Question
I am considering adding Bio-Bloom PS to my mare’s ration, which currently consists of a balancer pellet and hay or pasture. She’s an off-the-track Thoroughbred, and her skin is sensitive, sometimes becoming dry and flaky. She’s already consuming some omegas with the balancer, and though I’ve looked at the ingredients and nutritional information for Bio-Bloom PS, I cannot tell if it contains beneficial omegas. Can you provide further information? Am I correct in assuming that omegas are most important for her skin and coat? What’s the ideal balance of omegas?
Answer
Bio•Bloom PS (Bio-Bloom in Australia) is a great choice for your mare, as it serves as a hoof and coat conditioner. The base of Bio•Bloom PS is full-fat soybean meal, and though soybean meal contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, the recommended serving size does not offer enough omegas to provide a significant benefit in an animal as large as a horse.
Bio•Bloom PS is, however, chock-full of ingredients designed to help boost coat health. Most horse owners are aware of the advantages of feeding biotin for hoof health, and Bio•Bloom PS contains the recommended amount of that B vitamin. Biotin also helps with skin and coat condition, as hair and hooves are similar microscopically, both dependent on keratin structures for strength and health. In addition to biotin, Bio•Bloom PS contains key minerals to support keratin-based structures, including iodine and chelated zinc, as well as the essential amino acid methionine.
A great deal of anecdotal evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids are valuable in helping horses with skin conditions, in addition to allergies, respiratory problems, and reproductive issues. This is likely due to the primary role of omega-3s in the body, as that of agents in anti-inflammatory processes. To increase the amount of omega-3s in your mare’s diet, I would suggest a direct source of DHA and EPA, the two most important omega-3s. The best choice is a deodorized fish oil such as EO•3. Fish oil is more desirable than flax products, as flax contains alpha-linolenic acid, which must then be converted to DHA and EPA. The efficiency of that conversion process is unknown.
Though nutritionists and researchers know that omega-3s and omega-6s are beneficial in equine diets, they have not been able to determine an optimal ratio.
For maximum skin health and protection, feed both supplements, as one targets the problem area, and the other helps with body-wide inflammation.
