Sunflower Oil for Horses: Benefits, Drawbacks & Feeding Guide

Sunflower oil is a vegetable oil extracted from seeds of the sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus). It is high in unsaturated fats, primarily omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids.

In horse diets, sunflower oil is often used to provide additional calories to aid in weight gain or maintenance. This may be the case for horses that are underweight and need to gain condition, or for those who have anticipated higher calorie needs such as at the start of a training program or during lactation.

Sunflower oil is commonly added to horse diets to boost calorie intake, helping underweight horses gain weight or maintain their current condition. It may also be used for horses entering training programs or during lactation when calorie needs increase.

Compared to other plant-based oils, sunflower oil also has fairly high vitamin E content. While the average serving of sunflower oil alone will not meet a horse’s vitamin E requirement, it can increase a horse’s overall intake.

Horse owners may be concerned about feeding sunflower oil due to its high omega-6 fatty acids and lower omega-3 levels compared to other plant oils. Additionally, sunflower oil is often more expensive than alternatives like canola or vegetable oil.

Nonetheless, sunflower oil can be an effective addition to the diet if balanced properly, and many horses find it quite palatable.

Sunflower Oil for Horses

Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are native to the Americas and were originally cultivated by Native Americans. Eventually, sunflowers were commercialized in Russia and the former Soviet Union. ^[1]

Today, sunflowers are grown around the world, as they thrive in a wide variety of environments. The greatest acreages of sunflower production are in Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, Turkey, and Romania. ^[2]

Sunflower seeds are generally classified into two types: ^[1]

• Confection seeds, which are commonly produced for bird seed and whole seeds for human consumption
• Oil-type seeds, which are produced for oil production

There are different varieties of oil-type sunflower seeds that produce oils with different fatty acid compositions: ^[1]

• High linoleic: 69% linoleic acid, 20% oleic acid
• Mid-oleic: 26% linoleic acid, 65% oleic acid
• High-oleic: 9% linoleic, 82% oleic acid

Overall, these oils differ in their omega-6 (linoleic acid) and omega-9 (oleic acid) content, but all varieties have high calorie density.

Sunflower Oil Production

Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds of oil-type sunflower plants by chemical or mechanical means.

During chemical processing, much of the oil is extracted by applying pressure to the seeds, and the remaining oil is extracted with solvents like hexane. Although chemical extraction and refinement result in a net loss of valuable nutrients, the oil produced is still safe to consume. ^[3]

During mechanical processing, the seeds are crushed, squeezed, and exposed to high pressures to extract the oil.

After extracting sunflower oil, sunflower meal is left as a byproduct. Sunflower meal is often incorporated into livestock rations and provides a valuable protein source in these feeds. ^[2]

Nutritional Profile of Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil is primarily composed of unsaturated fats, mostly omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. It also contains a small proportion of saturated fatty acids, including palmitic and stearic acids. ^[1] In contrast, it has fairly low omega-3 fatty acid content, such as alpha linoleic acid (ALA), compared to other oils. ^[4]

Omega-3 fatty acids are typically linked to anti-inflammatory processes and omega-6 fatty acids are associated with inflammatory processes. This spurred researchers to consider whether there may be an ideal ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids in the diet.

However, there is no consensus on an optimal ratio of these fatty acids for horses. Further, it is generally recognized that optimizing dietary content of potent omega-3 fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is more helpful than limiting omega-6 fatty acid consumption or aiming for a specific ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. ^[5]

Thus, current guidelines indicate sunflower oil is an acceptable fat supplement to feed horses to provide omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids. Further, there is a new form of high-oleic acid sunflower oil available which is very low in omega-6. ^[6]

If anti-inflammatory support is a consideration, sunflower oil can be fed in conjunction with an oil that has a higher concentration of DHA and/or EPA, such as Mad Barn’s W-3 oil or fish oil.

w-3 Oil

5 stars		79%
4 stars		10%
3 stars		7%
2 stars		2%
1 star		2%

637 Reviews

Learn More

• Promotes joint comfort
• Helps to fight inflammation
• Skin & coat condition
• Palatable source of Omega-3's

Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Linoleic acid (LA) contributes the bulk of sunflower oil’s omega-6 fatty acid supply.

