Performance Nutrition - Not All Oils Are Equal
Several studies have been presented since 1986 showing improved stamina and endurance in performance horses as a result of including fats and oils as an energy source in their diets. From a calorie stand-point, all vegetable oils are created equal as they provide approximately 2½ times as many as the equivalent amount of cereal grain. However, different oils contain different amounts of “essential fatty acids” so they are not created equal from a nutritional point of view and the most recent research focus has been on the addition of different specific oils. When oil is digested, free fatty acids are incorporated into cell membranes but some fatty acids cannot be synthesized by the horse, or not in sufficient quantities to meet their nutritional needs, so are called “essential” fatty acids and must be available in the diet on a daily basis. Two of these essential fatty acids are called Omega 6 and Omega 3.
Oil Content
Horses evolved as continuous grazers of forage, consuming large quantities of fresh grass every day. Results of a two-year study conducted by Dr Lori K Warren, Assistant Professor of Equine Nutrition at the University of Florida, stated, “The oil content of fresh grass will depend on its maturity, varying between 3% and 5% and comprising 40% to 55% Omega 3 fatty acids.” Today, horse owners have replaced much of the fresh pasture diet with dry hay and, Dr Warren points out, “The oil content of hay will also depend on its maturity and will vary between 1% and 3% comprising 18% to 35% Omega 3s.” Cereal grains, on the other hand, contain around 3% or 4% oil of which 50% is Omega 6 with very little Omega 3.
Keeping a Balance
"There has been considerable work in other animal species, as well as humans, to show that Omega 3 supplementation affects the ratio of Omega 6:3 in blood and in tissues, with alterations in the fatty acid composition of plasma (cell) membranes," says Dr Ray Geor BVSc MVSc, professor at Virginia Polytechnic and State University. Oils containing higher levels of Omega 3 are found in the natural diet of horses (forage) and can be digested easily with positive affects in the horse’s system but the Omega 6:3 ratio must be kept in balance when additional oils are included in their diet.
Cereal grains, like oats, barley, maize, wheat, rice, etc, as well as the oils from sunflower, maize, rice bran and cottonseed, all contain high percentages of Omega 6 in relationship to their Omega 3 levels. All Omega 6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory which helps maintain the animal’s immune system and is beneficial during infection and sickness. However, if too many Omega 6 fatty acids are fed, an imbalance can occur, leading to an altered physiological state and potentially harmful inflammation. On the other hand, Omega 3 fatty acids are potent, anti-inflammatory agents that help reduce pain and swelling and help return the horse’s system to normal function. So, as with all nutrients, balance is the key.
Which Oil Sources are Best
Table 1 (above) shows the percentage and ratios of Omega 6 and Omega 3s contained in the different oil seeds and fish oil available today. Table 2 (below) shows which oils are best for the horse, in descending order of their total Omega 3 content, from top to bottom. The top four oil sources are the best for increasing the Omega 3s in the diet and the bottom three sources are the ones which are not recommended for adding to your horse’s diet because they could provide too many Omega 6s without adequate Omega 3s. Feeding a specially formulated high oil supplement, like Baileys Outshine, however, reduces the risk of an Omega 6:3 imbalance by supplying a blend of linseed and soya oils plus the necessary supporting antioxidants.
Great Benefits
Supplementing the equine diet with oils that contain higher levels of Omega 3 has proven to be beneficial to all horses that are not eating fresh grass pasture for at least 18 hours per day. Short-term benefits include improved skin and coat condition, fewer skin allergies and anti-inflammation characteristics. Long-term benefits are numerous and include improved hoof quality, increased bone density, improved joint health and reduced muscle soreness, as well as increased tissue elasticity which reduces the incidence of EIPH (nasal bleeding) in performance horses. In addition, mares’ milk contains higher Omega 3 levels resulting in healthier foals, by improving their immunity and resistance to infection, and stallion fertility can be improved by helping maintain cell viability and thereby improving conception rates.
What to Feed
For non-heating, slow release calories in a small volume, oil is hard to beat but to help avoid the dangers of an Omega 6:3 imbalance, supplement with Outshine high oil supplement or choose high oil compound feeds like No.4 Top Line Conditioning Cubes, No.17 Top Line Conditioning Mix or No.6 All-Round Endurance Mix. Indeed, Outshine is incorporated into the formulations of these feeds helping supply a balance of fatty acids in a palatable mess-free nugget. To read more about feeding oil for stamina or condition visit the Article Library or click through to the articles below.