Flax is finding a home in livestock feed as its ability to add desirable omega 3 fatty acids to meat, milk and eggs awakens the imaginations of the marketplace.
Omega 3 fatty acids are known to reduce cholesterol levels in humans.
“The market for designer foods is really beginning to take off and flax is behind some of those products and ones that will be out there in the near future,” said Vern Racz of the University of Saskatchewan’s Prairie Feed Resource Centre.
A few years ago, Racz and his associates developed an extruded pea and flax feed that is now marketed by Oleet Processing of Regina under the trade name Linpro.
Read Also
Stock dogs show off herding skills at Ag in Motion
Stock dogs draw a crowd at Ag in Motion. Border collies and other herding breeds are well known for the work they do on the farm.
When it was fed to calves entering a recent feedlot trial at Kansas State University, the rectal temperatures of bacterially infected animals were lower and their recovery faster after antibiotic treatments than control animals that were fed traditional tallow- and soybean-based feeds.
Hog feeder-finisher trials at the U of S have shown dramatic increases in the omega 3 fatty acid content of the meat.
“A 15 percent flax (content in the) ration will raise the level of omega 3 fatty acids (in pork) from two percent to 13 percent,” he said.
“That may be a bit high, but we could easily produce a 10 percent product with an improved fat characteristic and a healthful omega 3 content.”
Phil Thacker, a U of S pig researcher, said more work is needed on flax’s ability to improve pig health, lowering the need for antibiotics.
“We know it’s there, but we have to show why and how much and that will take more research.”
Racz said flax seems to improve animal health by reducing inflammation.
“Sows benefit from having flax in their ration at farrowing time because of the natural mucilage in the seed coat. It’s a laxative and that lowers stress during pregnancy,” he said.
“So not only can flax pass on omega 3 fats in the meat, it can improve livestock health.”
