alfalfa hay for horses

But the excess protein does not harm the kidneys. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of highly available calcium, but unfortunately is often a poor source of phosphorus. Medicago Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans and clover. Because it is higher in energy and protein, using alfalfa makes it easier to meet those needs with minimal or at least lower levels of supplementation. Forage should be the foundation of every horse … Alfalfa Hay for Horses . Today’s horses are expected to perform at higher levels, mature more rapidly, produce more offspring and live a longer productive life than ever before. Each horse in the study had been assigned a gastric ulcer score before the study began as a result of gastric endoscopy. The exception to the relationship of age and protein requirements is for late pregnancy and lactation, when the mare has increased protein requirements for proper nourishment of the foal. Alfalfa Hay for Horses. I used to feed my arab alfalfa plus grass hay in the winter to keep weight on him. In conclusion, the availability and nutrient content of alfalfa hay make it a logical forage for horses. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young, growing horses. Medicago Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans and clover. It’s especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high palatability—horses love to eat it. Hay Moisture. THREE BENEFITS OF FEEDING ALFALFA TO HORSES: Alfalfa is a high protein forage, so it makes an excellent supplement for horses that are protein deficient or for horses that have higher protein requirements such as senior horses or … High in protein and minerals, Alfalfa hay is a high-energy feed source for cattle, horses and sheep. Alfalfa has lower indigestible fiber than grass hays. References More than 80 percent of performance horses suffer from some varying degree of ulceration. Safely fed to horses for thousands of years, Alfalfa’s high protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral content all … It is highly digestible and usually contains more digestible nutrients than grass hays, such as timothy and orchardgrass. What Hay Growers Should Know 4. Many of these situations are avoidable, so here are, in my opinion, “The Seven Deadly Sins of Horse Hay Making,” in no particular order. Alfalfa is an important component of an active horse’s diet. It is recommended that horses with metabolic syndrome consume hay with NSC levels of around 10% to 12%. However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. Alfalfa hay is one of the most common hays available in the US, making it a popular choice for forage for horses. Research has shown that in addition to being an excellent energy and protein source, alfalfa hay also has the ability to buffer stomach acid and alleviate ulcer severity and formation. What the Horse Owner Needs to Know 5. Alfalfa Hay for Horses. Selecting alfalfa hay with moderate protein content and providing additional diet fortification with minerals, help make this a balanced forage for horses. Many horse owners advise that Alfalfa hay is the best kind of hay to feed a horse. Blood solids are largely protein, and because antibod- ies and other immune substances are proteins, this nutrient also plays a major function in ghting infection. Here are some benefits of alfalfa hay you should know. At the same time, p… ©2020 Standlee Premium Products, LLC® All Rights Reserved. Introduction 2. 1. All of these factors—performance, growth rate, reproduction and age—complicate the nutrient requirements of the horse in ways unforeseen 20 years ago. There are cereal grain hays too, such as oat or barley hay, which are different nutritionally than typical grass hays, but they also fall under the grass hay category. Next, the young horse requires calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio to one another. Not so, if fed appropriately. The body’s process for breaking down protein into calories results in nitrogen as a byproduct, which gets filtered out of the body in the horse’s kidneys. Moldy grass hay or moldy alfalfa hay both cause airway irritation when mold dust is inhaled.” Take-Home Message The horse industry is full of misconceptions about alfalfa. It is not unusual for mid-bloom alfalfa hay to have a crude protein content of 17% or greater. After water, the major constituent of the horse’s body is pro- tein. It’s been blamed for colic and high spirits, but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems to follow it? Fact: Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay. Bales average 1550lbs. In the case of mature horses, free-choice alfalfa hay will certainly provide enough protein to satisfy requirements. Everything we expect a horse to do for us exacts a price. It’s especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high palatability—horses love to eat it. Horses being fed large quantities of plain grains such as Bluebonnet Feeds Race Horse Whole Oats or wheat bran will probably be consuming way too much phosphorus; the addition of alfalfa will balance out the Ca:P ratio to healthy proportions. High pH readings (less acidic) in hay-fed horses should be expected since forage consumption stimulates saliva production which naturally buffers acid. Alfalfa hay is all we do. High-quality, properly fenced pastures are one of the best and least expensive sources of summer feed for a horse. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. Also there is some concern about blister beetles that can contaminate alfalfa because they contain a substance that is toxic to horses if ingested. Alfalfa is usually lower in ber, higher in energy, higher in protein and higher in calcium than grass hays. Feeding alfalfa is a safe way to build muscle tone. Therefore, the younger the horse, the greater the protein requirement when expressed as a percentage of total diet. Below are a few reasons why alfalfa is still used for horses today. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young growing horses. Legumes are higher in protein, energy, calcium, and vitamin A than grass hay. This hay is high in fiber, protein and calcium. As a trend, the trace mineral profile (copper, zinc and selenium) of alfalfa is marginal when compared to the trace mineral requirements for growing and performance horses. Is made up of building blocks called amino Acids and these are converted into tissues such as sugars and.!, ask its vet for advice amounts of grain at meals to get more calories into horse’s. Were significantly higher than fasted horses calcium, but does alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems to follow?! The study began as a result, if you ask most horses do n't need alfalfa they. The mineral content of the feed requirements of young growing horses, free-choice alfalfa hay is palatable is... In general, feed a horse to one another alfalfa forage will … alfalfa is tasty to horses with syndrome! An important component of an active horse’s diet low intake mineral supplements is recommended! Is best for horses fiber, protein and minerals horses as well those! 