Has anyone ever fed Jeruselum artichokes (sunchokes), tubers or greens, to their horses?

[PonyRiderMom]

I know that’s a weird question, but I thought I’d ask. Wikipedia says this plant has been used for fodder for horses, historically. But, of course, historically we fed lots of things to horses that weren’t particularly good for them.

Wikipedia: “The silage has high nutrient values and satisfactory digestion performance for ruminants. Its high inulin content beneficially affects the rumen metabolism and microflora.”

I’m thinking about increasing biological diversity on my land, and future proofing against economic uncertainty and possible future hay shortages, and I’ve read that sunchokes have one of the highest calories per acre yield of any plant. OK I read this on some prepper site, but I’m only a semi-weirdo. Anyways, the important thing is that supposedly both people and horses can eat them. I’m planning on getting some and trying them.

It could be pretty useful to have a plant growing that could feed both people and horses, and would provide a lot of calories.

I’m just wondering if anyone has ever fed this to their horses and, if so, how the horses did on it.

[Red_Dust]

They are a sunflower species. I suppose if you can feed sunflower seeds and oil, the tubers should not be bad.
I ‘think’ my mom tried that with my sister’s horse 40 years ago. The details are hazy, but I seem to recall they were not a big hit.

I don’t think it would hurt a horse, but as always, try with a small amount first.

I mean, I knew a guy who fed eggs to his horses. They looked nice!

[GraceLikeRain]

From a human perspective I’ve heard they can create some of the most horrifically painful gas, which would scare me if horses have any of the same propensity.

[PonyRiderMom]

I read that also. I guess I will find out.

Wikipedia said that the gas is due to large amounts of inulin in the tubers. It also said that inulin was actually good for ruminants. So hopefully it wouldn’t cause them gas. I could feed it to them one day when I have time to watch them closely, and see.

[dogsbody1]

@GraceLikeRain

From a human perspective I’ve heard they can create some of the most horrifically painful gas, which would scare me if horses have any of the same propensity.

YMMV. They grow well in the climate where I live and we always seem to get a boatload in our CSA baskets. Sometimes I feel like I subsist on sunchokes and Swiss chard, and I feel fine. Great, actually!

[PonyRiderMom]

I did a little more research. Inulin is good for horses: https://madbarn.com/ingredient/inulin/?srsltid=AfmBOore78azh1ZAC4WF-OLFte-8kCu6G0qIBMulK1RRYef24EJofRin

A fun historical quote from wikipedia, about them causing gas in humans:
“which way soever they be dressed and eaten, they stir and cause a filthy loathsome stinking wind within the body, thereby causing the belly to be pained and tormented, and are a meat more fit for swine than men.”

[Simkie]

@PonyRiderMom

It also said that inulin was actually good for ruminants. So hopefully it wouldn’t cause them gas.

Horses aren’t ruminants, though.

I was curious if there were any boutique or foreign horse feeds or supplements that included this, and went looking around. Here’s one:

Jerusalem artichoke pellets - for the gut health of the horse

This also came up:

Modification of the equine gastrointestinal microbiota by Jerusalem artichoke...

[Marla_000]

Raw eggs were commonly fed to race horses years ago. Some trainers swore they were great for their health and stamina

[PonyRiderMom]

From the abstract of the article above:

" Supplementation with the prebiotic increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus ( P < 0.05), with a concurrent reduction of the relative abundance of Streptococcus mainly in the stomach ( P < 0.05). In the hindgut, the supplemental prebiotic also increased the relative abundance of Lactobacillus but further reduced the relative abundance of fibrolytic bacteria, specifically the unclassified members of the families Lachnospiraceae ( P < 0.05) and Ruminococcaceae . The relative abundance of the genus Ruminococcus increased solely in the caecum and colon transversum. Overall, the addition of the prebiotic significantly increased the diversity in nearly all parts of the gastrointestinal tract ( P < 0.05). The feeding of this natural prebiotic compound to horses had an impact on the microbial community in the entire gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the effect on the bacterial community in the foregut (especially the stomach) was more pronounced in comparison to the effect in the hindgut."

So based on one small study, it does seem like it would have a positive effect.

[PonyRiderMom]

Well, in case anyone is wondering, I tried these for myself. I thought the taste was interesting – somewhere between artichoke and turnip, with a little potato mixed in. I can imagine many ways you could cook with them.

But, for me, yes they did cause lots and lots of gas. And lots. So I am not encouraged to eat them again.

[one1horse]

There were tons of these growing at my last barn and the horses went nuts for them. We didn’t let them dine unrestricted, but they were accessible from the outdoor wash bay so they would get some bites here and there occasionally. No issues from anyone after their snacks.

[PonyRiderMom]

So the part they ate was the stems and leaves?

[one1horse]

Yes! They loved it. Also should add, we have a VMD who boards with us and is our farm vet, and she said as long as they’re not gorging on them it wasn’t anything to worry about.