Linoleic acid is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), with its first double bond located at the sixth carbon from the methyl end (omega-6 position). Omega-6 fatty acids are essential fatty acids that must be supplied by the diet as they cannot be synthesized within the horse’s body.

Vegetable oils commonly fed to horses, such as sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and safflower oil contain significantly high concentrations of linoleic acid.

While there is currently no research to confirm the recommended intake of linoleic acid for horses, the NRC recommends an approximate intake of 0.5% dry matter per day. ^[7] For a 500 kg (1,100 lb) horse with a dry matter intake of 2% body weight, this equates to a recommended linoleic acid intake of 50 grams (1.8 oz) per day.

Most horses meet the recommended intake for linoleic acid on a forage-based diet consisting of good quality hay or pasture. Horses consuming diets with supplemental fat, including most concentrate feeds, easily meet the recommended intake of linoleic acid.

Omega-9 Fatty Acids

Oleic acid contributes the bulk of sunflower oil’s omega-9 fatty acid content. Oleic acid is an omega-9 monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), with one double bond located at the ninth carbon from the methyl end (omega-9 position).

High-oleic acid sunflower oil is an effective choice for horses who need to gain weight as it does not upset the balance of omega-3 fatty acids in other supplements or feeds.

Omega-9 fatty acids are not classified as essential fatty acids because the body has the ability to synthesize them from other unsaturated fats.

Vitamin E

Sunflower seeds are also a good source of vitamin E, with 100 grams of sunflower seeds providing around 50 IU of vitamin E. However, the process of refining sunflower oil can lead to reductions in overall tocopherol content (i.e. all forms of vitamin E present in the oil) of around 38%. ^[8]

An average 500 kg (1,100 lb) horse at maintenance requires 500 IU of vitamin E per day. Thus, while sunflower seeds or oil alone may not meet a horse’s vitamin E requirement when fed at typical feeding rates, they can help boost vitamin E intake.

In addition to vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol), sunflower oil contains other tocopherols such as beta-, delta-, and gamma-tocopherol. While these other tocopherols do not help to meet the vitamin E requirement, they serve as antioxidant molecules that can improve the heat stability of sunflower oil.

New varieties of sunflowers with higher gamma-tocopherol concentrations have been shown to appreciably improve heat stability, with a tradeoff of lower alpha-tocopherol content. Nonetheless, the higher inherent tocopherol content of sunflower oil extends its shelf life and may improve its stability in hot barn environments compared to other oils with lower tocopherol content. ^[9]

Intro to Equine Nutrition

Gain a deeper understanding of your horse's nutrition needs. This free introductory course provides a foundation for horse owners to learn how to balance your horse's diet.

Enroll Now

Benefits of Feeding Sunflower Oil

Like other oils, sunflower oil is a dense source of calories for horses that need more energy to gain or maintain weight. Despite differences in fatty acid and vitamin E content, sunflower oil has an energy content typical of other oils, at around 9 MCal/kg (4.1 MCal/lb).

Providing supplemental calories from oil offers the advantage of increasing your horse’s energy intake without adding sugar or starch to the diet. Oil is the most energy-dense feed additive for horses, and all of its calories are provided in the form of fat rather than carbohydrates.

The high tocopherol content of sunflower oil in particular may make it an appropriate choice if you are feeding oil to horses in a hot climate. However, any oil should be stored in a relatively cool place out of direct sunlight.

Disadvantages of Feeding Sunflower Oil

While sunflower oil has its advantages, there are some drawbacks worth considering. Namely, the cost of sunflower oil is often considerably higher than other oils such as corn, canola, or vegetable oil. However, it may be more affordable than other oils like flax or fish oil.

A common concern with feeding fat supplements to horses in general is the risk of digestive upset. Horses’ diets are naturally quite low in fat content, with forages typically ranging from 2 – 4 % fat content. ^[7]

Due to adaptation to a naturally low-fat diet, horses do not have a gallbladder– the organ that stores and secretes bile to digest fats after consumption of a fatty meal. Instead, they produce bile slowly but continuously to digest the smaller amounts of fat garnered from constant consumption of low-fat grasses.