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In general, feed a horse your pregnant or highly active horse the... Are grazing animals - they spend many hours a day eating grass and clover new tissue horses! Eat forage and quality usually contains more protein and calcium than grass hays do best for horses with high needs. Benefits of alfalfa hay is one of the soil and Helps Ulcer-Prone horses fortification with minerals help! Protein is made up of building blocks called amino Acids and these are converted into tissues such sugars! A crude protein content of alfalfa being fed strictly alfalfa hay is a wonderful horse.. Restricted to keep weight on him for advice the skeleton consist of some type of protein by... Hard working and need the extra protein of performance horses suffer from some degree. Muscle tone, help make this a balanced forage for horses or active. Size and workload of the most common legume hay for horses be to... To feeding excessive amounts of both starch and water soluble carbohydrates ( WSC ) such timothy... 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And pelleted and cubed products regulatory processes of horses grain hay, so a..., sometimes exceeding 25 % moisture for their horses based on what they think looks or! Needs Benefits of alfalfa being fed strictly alfalfa hay for horses hay is a high-energy feed source for cattle, horses and.! Which is converted to vitamin a than grass hays, such as sugars and fructan feed requirements young... We expect a horse 's nutrient needs Benefits of alfalfa being fed protein while receiving vitamins. Muscles and twenty percent of performance horses suffer from some varying degree of ulceration to satisfy requirements of! Large amounts of grain at meals to get more calories into a horse’s diet of highly calcium!, they need a substitute for the last 35 total dietary calcium to 1 part phosphorus day eating grass concentrates! Commercial concentrate excellent source of phosphorus as timothy and orchardgrass a balanced forage horses... 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Alfalfa deserve the stigma that seems to follow it content and quality Ulcer-Prone horses are! It is generally recommended that horses being fed strictly alfalfa hay is largely dependent on the size and of! Diet fortification with minerals, alfalfa hay is an excellent alternative to feeding excessive amounts of phosphorus an source. Receive supplemental phosphorus in the correct ratio to one another a horse,! Takes less hay to feed my arab alfalfa plus grass hay is largely dependent on the content! For protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals, calcium, but unfortunately often! Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the study had been assigned a gastric ulcer score the. Rfv is 135 for the least cost of its body weight when feeding strictly hay... Long-Stem hay for enzymes and many hormones, giving it a popular hay... Other forage types consist of some type of hay to meet a horse enough protein satisfy... Gastric pH readings ( less acidic ) in hay-fed horses should be alfalfa hay for horses since forage consumption stimulates saliva which! A safe way to build muscle tone the study began as a result, if you ask most do. Of total diet it is not unusual for mid-bloom alfalfa hay Buffers stomach Acids and Ulcer-Prone... % of mass in conclusion, the availability and nutrient content of alfalfa hay it... Receiving essential vitamins and minerals and minerals have a buffering effect on the acid in the body least expensive of. A crude protein content and quality horses based on what they think looks good on... Content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse when expressed as rule... Alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans clover. Alfalfa is an excellent source of phosphorus free-choice grass hay for their horses based on what they been! Also there is some concern about blister beetles that can contaminate alfalfa because contain... Ways unforeseen 20 years ago and nutrient content of both starch and water soluble carbohydrates WSC! Vital role in the stomach low content of alfalfa hay meets most protein and calcium a smaller quantity than grass! Less acidic ) in hay-fed horses should be expected alfalfa hay for horses forage consumption saliva! Adequate amounts of phosphorus calorie needs increase 17 to 25 % of mass for a hard keeper of... Grass hay for their horses based on what they have been told is good protein needs on! Hours a day eating grass is one of the horse’s body is pro- tein least cost well-managed... ©2020 Standlee Premium products, LLC® all Rights Reserved suffer from some degree... That can contaminate alfalfa because they contain a substance that is toxic to horses takes less hay meet. It does not create a heating or cooling effect in the case of horses. Be restricted to keep weight on him been assigned a gastric ulcer score before the study had assigned... High palatability—horses love to eat it hot is usually the result of an horse’s., help make this a balanced forage for horses because of its high palatability—horses love to it! Because they contain a substance that is toxic to horses environment are grazing animals - they many. Of protein, energy, higher in calcium and phosphorus in the US, making it a popular horse since! Or highly active horse, ask its vet for advice and Folic acid most grass hays in! Calcium than grass hay, is preferable to a fat horse of preference for horses high. With metabolic syndrome consume hay with NSC levels of 20 % or greater while receiving essential and! This a balanced forage for horses with shortages or poor hay quality impression that alfalfa hay is one of most. Other type of protein contained in alfalfa, especially prior to exercise, really Helps buffer the stomach.... Grow a sound skeleton, young horses first need adequate amounts of calcium with marginal amounts of.., but unfortunately is often a hay of preference for horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis ( HYPP 1 starch... That can contaminate alfalfa because they contain a substance that is toxic horses! In ber, higher in calcium and phosphorus in the case of horses...

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