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Flaxseed is the richest known food source of
omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to its many other benefits. Flax
provides essential nutrients, including protein, essential fatty
acids, vitamins and minerals. It is also a good source of both
soluble and insoluble dietary fiber as well as a rich source of
lignans. Lignans are phytoestrogens, compounds found in plants
thought to protect against certain types of cancer by interfering
with the effects of estrogen.
A standard ingredient in Bio-Ag Mineral Premixes
is flax oil. In addition to controlling dust in the premixes,
flax is beneficial for improved reproduction, increased milk production
and increased butterfat. The elevated maintenance and gain energy
values for flax relate to excellent gain in beef cattle. Whereas
other oils will add fat to the body, flax oil converts food to
more usable nutrients. An excellent source of energy, flax oil
and pellets can be easily added to the TMR or topdressed to raise
energy levels when feedstuffs fall short of necessary energy requirements.
A recent study in Manitoba has revealed that
when flax was fed to sows, they experienced less weight loss and
maintained more backfat during lactation than sows fed regular
rations. They also took less time to come into heat after farrowing.
Improved weanling weights were also realized from feeding flax
to the sows.
Bio-Ag "organic" flax seed has been cold pressed, preserving
valuable enzymes. Cold press production will leave more oil in
the pellet, increasing its value as well.
Flax Oil (Organic & Conventional) is available in 5 gal, 15 gal and 55 gal drums.
Flax Meal (Organic & Conventional) available in 25 kg bags or bulk totes.
Flax Pellets (Organic) available in 25 kg bags or bulk totes.
Flax Flake (Organic) available in 25 kg bags or bulk totes.
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SUGGESTED
FEEDING RATES FOR FLAX
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FLAX OIL
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FLAX PELLETS
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| Dairy
Cattle |
Fed if there
is an energy shortage in feed stuffs 4 - 8 oz per day top dressed |
Based on ration
requirements, good for high fiber, low protein rations |
| Beef |
N/A
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- Use as a protein concentrate -better conversion
of feed
- -better marbling & fat conversion
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| Swine |
- Use during pre-farrowing to increase energy
- -prevents constipation
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Can be used
in place of Soybean Meal in ration |
| Goats/Sheep |
Top dress to
high producers 1 to 2 oz per day |
Use in place
of other protein for milk production and improved reproduction |
| Poultry |
- Used in the production of omega-3 eggs
- -included at 1% of ration
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Can be incorporated
into poultry ration, fed at 10% to 20% of the ration |
| Calves |
- Beneficial for calves in hutches especially
during the winter months for cold protection
- -1 tbsp am & pm in milk
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Can be incorporated
into calf starter 50/50 with soybean meal |
| Horses |
3 to 4 oz per
day |
1/2 lb to 1
LB per day especially for mares ready to breed or lactating |
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TYPICAL ANALYSIS
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on a Dry Matter
Basis
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| Crude Protein |
32 to 34%
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| ADF Fibre |
14 to 17 oz
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| NDF Fibre |
35%
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| Calcium |
0.34%
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| Phosphorus |
1.00%
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| Potassium |
1.36%
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| Magnesium |
0.69%
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| TDN |
80%
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| Net Energy
Lactation |
1.62 Mcal/kg
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| Net Energy
Gain |
1.46 Mcal.kg
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| Net Energy
Maintenance |
2.13 Mcal/kg
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| Manitoba Sows Perform Well on Flax |
One of Manitoba's largest independently owned feed mills has started adding flax to its pelletized sow feed rations after word spread of the results of a research program. Swine researcher Sam Baidoo is still putting together his final data statistics on the extensive project.
Baidoo, assistant professor and swine nutritionist at the University of Minnesota. started the project when he worked at the University of Manitoba. He wanted to see if flax would affect the reproduction performance of sows, so be added it to gestation and lactation diets at the university's swine operation, and the 3,000 sow farrow to-weanling operation.
The flax, added at a rate of five percent, or 45 kilograms per sow per year, replaced some of the soybean meal and tallow in the rations. Sows fed flax lost less weight and maintained more backfat during lactation than sows fed regular rations, Baidoo told the Agri-Food 2000 conference in Winnipeg.
Sows that stay in good condition take less time to come into heat again after weaning, he noted.
In fact, days to estrus dropped to 4.8 for sows fed five per cent flax, compared to 7.5-8 days for the control group.
The sows that ate flax had higher progesterone levels, which Baidoo said improved survival of embryos in the uterus.
Sows on the commercial farm that were fed the five per cent flax ration delivered 11.5 pigs per litter compared to 10.4 pigs per litter in the control group. The piglets from the sows also weighed I.27 kg on average compared to piglets from the control group of sows which averaged 1.18 kg at birth.
The milk from the sows fed flax have a higher level of unsaturated fatty acids.
"There's no question that adding flax to the feed really changed the composition of the milk," said Baidoo.
At day eight the piglets from flax-fed sows weighed an average of 2.55 kg. compared to 2.4 kg for piglets in the control group. The piglets were also heavier at weaning, averaging 4.6 kg compared to 4.3 kg in the control group.
One customer was unaware flax had been incorporated into the ration until he started noticing better weanling weights and remarked on the change
Meanwhile Baidoo wants to monitor the long-term effect of flax over the life of the sow and research whether flax in piglet rations will help reduce mortality rates. Source: Western Producer
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