the six most frequently asked questions by stallion managers

question 1: why wouldn�t omega-3 dha normally be found in my stallion�s feed?

some short-chain omega-3 fatty acids may be found naturally in animal diets through sources like flax seed. however epa and dha, the important long-chain fatty acids associated with increased nutritional benefits, are only found in marine sources. horse diets are not usually formulated to contain marine products, therefore epa and dha would not normally be present in the diet.

studies have shown that horses are very inefficient in converting linolenic acid (from soybean and flax seed oil) into the longer-chain fatty acids epa and dha. the results of feeding linolenic acid show no effect on the concentration of epa or dha in the horse. the most effective means of increasing concentrations of epa and dha in the animal seems to be through direct supplementation of the diet.

question 2: people always talk about fish oil & omega-3. since the product is made from �marine sources� is magnitude fish oil? why can�t just feed my stallions fish oil?

fish oil is one source of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids epa and dha. the fish tissues are enriched with the fatty acids because fish eat marine algae that are naturally rich in dha. while fish oil is a source of the long-chain fatty acids (lc-pufas), feeding an algae product is a more efficient way of providing the desired dha source.

also, due to pollution and other environmental problems, fish oil can be contaminated with toxins and other potentially harmful substances if it is not properly treated and labeled as a high-grade pharmaceutical-grade source.

fish oil is also subject to a chemical process called oxidation, whereby lc-pufas are broken down. this process can be inhibited when the fish oils are mechanically protected in some manner, such as encapsulating the oil. oxidized fish oil presents further issues with palatability, biological efficacy and, in some cases, overall safety.

magnitude contains a blend of highly refined and stabilized fish oil and an algal source of dha. through the use of these quality ingredients, magnitude offers a proprietary and scientifically researched level of dha in a safe, easy-to-feed supplement.

question 3: are there any other competitors on the market?

no, there are no competitors that provide a highly refined and researched level of dha specifically for stallions. there are a few fish oil products that can be purchased, and there also are some supplements on the market that contain miniscule levels of dha.

feeding a small amount of dha has not elicited positive responses in university research. similarly, the efficacy of unprotected fish-oil based products is limited by palatability and stability issues, in addition to not providing correct levels of dha. only magnitude provides the needed levels of dha, and the quantity of dha is crucial. magnitude provides more dha than any other supplement on the market.

question 4: what are the specific ingredients in this supplement?

the key ingredients in magnitude are algal omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid (dha) and a dry source of protected and stabilized fish oil. the other ingredients act as carriers, stabilizers and flavoring agents for the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. the pellets have been flavored with mint.

question 5: what are the recommended feeding guidelines? do i need to feed it all year?

the omega-3 fatty acids are incorporated into cell membranes and profoundly influence biological responses. these fatty acids influence membrane stability, membrane fluidity, cell mobility, gene expression and cell differentiation. however the lag time between incorporation of nutrients into cells, and obtaining the desired affect on animal physiology, takes weeks. thus we recommend that magnitude be introduced in the diet 60 days before the time of expected vigorous activity.

when animals are introduced slowly to magnitude over a period of 3-4 days, problems with consumption are minimal. animals should then continue consuming the product throughout the working season. since magnitude research has been with actively working stallions, it is not known whether or not magnitude should be fed all year. however because omega-3 fatty acids are required nutrients, their presence affects all animal physiology and should be present in an animal�s diet for year round functionality.

question 6. is magnitude safe to feed to stallions?

magnitude is a patented blend of marine-based omega-3 fatty acids. magnitude has been fed in both commercial and research settings, and the product is a safe, palatable, and stable source of dha.

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