07/07/2026
๐ชป ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐น๐น๐: ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐โ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ?
Lupins have become an increasingly popular ingredient in equine diets, and for good reason. They are naturally low in sugar and starch, making them an excellent option for many horses requiring a low-NSC diet. But one question I am asked regularly is:
โShould I feed whole lupins, cracked lupins, micronised lupins, extruded lupins, or lupin hulls?โ
Although they all originate from the same plant, the whole legume and the hull of the legume are actually very different feeds with different nutritional profiles and purposes.
Letโs break them down.
๐ช๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐
Whole lupins are exactly as they sound โ the entire legume remains intact.
Nutritionally, they are one of the richest protein sources commonly fed to horses while also providing a useful amount of slow-release energy.
Whole lupins typically contain:
โขAround 30โ35% crude protein
โขApproximately 5โ7% fat
โขVery low starch (generally under 3%)
โขLow sugar
โขModerate levels of digestible fibre
Whole lupins must be soaked prior to feeding as the seed coat remains intact and needs to be softened well enough that the horse is able to chew efficiently. Most horses without dental issues do a perfectly good job of chewing whole lupins, although some may swallow a proportion of whole seeds.
Whole lupins are ideal when additional quality protein and calories are required without significantly increasing sugar or starch intake.
When soaking whole lupins, they generally require a longer soaking period of around 12โ24 hours to soften adequately. The downside to this soaking timeframe is the increased risk of bacterial contamination, particularly in warmer climates.
๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐
Cracked lupins are simply whole lupins that have been mechanically broken into smaller pieces.
Cracking doesnโt significantly change the nutritional compositionโit simply reduces particle size, which may help some horses chew them more easily and can reduce the likelihood of whole seeds passing through undigested.
For many horses, cracked lupins are a practical alternative to whole lupins while providing essentially the same nutritional benefits.
Because they are already broken, cracked lupins absorb water much more quickly. They can begin to soften in as little as 10โ20 minutes, although longer soaking may still be used if desired.
๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐
Micronisation uses infrared heat to cook the lupin before rolling or flaking it.
This process helps soften the seed, improve palatability and may improve digestibility of some nutrients. It also reduces naturally occurring anti-nutritional factors present within raw legumes.
Importantly, micronisation does not further reduce sugar and starch values despite common misconceptions.
For most horses, the nutritional differences between whole and micronised lupins are relatively modest.
Micronised lupins do not require soaking prior to feeding, although soaking may be helpful for horses with dental challenges.
๐๐
๐๐ฟ๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป๐
Extrusion combines heat, moisture and pressure to cook the lupin before forcing it through an extruder.
Like micronisation, extrusion improves digestibility and produces a more uniform product. The process can also improve pellet quality when incorporated into commercial feeds.
Again, despite being heat processed, extruded lupins are not any lower in sugar and starch than raw/unprocessed lupins.
Extruded lupins also do not require soaking, unless feeding to horses that have difficulty chewing.
๐ฆ๐ผ ๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฝ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐น๐น๐?
This is where things become quite different.
Lupin hulls are not the whole lupin seed.
Instead, they are the fibrous outer coating that is removed during processing.
Removing the protein-rich kernel leaves behind a feed that is:
โขExtremely high in fibre
โขMuch lower in protein
โขLower in energy than whole lupins
โขStill naturally low in sugar and starch
Think of lupin hulls as more of a forage replacer than a protein supplement.
Because of their exceptionally high fermentable fibre content, lupin hulls are digested primarily by the microbes within the hindgut, producing volatile fatty acids that provide a slow and steady source of energy.
Lupin hulls can be fed dry or soaked, however a brief soaking is often preferred to increase water intake, reduce dust inhalation and most importantly, decrease the risk of choke.
๐๐ณ ๐ก๐ผ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ต, ๐ช๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ข๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฒ?
The answer depends entirely on what youโre trying to achieve.
If your horse requires:
โขMore protein to support muscle development or topline
โขAdditional calories for weight gain
โขHigher-quality amino acid intake
Whole, cracked, micronised or extruded lupins are generally the better choice.
If your horse would instead benefit from:
โขAdditional fibre
โขA low-calorie forage extender
โขMore chewing time
โขIncreased hindgut fermentable fibre
Lupin hulls may be the better option.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐๐ปโ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด
Many horse owners assume that micronised or extruded automatically means โbetter.โ
In reality, the processing method often has less impact than people think.
Whole, cracked, micronised and extruded lupins all provide very similar nutritional profiles. The biggest difference lies in convenience, digestibility and manufacturing processes rather than dramatic changes in protein, energy or starch content.
The real nutritional outlier is lupin hulls.
While they originate from the same plant, nutritionally they behave almost like an entirely different feed.
Whether youโre feeding whole, cracked, micronised or extruded lupins, youโre providing a highly nutritious ingredient that is naturally low in sugar and starch while supplying valuable protein, fibre and slow-release energy.
Lupin hulls are equally valuableโbut for very different reasons. Rather than being a protein-rich conditioning feed, they are an outstanding source of fermentable fibre that can help support hindgut health while contributing very little sugar or starch. Lupin hulls are also a decent source of digestible energy (calories), but would need to be fed at a higher rate to match the calorie content of the legume in its whole form.
Neither is โbetterโ than the otherโthey simply fill different roles within the diet. Both options are highly nutritious, species-appropriate and palatable inclusions for most horses.
