Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Linseed meal and cyanide

From: Gayla

Hi I own two North American Curlies. They are both what we call scanty tails (hairless). They shed out their tail hair in the summer. I have been giving them linseed meal cause I heard it was good for the circulatory system and that is why we think these horses lose there tail hair. Since then I had someone point out to me after Ive had them on it for about 6 months that is turns to cyanide and does not let the oxygen pass through the blood. What do you know about his?? Please let me know cause I'm so concerned about my horses. Thank you Gayla..............

Hi Gayla! First, let me warn you that you are likely to hear any number of "warnings" about any number of feeds and supplements. Always consider the source before you change your horses' diet based on such warnings. Talk to your vet, and be certain that any changes you make are actually appropriate to your horses' specific needs. Your vet can give you up-to-date information about supplements and about research done to investigate the safety and effectiveness of supplements.

In this case, I don't think you need to worry about your horses. Linseed (flaxseed) is a useful oral supplement that many horse-owners use to help improve the quality of their horses' coats. It may prove to help more than the hair coat. Flaxseed has been used for years to help with various skin conditions in dogs; there has been some research to indicate that it may also help horses. Flaxseed is an easy supplement to administer, whether cooked (traditional) or raw; most horses find it palatable, and there are no recorded adverse side effects.

Now, for the question of cyanide. The person who warned you about cyanide was wrong about the danger to your horses, but not completely wrong about flaxseeds. Flaxseeds DO contain a tiny amount of cyanogenetic glycosides, as well as certain enzymes that could allow those glycosides to release cyanide. It's true that cyanides ARE released from flaxseed when the raw, uncooked plants are damaged in some way (hard frost, drought, and/or bruising); it's true that the action of cyanide would typically be to prevent oxygen release in the blood; it's also true that this could be fatal. HOWEVER - and this is the information that your friend didn't have - during digestion, those enzymes are destroyed by the digestive acids in a horse's stomach and small intestine. This takes place long before the enzymes would be in a position to trigger the release of cyanide - so you don't actually need to worry about feeding raw flaxseed to your horse.

Of course, if you want to steam-cook flaxseed and allow it to cool before feeding it to your horse in the form of a mash, that's a pleasant tradition, and the aroma is wonderful. ;-)

Jessica

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