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20kg Whole Brown Flax

20kg Milled Green Peas

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For a full album of before and afters of horses on this program, click this link

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1142823989475577&type=3

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WHOLE FLAX

Flax is so often overlooked when it comes to feeding our equine partners. Flaxseed is an amazing product! On average, it is approximately 40% fat, of which, 58% of that fat content is Omega 3's. Flaxseed also contains about 30% highly digestible fiber and 20% protein. Its densely packed nutrients mean feeding rates can stay LOW which translates into cheaper cost per day to feeding your animal. A lot of that fat gets removed in order to make ground flax, all of that oil content goes into Flax oil. So now you're feeding 2 separate products, where you could feed the whole flax at LOW feed rates and get all the benefits in one.

 

Benefits of Omega 3's:

Helps joints and connective tissue recover from the stress of exercise. Maintains supple joints.

Promotes a healthy, shiny coat. Improves mane and tail growth.

Healthier, stronger feet.

Boosts the immune system - Seasonal allergies - studies show that horses with sweet itch/bug bite sensitivity experienced a decrease in symptoms when consuming 1lb of flaxseed daily.

Is a cool energy so MAY have a SLIGHT calming effect over hotter grains for excitable horses

Assists in the correct development of the nervous system, brain, muscles and skeleton

Has anti-inflammatory properties

Aids in wound healing - improves skin elasticity.

Improves metabolism

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Breeding animals - Omega 3s and DHA has been shown to positively affect semen quality and motility, and also boosts cold shock resistance. Mares given Omega 3's and DHA were shown to increase passive transfer of DHA to offspring, which may positively affect memory and learning in foals. Flaxseed also supports milk production and quality in broodmares.

 

Study at University of Guelph found that omegas help protect joint cartilage from inflammation. Adding omega 3's with DHA lowered some inflammation markers in older horses.

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Milled Green Peas

A lot of people balk at the fact that it is 23% protein. However, what most don't realize is that these feeds are NOT meant to be fed at the same rates you see on processed feed bags. High quality protein, when its that nutrient dense is more like a top dress supplement rather than a feed. It is meant to be fed in LOW rates. ZS Farms themselves suggested 0.5lb to 1.5lb MAX daily, that is not that much. Standard for our horses is usually 2 baking cups (200grams) for about 30 days before deciding to increase or decrease.

Protein levels/density is just as important as the SOURCE of protein. There are quality sources of protein (soybean meal, peas, Whey protein, brewer's yeast, alfalfa), and then there are lower quality sources of protein (oats, grass hay, grass pasture, cottonseed meal). The higher quality the protein, the less you have to feed for the same results.

 

The second largest point to make about the peas is their high amino acid content, specifically lysine! Amino acids are needed to help digest feed, aid in gut health and are needed to digest and utilize protein for muscle building. It is not just the omega 3's that help build healthy hair, skin and hooves. Good quality protein is also necessary. But most people think of protein, generally think about muscle only. There are 21 amino acids, but 9 of them are considered essential amino acids, meaning the horse cannot make those within its body, they have to be supplied from the diet. The top 3 most limiting ones are lysine, threonine and methionine. Lysine can be found in high quantities in peas.

Lysine is the main amino acid that comes into discussion when you start looking at building topline, improving hoof, hair and skin health, and is an important nutrient for growing youngsters to help develop muscle, bones and tendons.

 

Some studies have shown that if you are looking to improve muscle tone on your horses, the best way to do that is through exercise, and providing a high, quality protein meal approximately 40minutes to an hour after workout, once the horse is adequately cooled down. This is part of our practice here that gives us such great results. That meal also helps replace minerals, protein, calories, and more that was lost during exercise, keeping the horse looking fit and well conditioned, even if they are still growing.

 

We tend to notice a huge change as early as 4 weeks into this program once they are up to an appropriate ration, with most of the results coming around that 8 week/60 day mark. Can only imagine how good some would look if they stayed longer in training!

 

Peas are also high energy, but it is a cool energy. We have yet to find a horse who gets hot off the peas and flax rations. It is a clean, single feed ingredient. You never have to worry about quality, screenings, hulls or other things that don't belong. They are milled for increased digestibility.

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Together with the flax, and a loose mineral, you can create a ration that covers all the bases that a horse needs and keep it natural, clean, and under 2lbs of volume. The average horse in our program only needs 1 baking cup of flax (150grams) and 2 cups of peas (300grams) approximately, plus their free choice hay. Always feed adequate amounts of forage like hay or pasture and provide fresh, clean water. We also elect to feed alfalfa pellets since our hay grown here is only a grass hay. You can increase or decrease the fat content by changing the flax, or the protein content by changing the peas, without affecting the other nutrients. When you feed a complete pellet, increasing or decreasing the volume unfortunately affects ALL the nutrients. You don't have that issue with the peas and flax!

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For more information, check out the Wolf Hollow Ranch Facebook page or contact us! 

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