Linseed Oil amount

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ApacheCob

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So, I’m currently feeding my 15.2hh cob a scoop of Dengi Hi-Fi, 3/4 scoop of speedibeet, and 3/4 scoop of cooling mix. He’s doing great on his current feed, but I wanted to add some Linseed oil to his feed to make his coat a bit shinier. I’m not quite sure how much though. Would I need to replace anything in my current feed or just add the oil?
 
You might find it easier to add micronised linseed rather than linseed oil. You can feed between 1 and 4 mugs per day - although it isn't reccommended to feed more than 2 mugs per day long term. (A mug = 250g) But if you feed oil you will be limited by both how much the horse will actually eat (some horses do not like the texture) and how much it impacts his droppings - too much and they become very loose. Also the oil will start to go rancid as soon as you open it. Micronised linseed lasts longer. A 20kg sack of micronised costs about £10. 5 Litres of oil will cost about £15. 100ml of oil is equivalent to 250g of micronised - so a sack will last about 80 days at a feed rate of 250g per day. Oil fed at the same rate will last about 50 days. (The maths is rough...)

And no - you don't need to add anything. Just introduce new feed slowly - especially if you opt for oil as some really don't like the texture.
 
I use micronised linseed to add condition and for a lovely coat. Rose used to get a cup but I've cut it down recently to a quarter cup. If you don't want to add condition I'd keep to a quarter cup and see how you go. In the past with a horse that kept weight well I just used to feed Dengie hifi, unmollased beet and micronised linseed, saved me a fortune!
 
Off hand i cant remember the RDA of omega 3 for a horse, but when i was working it out it amounted to 100g of fresh ground-up linseed for a 450-500kg horse. This amount gives mine a very shiny coat and better quality skin, as they had dandruff, while on majority hay diet in winter.

Omega 3 is de-natured by heat application so if using oil youd want cold-pressed.
Omega 3 also oxidises rapidly (when exposed to air) and therefore goes rancid quickly thus making oil a poor quality omega 3 compared to fresh omega 3.

If a horse is grazing 50%+ fresh grass in their diet they shouldnt need an omega supp. as there’s plenty in fresh grass leaf forage. This though wouldn't be accountable if a horse is on a ‘lami paddock’.
 
Just wanted to jump in and say that horses stomachs can only process two Stubbs scoops of feed at a time, so any more in one feed and you may as well put it straight on the muck heap.

You could still feed the same amount, but split into smaller feeds spread across the day to ensure your horse is getting all the benefits of what you’re feeding.

I’m another who would opt for micronised linseed instead of linseed oil too. ?
 
I've been buying the same one for yonks - as I understand it Charnwood are the only mill that have the 'micronising magic machine' that can make micronised linseed so it all has to come from them - will stand corrected if anybody knows that to be wrong.
Even my local feed merchant (Mole Valley partner) sells it for £28, I'd love to be able to pick 20kg of it up for a tenner though as I go through tons of the stuff!
 
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