Start with 25g of cooked linseed per 100kg of your horse's ideal bodyweight - 125g a day for a 500kg horse. If needed, you can build up gradually to three times this amount, taking up to 4 weeks to reach that level. Linseed is nature's finest plant source of essential omega 3.
Linseed is a high quality source of omega 3, matching the preferred ratio of 4:1 omega 3 : omega 6 that is found in grazing. Other commonly used oil dourses in horse feeds are incorrectly balanced, providing more omega 6 and comparatively little omega 3. Coconut is a particularly poor source as it contains no omega 3 at all!
Instant Linseed is a great addition to the feed, but especially so in the winter alongside hay or haylage, as omega 3 levels can be low in these.
During the autumn moult, additional Instant Linseed offers dietary support for itchy horses and supports a healthy, shiny coat.
Linseed is best fed as a cooked, ground seed as oppose to an oil. In this cooked 'meal' form it also adds soluble fibre, protein and even vitamins and minerals to the diet.
The soluble fibre can aid the passage of food and support the gut lining, frequently recommended for horses who graze on sandy soil.
The protein in linseed is useful for muscles and linseed is a good source of copper, zinc and magnesium, as well as supplying Vitamin E.
In smaller amounts, such as the starting rate of 25g per 100kg of ideal bodyweight per day, linseed is suitable for horses on controlled or restricted diets. It is also suitable for horses and ponies prone to laminitis. In larger amounts it is used as a conditioning feed for poor doers and those with small appetites. It even provides a source of slow-release energy or those requiring stamina.
This small but mighty seed is the perfect complement to forage based diets and proudly features in our range of forage balancers.
For more information contact our Feed Line on 01728 604 008 or info@simplesystem.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form here.
