The Real Skinny On Fatty Acids
By Dr. Martin Adams
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There can be no denying that there is a growing popular trend of adding fat to horses’ diets. Caring horse lovers want to know what these fats are, and what are the benefits and drawbacks to using feeds that contain them? For understandable answers to these legitimate questions, consider the real skinny on fatty acids.
Here’s the first fact. Studies in humans show many health benefits with supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids in the diet. While research benefits for horses have not been as numerous, omega-3 and omega-6 supplementation shows potential to provide some healthy results. Here are some of the benefits of essential fatty acids and how they may improve the diet and health of your horse.
Horses require these two types of polyunsaturated fatty acids. These fats are termed essential fatty acids (EFA) because the horse’s metabolism can’t synthesize them; they must be consumed in the diet to be provided. While the exact EFA requirements for horses have not been established, they have been demonstrated as necessary for many normal bodily functions. Deficiency of EFA in humans and animals includes hair loss, skin problems, and impaired immune function. They also synthesize hormones and transport oxygen from red blood cells to tissue, and help control inflammation. Indeed, significant correlations between high blood plasma ratios of omega-3:omega-6 fatty acids and good hair coat condition, and low blood plasma ratios of omega-3:omega-6 fatty acids and poor hair coat condition were reported in a study with thoroughbreds.
Other equine research studies with omega-3 supplementation have had mixed results. Breeding stallions supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids have shown increased sperm concentration and motility in several studies conducted at Colorado State University. Omega-3 supplementation of pregnant mare diets using flaxseed oil and fish oil resulted in a change of the milk fatty acid composition, but there was no immunity advantage for foals (no increase in number of antibodies in colostrum, milk or foal blood serum). The change in the fatty acid profile of blood or tissue (higher omega-3:omega-6 in the cell membranes) is the mechanism that allows anti-inflammatory, immune enhancing or other physiological effects to occur.
The fact is, there is not enough known about the effects of omega-3 supplementation to recommend that every horse require supplementation or the amount required for a beneficial result. Certainly horses on high grain diets and horses with allergic skin conditions and poor hair coat would likely benefit from higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids. For best results talk with your Southern States specialists about your horse and let them help you decide what’s best.
Southern States offers various feeds with different amounts of fat supplements. All Southern States horse feeds (Reliance®, Legends® and Triple Crown®) use soybean oil as the source of fat, which provides increased amounts of omega-3’s compared to feeds using corn oil. Also, all Triple Crown® horse feeds contain added flaxseed, and all Triple Crown® feeds (except Lite) contain added rice bran, which increases the omega-3 content of these feeds. Triple Crown® Rice Bran Oil Plus contains a combination of rice bran oil, flaxseed oil and corn oil to provide a high level of omega-3 fatty acids. Triple Crown® Rice Bran and NEW Legends® Pelleted Rice Bran contain high levels of fat and can increase the omega-3 content of the equine diet. Your Southern States specialists can help you get the right feed for your horse.
Martin W. Adams, Ph.D., is a Nutritionist and Sales Manager, Horse Feed Sales, Southern States.
