Future Feedstuff: Chia for Horses

Originating in Mexico, chia is a small high-fat seed that is thought to be richest plant source of omega-3 fatty acids, even higher than flaxseed. In addition, chia is high in soluble and insoluble fiber. Chia contains several amino acids, including lysine, as well as numerous minerals.

Few horse owners are probably using chia currently. Because demand is low, chia tends to be more expensive and harder to find.

Though there have been no published studies of the use of chia in horses, anecdotal evidence suggests that it could be an alternative to psyllium as a digestive-tract-clearing agent for horses prone to sand colic. In addition to this use, chia is thought to preserve hydration in working horses, help metabolic horses by slowing the conversion of carbohydrates to glucose, and decrease sensitivity to insect bites.

Horse owners usually feed chia dry, so it is easily top-dressed onto a concentrate meal. Because horses typically find chia palatable, it also can be fed alone. Moistening the chia causes the seed coating to turn gelatinous, making the feedstuff a little messy to dole out. This should be considered when deciding whether or not to wet the seeds before feeding.

How does chia stack up against other feedstuffs rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as flax and fish oil?

Like flax, the omega-3 fatty acid in chia is linolenic acid, which is converted to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), two long-chain fatty acids. A specific enzyme is responsible for this conversion. Because of the limited quantity of this enzyme within the body, not all of the linolenic acid can be transformed to DHA and EPA.  Chia contains more linolenic acid than flax, so in terms of quantity there is a greater chance of conversion with chia than flax.

Fish oil provides a direct source of DHA and EPA. Because absorption is not dependent on an enzymatic conversion, there is no absorption ceiling, allowing horses to receive maximum benefit. Recent technology allows fish oils to be deodorized, so palatability is not an issue. One such marine-derived product is EO∙3 from KERx Special Needs Nutrition.