1. Nutrients: Fats
EQS 125

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Fat Purpose & Function
Fats in the Diet
Fats for Performance
Adding Fat
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3. Fat Purpose & Function

4. What we think of when we hear fat
What are Fats?
Fats are another energy source for the horse
Unlike in the human diet, fats used in the equine diet are typically plant-based
Fats can be added into the horse’s diet as solids in commercial grain products or liquids that are added on top of grains
What we think of when we hear fat

5. Fat Functions Fats have many positive functions in the equine diet
Extremely important energy source for the athletic horse
This point will be discussed later in the lecture, but fat is a secondary source of energy, allowing the horse more stamina for performance

6. Fat Functions Fats have many positive functions in the equine diet
Essential for optimum health
Healthy cell membranes
Skin and hair coat
Proper development of the nervous system
Increases food efficiency
Fats provide more energy than carbohydrates

7. Fats in the Diet

8. Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
Human vs Horse
Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
In the human diet, the word fat often has negative connotations…
We think of fat, then cholesterol, obesity, heart disease; the list goes on and on
In North America, our diet contains far more fat than the 30% maximum fat recommended

9. Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
Human vs Horse
Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
The horse on the other hand has a natural diet that contains almost no fat at all
This is because fiber, which is the main component of the horse’s diet, contains very little fat
Grains also provide very little, containing between 2% - 3.5% overall fat

10. Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
Human vs Horse
Aren’t fats supposed to be a bad thing?
The horse on the other hand has a natural diet that contains almost no fat at all
While the horse didn’t evolve to be a fat digester we have begun to realize horses can tolerate higher- fat diets and that fat is a very valuable energy source

11. Fats & Digestion
Fats are easily digested by the horse – they may be even easier to digest than carbohydrates because they have no effect on cecum pH
Fat is mainly absorbed in the small intestine once broken down via secretions from the liver, but an overflow to the hindgut does not pose the same issues as carbohydrates
Fats are also more efficient to burn for energy than carbohydrates because they create less heat as a byproduct

12. Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)
One of the many important components of fats are essential fatty acids (EFAs)…
They are called essential because they are not created by the body and need to be obtained from a dietary source, such as forage or grain
Omega Fatty Acids are a type of EFA

13. 3,6,9 Omega 3 There are three types of Omega Fatty Acids – 3,6,9
These fatty acids are not created equal in their benefits – we will take a closer look at 3 & 6
Omega 3
Omega 3s have been shown to decrease the inflammatory response and may help with osteoarthritis, allergies, and exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH)
Omega 3s are commonly found in fresh and dried forages, not grain!

14. 3,6,9 Omega 6 There are three types of Omega Fatty Acids – 3,6,9
These fatty acids are not created equal in their benefits – we will take a closer look at 3 & 6
Omega 6
Omega 6 has the opposite effect – it has shown to increase the inflammatory response, aggravate allergies, and increase bronchial constriction during exercise
Grain products and vegetable and corn oil are common sources

15. 3,6,9 3 vs 6 There are three types of Omega Fatty Acids – 3,6,9
These fatty acids are not created equal in their benefits – we will take a closer look at 3 & 6
3 vs 6
We want more Omega 3 than Omega 6 in the diet but Omega 6 is needed in some amount– inflammation is a natural, necessary process to fight infection and create healing – currently, we do not have exact percentages of how much of each should be in the equine diet

16. Supplementing O3
Besides fresh and dried forage, there are certain oils with good Omega 3 content
Flaxseed oil is an excellent source – fish oil is as well but many horses find it unpalatable

17. An overflow of fats will affect cecum pH
Knowledge Check
An overflow of fats will affect cecum pH
True
False
Incorrect
Fats have shown to have no effect on cecum pH, making them easier to digest than carbohydrates since carbohydrate overflow can disturb cecum pH
Correct!

18. Knowledge Check
Omega 3s have shown to decrease the inflammation response and may help with EIPH
True
False
Incorrect
Omega 3s have shown to decrease the inflammatory response and may help with osteoarthritis, allergies, and EIPH while Omega 6s have the opposite effect
Correct!

