Is anyone out there feeding milled flax? I have been giving it to my pregnant mare and i have been reading a lot of controversy on how much to feed. Some say 2 to 4 oz others say a cup a day. What's everyone else feeding. I don't want it to be detrimental to her or the foal. I'am currently giving a cup a day.

I feed my horse a cup a day, he gets 1/3 cup each feed, other horses I know get 1/3 cup (1 large scoop) a day, we eat a tablespoon on our cereal at home... go to town.

*edited for late morning slurr*

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Grey Gris,

you can feed up to 8oz which I'm pretty sure is 1 measured cup. But that is for whole flax. However, I think 4 oz(half cup) is a maintenance amount, for hooves and coat.

I feed whole flax. I would feed ground if it could be ground right before feeding, otherwise essential fatty acids exposed too long will oxidise, defeating the purpose of feeding flax.

Horses have good teeth and a digestive system designed to process fibrous materials, so I don't see why they couldn't gain benefit from whole flax. Horses and humans are very different, so we shouldn't compare each together.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Vintage Lace,

If you feeding flax, it needs to be ground! Whole seeds are just going to pass undigested
through the horses digestive system because of flax's resilient seed coat resists the action of digestive enzymes for days.

I would also not start any horse on 1 cup per day-slowly add new feeds to avoid issues. 1 cup is max I would give any horse per day as flax is not a well balanced whole food.

The seed hulls are small and tough enough that they won´t be chewed to benefit the horse if left whole. You can see the flax in the stools(if you look)if fed whole. Flax also absorbs a lot of liquid and forms a gel in the gut-some say this can cause colic and impaction. I used to grind up the flax in a coffee grinder just before feeding. It's easy, cheap and simple but after talking with my vet I stopped feeding it a few years ago.

Flax containshigh amounts of prussic acid, cyanogenetic glycosides and enzymes that allow these glycosides to release cyanide. Cyanide prevents oxygen release from the blood and if ingested in sufficient quantities(3-6 cups per day depending on body mass), can/has result(ed) in sudden death. So I feed flax oil just to be safe.
Melanie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: melaniem,

Vets don't see the point in feeding a whole hell of alot. Buying glucosamines and other supplements are more often for our own peace of mind than it is for the horses health. In one end out the other within 10 mins. Though, for my own peace of mind I grind my flax, well in advance and store it in an air tight container. Though, when this bag is gone and when the vits run out, I won't be supplementing anything to any horse ever again. Balanced feed is the way to go.

I completely agree with Grey Gris. After speaking with my vet this summer about all the different types of supplements he simply told me that they are a complete waste of money because they contain so little of each ingredient that it really doesn't absorb into the system to make any difference or to have any real beneficial effects.

Both of my mares get 1 cup of grinded flax seed a day along with 1 cup of corn oil. I don't think you have to grind it right before feeding it to be effective, I grind flax for the mares once a week then store it in a container.

MelanieM- That is interesting that you stopped feeding flax after speaking with your vet. The barn that I board my horses at is owned and ran by a family of vets and they encourage me to feed my mares flax. I think if feeding flax was a waste of time and effort they would let me know.

Well, to each their own.

I personally have not seen flax in their poop, nor have I seen any flax growing in the fields, so where's it going? Sure a few are going to get through, but not everything *any* animal eats will be completely digested. There will always be waste.


Also, I said the maximum amount to be fed (which is the OP's question) is 1 cup, I did not say that you start them on one cup. 1 cup of flaxseed isn't enough to cause any problems (as mention by feeding 3-6 cups...)And again, I said that a maintenance level would 4 oz, which is a half cup.

My friend was feeding her horses flaxseeds (and black oil sunflower seeds) and her gelding grew a really nice coat with dappling(never saw dappling on him before). No other diet changes.

Lastly, the only real evidence of prussic acid poisonig occurs from feeding young(green) plants and seeds(sudangrass, sorghum, flax, to name a few) or plants stressed by heavy rains, frost, and such. I've also noted that most reports state that prussic acid is contained mostly in the leaves of these plants. Finally, I've also seen that prussic acid poisoning is more common in ruminants that in pigs and horses. In fact, quite a few reports state that poisoning is rare in horses and pigs. Probably unlikely with 1/2 cup of flaxseed.


So, in conclusion, everyone has their way of doing things. Take everything with a grain of salt. Do your own research and draw your own conclusions.

I definitely agree that flax is beneficial- I have seen definite results in horses (not to mention myself when I eat it), and so no matter what my vet says I would keep feeding it. I can't get over how shiny they clip out in winter.

It is best to grind it as close as possible to feeding, and we feed about 1/3 of a cup ground once to twice a day- a coffee grinder is $10-$20 and an easy thing to have in the barn... Another great way to feed it is to add boiling water- about 4 to 1 water to flax or so- and let it sit for an hour or more, so that all the oils come out and a jelly forms (this may help for any colic concerns). We've noticed a difference with as little as 3 heaping tablespoonfuls of this "glop" once a day, which in dry whole flax would be much less than a cup.

If you cannot ground the flax conveniently right before feeding, then you can use milled flax. Milled flax is cold milled (millhead temperature under 42°C) using a special flaking process that breaks up the seed - yet leaves the oil in the meat of the seed. Researchers have shown conclusively that milled flax seed remains stable at room temperature for at least 128 days. A benefit to buying milled flax is that many manufacturers treat it with antioxidants, extending the shelf life.

Unlike whole flax seed (which cannot be digested), Milled Flax Seed allows your body to fully absorb the benefits of the Omega-3 Oils.

A tablespoon of Milled Flax Seed also contains up to 3800 mg of ALNA, the primary Omega-3.

Flax seed is also rich in dietary fiber, and plentiful in vitamins and minerals.

I use Equiglow Milled Flax Seed and feed one cup in my horses morning feed.