Nowadays, there is a positive trend to invest in the well-being of horses at a level and with information that was not available even ten, let alone twenty years ago. Horse enthusiasts and owners can easily access professional-level information from social media and elsewhere in the depths of the internet. Of course, the danger is that feeding can quickly become “cake on cake”. Before feeding supplementary feeds, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the basics of feeding. In this article, we will talk about one of the most traditional feeds in terms of the horse’s intestines. So, it is flax.
When it comes to maintaining the well-being of the horse's intestines and stomach, flaxseed meal is a proven option. Although flax contains a good amount of protein and fat, it is largely used for the function of the horse's intestines. The linseed mucilage obtained from the meal is a plant mucilage that protects the intestinal mucosa and increases its mobility. This can prevent constipation, such as flatulence, and is useful, for example, in feeding horses with stomach ulcers. However, it must be remembered that not all feeds are naturally suitable for all horses. In some cases, flax may make the intestines work too hard or increase the need for protein.
Although flax contains amino acids, e.g. lysine, there are not enough of them for a foal or young horse. It is therefore better to use something else as the actual source of protein and supplement it with flax.
Numerous benefits
Flax can be called a superfood for horses. It is a health-promoting feed that also contains a lot of protein, easily digestible crude fiber, proteins, as well as natural seed oil and Omega 3 fatty acids. Some of the fibers are soluble and some are insoluble fibers. Their function is to balance intestinal function and blood sugar levels.
The previously mentioned flax mucilage is called mucin. It binds a lot of water and helps the growth of beneficial microbes. In addition to preventing intestinal problems, mucin is also used in the treatment of horses recovering from intestinal diseases and in the maintenance of skin and coat. Mucin is poorly digestible, which is why it protects the intestines particularly effectively.
Omega 3 fatty acids also have an effect on coat shine and can help with muscle strain. Fatty acids can neutralize inflammatory agents and are a source of energy.
Feeding flax
Feeding flax in the form of groats is perhaps the simplest way to add fodder to the diet of horses. Whole flax seeds contain harmful compounds, which can be destroyed by cooking, for example. These harmful substances include cyanogenic glycosides, vitamin B6 antagonists, and phytic and phenolic acids. In large quantities, these are harmful. In addition, mucin is released from the seeds by cooking, and it forms a jelly typical of flaxseed mucus.
The groats, on the other hand, do not need to be cooked, but they must also be soaked to form slime. These harmful substances do not appear in flax groats, as the manufacturing process helps to remove them. The groats themselves are not very palatable. Therefore, it is recommended that flax groats be mixed with other feed or, for example, with molasses cut or molasses. In a study conducted by MTT, some horses did not care for flax groats at all.
Biohansa flax meal contains 100% cold-pressed flax seeds. It is good to accustom the horse to flax gradually over 3-5 days. This way, the digestion adapts to the flaxseed oil content. The crude protein is at least 28% and the crude fiber is at most 21%. For a horse weighing approximately 500 kilograms, the daily amount of flax meal is 2.5 deciliters to half a liter.
There are also FlaxseedFields® Roasted flaxseeds, which are roasted to remove harmful compounds. This improves microbiological quality and shelf life, while also ensuring high antioxidant content. No cooking or soaking is required.
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