken a back seat in modern farming over the last 50 years due to its lower yield, it is now back in the spotlight.
Compared with alfalfa, sainfoin is attractive not only for its higher protein content, but above all for its superior amino acid profile. The essential amino acids lysine, methionine and threonine, in particular, are present in higher concentrations. This enables the horse to transform proteins more efficiently into the body's own structures, resulting in less excretion of excess amino acids in the form of urea. This makes sainfoin a 'concentrated non-starch feed' par excellence and an excellent supplement for all horses that need extra support due to age, illness or other needs.
Growing young horses, sport horses and breeding mares in pregnancy and lactation benefit particularly from sainfoin's high protein quality. Sainfoin also contains condensed tannins, also known as catechins, which are widespread in nature and can be found in (parts of) plants as diverse as green tea, blackberries and birch bark. Catechins belong to the tannin family, which can have a whole range of positive effects on the body. In addition to their antioxidant properties, they have the ability to separate proteins in the intestine, making them more easily digestible. This makes sainfoin a 'power food' not only because of its natural protein content, but also because it encourages the assimilation of proteins from other foods. When overweight horses are fed particularly nutrient-poor hay, or the hay ration is extended with straw, it is important to supplement the protein with quality supplements such as sainfoin, to prevent muscle wasting rather than fat accumulation.
 Another advantage: in soaked form, sainfoin is perfect for mixing with less appetising but necessary therapeutic food supplements. Its intense clean taste makes it an effective way of providing the horse with optimum intake, even in difficult feeding conditions.
Sainfoin is rightly enjoying a renaissance in horse nutrition. Its many benefits and high quality make it an indispensable choice for your horse's healthy diet.
Our partner Sanoanimal has even more valuable advice on sainfoin.
Is sainfoin suitable for my horse?
Yes, in principle sainfoin is suitable for all horses. Its high protein quality and balanced amino acid pattern make it a valuable addition to the diet of horses of different ages and with different needs.
Can I combine sainfoin with other products?
Yes, OKAPI Esparsette can easily be combined with other feeds. Sainfoin should be fed with a high-quality mineral feed, such as OKAPI Mineral Pur G. In soaked form, OKAPI Sainfoin is ideal for masking and mixing with less appetising but necessary therapeutic supplementary feeds, due to its intense clean taste.