Methionine

Methionine is an essential amino acid and contains sulphur, as does otherwise only the amino acid cysteine. When a protein is built up in the body, this synthesis always begins with methionine as the starting building block (afterwards, methionine is usually cleaved off again from the finished protein). Therefore, methionine is not only important as a general building block of proteins, but is also absolutely necessary as the “starting signal” for any protein formation.

The body also converts methionine into the sulphur-containing amino acid cysteine. The sulphur group is needed for the formation and stabilisation of protein structures (e.g. in the keratin of hair and hooves, as well as in the collagen of the skin) or of other substances, such as adrenaline or glutathione in the body.

Since cysteine is produced from methionine, it is not actually considered essential per se. However, since an insufficient supply of cysteine leads to methionine deficiency, the requirement for both sulphur-containing amino acids (SAS) is given together (methionine + cysteine).

The normal requirement for a warmblood for small intestine digestible methionine + cysteine is 9 to 10 g/day. Small intestine digestible methionine is contained in grass, early-cut hay, brewer’s yeast, soy extraction meal*, soya flakes*, rapeseed extraction meal, etc., or can be added to the feed as a pure amino acid (DL-methionine).

* Both of marstall’s German production plants are members of the Verband Lebensmittel ohne Gentechnik e.V. (VLOG), produce according to its standards, and their production facilities are VLOG-certified.