Benefits of Including Cold Pressed Canola Oil in Equine Diets

An average horse diet is low in oil, with natural feeds like grass, hay, and most cereals containing only 1.5-3.0% oil. However, the past 25 years have seen a notable increase in the oil content of equine diets. This shift has been achieved by adding vegetable-based oils to various feeds or incorporating high-oil ingredients like full-fat canola oil. Early on, research explored the health and performance effects of oil-supplemented diets. This review aims to provide basic information on feeding oil and highlight the specific benefits of cold-pressed rapeseed oil.

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1. Fat or Oil Supplementation
Common oils, like rapeseed (also known as canola or mazola), are both palatable and highly digestible for horses. These oils are often added to increase the energy density of the diet, reducing the need to feed large volumes of food. Unrefined, non-GMO rapeseed oil has a similar energy content per liter to other vegetable oils.

1.a) Increased Energy Density
Adding oil to the diet can help fussy eaters or horses on low-starch diets, which are recommended for conditions like chronic intermittent rhabdomyolysis (Harris 1999), equine polysaccharide storage myopathy (EPSM) (Firshman et al. 2003), and laminitis (Harris and Geor 2007). High-starch diets have been linked to developmental orthopedic disease, prompting interest in oil as an alternative energy source (Ralston 1996; Pagan 1998).

1.b) Palatability
Vegetable oils, including corn oil, are generally palatable to horses. Although rapeseed oil was not included in some tests, it is considered palatable based on anecdotal evidence. Long-term studies, like the one by Harris et al. (1999), showed good feed intake with oil supplementation, though prolonged use of soy oil may lead to monotony.

1.c) Digestibility
Adding oil to horse diets consistently increases digestible and metabolizable energy (Hollands and Cuddeford 1992; Kronfeld et al. 2004). Oil is mainly digested in the small intestine, whereas fiber is fermented in the hindgut. Encapsulated oils in grains might be less digestible than free oils like rapeseed oil.

1.d) Glycemic Response
Diets high in fiber and oil result in lower glycemic responses compared to traditional cereal-based feeds (Williams et al. 2001). Oil may slow the digestion of starch in the small intestine, influencing glucose absorption.

1.e) Gastric Health
Vegetable oil supplementation may protect against gastric ulcers in performance horses by improving the gastric mucosa's natural defenses. Even a small amount of corn oil can reduce gastric acid secretion (Cargile et al. 2004).

1.f) Behavior
Oil-supplemented diets might calm excitable horses. Lecithins, which help emulsify fats, could play a role in reducing stress-related muscle damage (MacLeay et al. 1999).

1.g) Metabolic Effects of Oil Supplementation
i) Muscle Glycogen
Oil-supplemented diets may reduce muscle glycogen concentrations if the starch content is also reduced. Horses can adapt to moderate oil supplementation and maintain normal glycogen levels, given time to adjust.
ii) Metabolic Adaptation
Horses on oil-supplemented diets show increased fat oxidation during low to moderate intensity exercise, potentially sparing muscle glycogen (Dunnett et al. 2002).
iii) Thermal Load
Oil supplementation can reduce the thermal load during digestion and energy production, which might be beneficial during exercise in hot conditions (Kronfeld 1996).
iiii) Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Rapeseed oil contains beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, essential for various body functions. The balance of these fatty acids can influence inflammation and immune response (Baur 1994).

2. Rapeseed Oil for Horses
Rapeseed oil, known as canola oil in some regions, has a similar energy value to other vegetable oils and is palatable to horses.
2.a) Cold Pressed Oils
Cold pressing preserves the nutritional benefits of rapeseed oil by avoiding high heat and solvents during extraction. This method maintains the stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid.
2.b) Palatability
Cold pressing enhances the natural flavor, improving palatability compared to oils extracted using traditional methods.
2.c) Natural Product
Cold-pressed rapeseed oil is free of solvents and retains natural antioxidants like vitamin E, essential for maintaining oil stability and providing health benefits.
2.d) Vitamin E
Rapeseed oil contains natural vitamin E, which helps maintain oil stability and contributes to the horse's dietary requirements.

2.e) Omega 3 and Omega 6 Fatty Acids
Rapeseed oil's fatty acid profile is beneficial, offering a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids compared to commonly used oils in horse feeds.
2.f) Rapeseed Double Zero Varieties
Modern rapeseed varieties have low levels of undesirable substances like erucic acid and glucosinolates, making them safe and palatable for horses.

Conclusions
Supplementing horse diets with rapeseed oil offers numerous benefits, from improved energy density and metabolic adaptation to enhanced gastric health and behavior. Rapeseed oil is well-accepted by horses, but it should be introduced gradually to avoid digestive issues. Balancing protein, minerals, and trace elements is also essential when incorporating oil into the diet.

This text is based on findings in: https://lincoln-omegagold.co.uk/rapeseed.pdf

Find extra virgin, unrefined canola oil in South Africa here: https://www.greatergoods.co.za/collections/all