Omega 3 Fatty Acids Supplements For Horses
Horses that must expend high levels of energy hardworking equine athletes such as racehorses three day event horses and polo ponies are typically fed high grain diets.
Omega 3 fatty acids supplements for horses. However the traditional equine diet tends to provide a skewed ratio of these compounds. Eo 3 fish oil for horses is intended to be fed to horses of all classes and working levels to improve the critical ratio of omega 3s and omega 6s in their diets. Oily fish are recognised as the best sources of omega 3 which is why humans are encouraged to eat two portions of oily fish each week. A look at the role of omega 3 fatty acids in the equine diet and how to determine the best source for your horse.
One omega 3 fatty acid recently proved its weight in gold for horses with respiratory issues report purdue university researchers. Grains possess more omega 6 fatty acids than forage creating a balance of omega 3 to omega 6 fatty acids that may be inappropriate especially when diets are high in grain. Grass contains more omega fatty acids than hay does hence the benefit of adding a supplement or dietary addition for your horse. They found that horses with either recurrent airway obstruction rao heaves or inflammatory airway disease iad fed a nutritional supplement containing docosahexaenoic acid dha an essential omega 3 fatty acid benefited from daily supplementation.
The name omega 3 refers to the chemical structure of the fat particularly the placement of a double bond in a specific location along the molecule. Where do omega 3 and 6 fatty acids come from. Eo 3 can be fed to all classes of horses including foals breeding stock and performance horses to improve the critical ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 in the diet provide preferential precursors for production of local hormones and regulate gene expression to positively affect insulin sensitivity. Eo 3 is a rich source of the long chain omega 3 fatty acids dha and epa in a palatable liquid form.
Adding omega 3s to the diet from epa and dha has benefits that include anti inflammatory effects reproductive benefits immune and bone benefits. Omega 3 oils essential fatty acids efas for horses. Eo 3 is the most potent effective source of long chain omega 3 fatty acids dha and epa available for horses. If using a marine based omega 3 supplement in oil form between 30 to 60 milliliters oil is recommended.
Cod liver oil is a source of omega 3 from fish that is used in horse supplements.