Linseed Query

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Georgie1234

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I purchased some raw linseed to prepare for my horse, but I have never done this before and have some questions for nutritionists or vets or whomever might ahve an answer :-)

1) Does the crushing of the seed release the poison? I had thought that boiling would make the seeds explode and thereby release the gaseous poison. However I boiled the seeds for about an hour and they still have not opened.

2) Why after boiling for a few minutes do you have to simmer for hours. Is this to remove the toxins or to get the seeds to absorb water or to make a jelly?

3) Would it be possible to put the seeds in a processor, crush them and then to boil? Would this facilitate the process?

Thanks for your help!
 
Far easier to buy micronised stuff from Charnwood - no faff at all!

The cyanide is released by the action of an enzyme in the seed. The idea behind teh boiling is to denature the enzyme so it can;t catalyse the reaction and therefore cyanid eis not produced. But, its my understanding that grinding the raw seeds renders them safe to feed, is far easier than all that boiling and maintains the nutritional profile :)

Even so, I'd get the micronised stuff.
 
Mine goes in the slow cooker overnight. You MUST cook it, and use what you make within 24 hours as it starts to ferment after that.
It contains cyanide in its raw state, but you dont need to pound it to get that out...just cook it.
 
I've recently had the raw linseed dilemma as I can't get micronised over here and infact it has taken a while to source the seed. Most people seem to feel it must be cooked to be safe. I have trawled the internet and found conflicting advice and only one reference to linseed poisoning in horses and that was when some horses broke into a linseed field and gorged on the plants.
It seems in Austrailia, New Zealand, USA and South Africa people are feeding it raw but ground to horses with no ill effects. I have been feeding it raw for four weeks now (ground in grinder) with no apparent ill effects. I am taking a calculated and researched risk but to many I am taking a risk too far.
If you can get micronized I'd feed that. Here's one of the many articles showing the conflicting views.
http://www.balancedequine.com.au/nutrition/linseed.html

I don't believe it's necessary to boil it for hours and hoursand I wouldn't grind it if I was going to boil it tbh.
 
There is no need to cook Linseed at all - in fact it is better all round if fed raw. The quantity is the crucial thing - the horses digestive ssystem can easily cope with a cupful of seeds daily.

I crush mine fresh each day in a coffee grinder and have been fedeing it like this for many years - all mine have great coats and are very much alive! Fed uncooked you get the benifits of the Omega oils that help the joints as well as the oils for shine.

If you cook it you only need to bring to the boil and simmer for 20 mins or so until it goes jelly like - the seeds have then opened. My pony club kids love cooking it - they refer to it as 'snot food'! Lovely!!!

I used to always cook it as that was what I'd been taught but since learning that it is the quantity that is crucial I've just ground mine daily. You can grind enough for several days but it needs to be stored in the fridge in an airtight container as it becomes rancid very fast.

Read the link in the above post - have never fed that amount of Linseed to a horse ever - that is masses! One cupful daily is more than enough.
 
Actually I'm reducing the amount I'm feeding as I have a bit of weight gain!:D
The big horses are now getting just a tablespoon and the littluns a level desertspoon.
I fed up to a mug full of micronized linseed in England and didn't notice any weight gain. This has made me wonder what a direct comparison of oil etc. between raw ground and micronized would show.
 
Yes you can feed it without cooking it,the problem with the seeds is the tough indigestible husk which needs to be split by soaking ,boiling or grinding.
 
My vote for the micronised. Two things for my lad - he seems much beter in his joints, and he has a more settled tum.

All 4 of mine get it - and I honestly seldom pick up a brush - they get groomed maybe once a month!
 
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