cod liver oil

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crazycoloured

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How many of you still use cod liver oil in your feed? iv started using it again after years just for coat shine really my youngster,i used vegtable oil as some suggested but swapped to cod liver oil for its benefits
 
I nearly bought linseed oil but swayed towards cod liver oil,he's only been on it a few days so will take a while to see a improvement in his coat....
 
I don't, but thinking of adding it to the old toothless ponys rations this winter as she is the only one of ours who needs the calories. .

Fiona
 
I use vegetable oil in the ponys and horses feed for coat benefits. Horse also gets a regular glug of cod liver oil in it too, sometimes the ponies do if I feel his hind legs are getting stiff and clicky. So both :D
 
Choccy (22) has micronised linseed and a glug each of cod liver oil and cider vinegar each day to support his joints.
 
I attended a canine nutrition course recently with a holistic vet. We talked about adding oils to the dogs diet, people asked about primrose oil and other plant based oils. He said no, the dogs most species appropriate oil is probably from fish. He then said he found it bizarre that people would feed cod liver oil to horses as it's completely not species appropriate, a horse would not have access or the want to eat a fish in the wild. He advised plant based oils for horses such as flax were much more species appropriate.
 
The largest ever feed trial on horses was carried out by the Austro Hungarian Army in the early 1900,s. The trial involved every horse in the army . The purpose was to find out if Cod liver oil was beneficial or harmful. The result was conclusively that it was harmful. They didnt know why . Vitamid D wasnt discovered until the late 1940 s . Cod liver oil is far too rich in vitamin D1 for horses .The Fertilisers and feedingstuffs regulations require that sources of vitamin D above a certain level ,must carry the word "Veterinary" in the title as a warning that it should only be fed on veterinary advice. Cod liver oil should (but seldom is) be sold as "Veterinary cod liver oil"
 
Interesting Mike007. I wouldn't feel cod liver oil to a horse because they are vegetarians, and their whole digestive system is designed for a vegetarian. I do feed linseed oil.
 
Zipzop said:
I attended a canine nutrition course recently with a holistic vet. We talked about adding oils to the dogs diet, people asked about primrose oil and other plant based oils. He said no, the dogs most species appropriate oil is probably from fish. He then said he found it bizarre that people would feed cod liver oil to horses as it's completely not species appropriate, a horse would not have access or the want to eat a fish in the wild. He advised plant based oils for horses such as flax were much more species appropriate.
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Linseed is the seed of the flax plant:
micronised linseed is whole seed lightly crushed and steamed/ cooked, not the oil expressed from it, and therefore pure oil is less beneficial imho.
In both cases, ie. oil or micronised, one has to be careful it is fresh , not rancid, which would occur over time and if stored in less than ideal conditions [it should be kept cool and dark].
 
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As with most who commented I'd prefer linseed oil.
I know turmeric endorsers are generally taken the p out of slightly but they posted a study done on anti inflammatory properties of different oils and it showed cod liver oil to not have anti inflammatory properties. So it's not really any good for joints anyway! It would help with weight gain I suppose but no more than any high calorie oils would.
 
Bonkers2 said:
Linseed is the seed of the flax plant:
micronised linseed is whole seed lightly crushed and steamed/ cooked, not the oil expressed from it, and therefore pure oil is less beneficial imho.
In both cases, ie. oil or micronised, one has to be careful it is fresh , not rancid, which would occur over time and if stored in less than ideal conditions [it should be kept cool and dark].
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I'm not advising flax as better than linseed or any other seed, plant or 'way' of feeding it's just an example. Point is - feed any plant oil or plant based substance over fish oil.
 
Zipzop said:
I'm not advising flax as better than linseed or any other seed, plant or 'way' of feeding it's just an example. Point is - feed any plant oil or plant based substance over fish oil.
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Sorry, I am just explaining that flax and linseed are the same plant, in the UK at least we would discuss linseed as a feed for horses, flax would be the fibre which is used for making linen.
I have seen flaxseed advertised as a health food, but it is also known as linseed.
Horses have been fed boiled linseed gruels since the 17th Century, but it is a real faff, messy, so the micronised linseed is preferred nowadays.
 
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Bonkers2 said:
Sorry, I am just explaining that flax and linseed are the same plant, in the UK at least we would discuss linseed as a feed for horses, flax would be the fibre which is used for making linen.
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No need to be sorry :) I didn't actually know flax and linseed were linked so thank you! Good to know :)
 
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