However, research has shown that horses can adapt readily to digest higher-fat diets if given an ample adjustment period. ^[10][11] This suggests oils can be a useful tool to increase caloric intake if incorporated into the diet slowly and carefully.

Another consideration for the implementation of sunflower and other oils is palatability. While sunflower oils are generally palatable for horses, there are some horses that do not like the texture of added oils in their feeds.

For this reason, it is important to introduce oils slowly to give your horse time to adapt to the new texture. Another strategy that may help your horse adapt is increasing the volume of their carrier or dressing added oils on their hay to dilute it out and reduce the oily texture.

Finally, due to its high energy content, fat supplementation should be avoided for horses that are overweight or easy keepers. Since there have been no reported adverse effects of very low-fat intakes in horses, fat supplements should be excluded from the diets of horses that need to lose weight or are prone to excessive weight gain. ^[7]

How to Feed Sunflower Oil

For hard keepers and horses with elevated energy demands, such as heavily exercising or lactating horses, adding oil to the diet is a great way to provide a concentrated source of calories without introducing unnecessary sugar and starch.

Before incorporating sunflower oil into your horse’s diet, it is important to evaluate their body condition and dietary needs to determine if they may benefit from additional calories from fat.

Regular assessment of your horse’s body condition score and feeding program allows you to adjust your horse’s diet to balance their energy intake. If your horse’s protein, vitamin, and mineral requirements are met but they still need to gain condition, then adding a fat supplement may be advisable.

For help determining if your horse may benefit from sunflower or other oil supplementation, you can contact our nutritionists for a free diet evaluation.

Feeding Rates

The recommended feeding rate depends on your horse’s energy needs and what you hope to achieve by adding sunflower oil to the diet.

Below are common feeding rates based on a 500 kg (1,100 lb) adult horse:

• Coat quality and shine: 30-60 mL (1 – 2 oz) per day
• Weight maintenance: 60-120 mL (2 – 4 oz) per day
• Performance horses: 100-200 mL (3 – 6 oz) per day
• Weight gain: 120-240 mL (6 – 12 oz) per day

These feeding rates are a good place to start, but it is important to monitor your horse’s condition and adjust their oil intake as needed to maintain a healthy body condition score.

Typically, fat should not exceed 8% of the total equine diet. However, you can work with a nutritionist to determine an optimal fat intake for your horse to support a healthy weight and maintain digestive health.

How to Feed

Oil can be dressed on your horse’s current meals, as long as the meals provide an adequate volume to carry the oil. The volume of carrier required depends on the amount of oil being supplemented and your horse’s personal preferences.

If your horse is not currently being meal fed, or if their meal volume is not substantial enough to carry the desired serving of oil, carriers like forage pellets and beet pulp can be added to increase their meal volume.

If feeding large volumes of oil, the daily ration should be divided across multiple meals.

Introduce Gradually

Sunflower oil should be added to your horse’s diet gradually over a period of two weeks to two months, depending on the target oil intake and their response to increasing fat consumption. This allows your horse’s digestive system to adapt to the increased fat content.

A gradual introduction will also help your horse get accustomed to changes in smell, taste, and texture to prevent rejection of their feed.

Start by introducing 30 mL (1 oz) for the first few days and gradually increase it by 1/2 – 1 oz every 3 – 4 days until you reach the desired amount.

If your horse shows signs of digestive upset when increasing oil intake, revert to the previous dose or one that doesn’t cause issues. If symptoms improve, gradually increase the oil again, but more slowly than before.

If the digestive symptoms recur, a lower daily dose of oil may be necessary, and additional calories can be supplied through soluble fibre or carbohydrate-rich feeds or supplements. If you are unsure whether your horse is responding to dietary changes, or if symptoms persist, contact your veterinarian.

Summary

Sunflower oil is a safe, effective source of calories for horses, while also providing omega-6 and -9 fatty acids, as well as natural vitamin E.

• Hard keepers, lactating mares, and horses in heavy work may benefit from oil supplementation
• When feeding oils, it’s important to monitor your horse’s response and body condition
• Introduce oils to the diet gradually and work with a qualified equine nutritionist if you are unsure how to make dietary changes safely