Sunflower - Feed Ingredient

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an oilseed crop widely cultivated for its seeds, which can be processed into oil, meal, or fed whole. In equine nutrition, different components of the sunflower plant are used, with sunflower seeds and sunflower meal being the most common forms included in feed formulations.

Whole or dehulled sunflower seeds are used as a high-fat feed ingredient, offering a source of digestible energy, essential fatty acids (particularly linoleic acid), and moderate protein. Sunflower meal, a byproduct of oil extraction, is higher in protein and fiber and is typically used as a plant-based protein supplement in pelleted feeds or protein mixes.