19. Which oil is the highest in Omega 3?
Knowledge Check
Which oil is the highest in Omega 3?
Soybean Oil
Canola Oil
Corn Oil
Flaxseed Oil
Incorrect, Try Again
Incorrect, Try Again
Correct!
Incorrect, Try Again

20. Fats for Performance

21. Fats provide 2 ¼ times more energy than carbohydrates
Fats & Energy
If you need more energy and do not want to increase the overall feed intake, supplement fat!
Lets look at the output of energy for carbohydrates & fats…
1 gram of fat = 9 kcal of energy
1 gram of carb = 4 kcal of energy
Fats provide 2 ¼ times more energy than carbohydrates
Some classifications of horses, such as the racehorse, push the limits of how much grain to provide because of energy needs – by adding more fat we can reduce grain intake
Because fat provides more energy than carbohydrates, you can feed less in weight, which is better for GI health!
For horses with increased energy needs, fat can be an incredibly useful tool in enhancing the diet

22. Fats & Exercise Aerobic Anaerobic
How fats are utilized during exercise depends on if it is aerobic or anaerobic work
Aerobic
Muscles can use carbohydrates (blood glucose and glycogen) and fatty acids
During a race 70% of the work is aerobic!!
How does fat affect this? The body only has so much glycogen in its system; if it is used up by the time it switches over to anaerobic exercise it will not be able to sustain and lactic acid build up occurs.
By having fat as a secondary source of aerobic energy, glycogen can be preserved for when it is needed most. By preserving glycogen, we can postpone fatigue – remember that a few inches is what determines 1st and 2nd.
Anaerobic
Muscles can only use glycogen
Not efficient – depletes glycogen quickly and then lactic acid build up occurs

23. Fats & Exercise
“It isn’t so much which horse is going the fastest at the end of the race – it’s more about which horse is slowing down the least”!
If we have the ability to help the horse sustain its speed, whether it is ¼ of a mile or only a few feet, it can make the difference between winning and losing
This is a great quote that really exemplifies the importance and impact nutrition can make on the horse’s performance ability

24. Fat & Other Conditions Hard Keepers
Besides exercise what else can fat help with?
Hard Keepers
Hard keepers are horses that have difficulty putting on or keeping weight
Added fat will help if the horse is not in heavy work – horses will store excess fat as adipose tissue

25. Fat & Other Conditions Older Horses
Besides exercise what else can fat help with?
Older Horses
Horses lose digestive efficiency as they age, so the easier a feed is to digest, the better
Remember that fats are easily digested by the horse and easier on the digestive tract

26. Fat & Other Conditions Broodmares
Besides exercise what else can fat help with?
Broodmares
Studies have shown that a broodmare that gained condition (weight) are more likely to catch and maintain pregnancy with less difficulty
It may also help improve the quality of milk

27. Fat does not make changes overnight!
Fat Considerations
While fat sounds like the “goldmine” of nutrients, it does have limitation and considerations…
Remember that fat is not a catch-all – carbohydrates are needed as a fuel for anaerobic work and to provide another fuel source for aerobic work
Fat does not make changes overnight!
You must also challenge the body so fat is used – continue to train as normal with breezes and races
The body needs time to learn how to use fat as energy source
It will take a minimum of 3-4 weeks for muscle cells to adapt and up to 6 weeks for blood chemistry to adapt
Lastly, the diet must be changed over a period of time – there are no overnight fixes!

28. Fats provide 2 ¼ times more energy than carbohydrates
Knowledge Check
Fats provide 2 ¼ times more energy than carbohydrates
True
False
Incorrect
Pound for pound, fat contains more than twice as much energy as carbohydrates
Correct!

29. Knowledge Check
Fats can be used as an energy source for aerobic and anaerobic exercise
True
False
Incorrect
Fats can only be used for aerobic exercise, providing a secondary fuel source to carbohydrates. Only carbohydrates can be used for anaerobic work
Correct!

30. Adding Fat

31. Looking for Fat
We can tell how much fat a commercial grain product contains by looking at crude fat on a feed label
On a supplement, crude fat should also be listed

32. Creating a High-Fat Diet
How can we optimize a horse’s diet to include higher percentages of fat?
These feeds have a Crude Fat percentage of 6+%
1. Choose feed that is fat supplemented
Rice bran is the most common
3. Add Solid Fat Supplements
2. Supplement with oil
Oils provide 100% fat – 1 cup of oil can replace 1 ½ quarts of oats
Remember your Omega 3 & Omega 6!
Remember you must adjust your feed intake if you decide to supplement fat so you are not overfeeding energy!

33. Knowledge Check
A fat supplemented feed will have a crude fat amount of 5%
True
False
Incorrect
Fat supplemented feeds have crude fat amounts of 6%+
Correct!

34. Finish

35. End of Lecture
You have finished Lecture 5 – Nutrients: Fat. Complete Homework #5 prior to taking your Homework quiz in Blackboard.