Question

What is the current scientific knowledge regarding the use of hydrogenated fats in equine nutrition?

Answer

Kentucky Equine Research (KER) has investigated the digestibility of hydrogenated fats in horses and found the digestibility to be comparable to oils. Hydrogenated fats are not commonly used in commercial horse feeds, as the preferred added fat source is vegetable oil (soybean or corn oil) due to superior palatability.

Hydrogenated fats are typically used in feed manufacturing when a dry product is preferred over a liquid, such as for ease of handling. Products made with hydrogenated fats have a slightly better pellet quality.

Partially hydrogenated oils are used by feed manufacturers to improve the texture, shelf-life, and flavor stability of their products. The most common use of hydrogenated fats in equine nutrition is in weight-gain supplements, though other applications are not unusual. The formulation experts at KER use hydrogenated vegetable oil as part of the encapsulation and delivery system for its time-released hindgut buffer EquiShure.

Horses fed hydrogenated fats are not subject to the same health risks as humans who consume high-fat diets, as fat seldom makes up a high percentage of a horse’s caloric intake.