How much alfalfa should i eat

Heavily pregnant or lactating mares, and young rapidly growing horses, benefit from alfalfa's high protein content. Alfalfa is also a rich source of calcium. Cubed and pelleted alfalfa tends to be very high quality. It is harvested before it becomes too mature so that the cubes and pellets hold together well. The major quality issue to be concerned with is overheating during processing, which will damage the protein.

Pellets and cubes should be green, not brown or black on the outside. Myth : The high protein in alfalfa causes osteochondritis dissecans OCD , a joint disease of young horses.

Fact : High protein does not cause OCD. Rather, low protein is a risk factor for OCD. What's true, though, is that the very unbalanced mineral profile in alfalfa could contribute to OCD. Myth : The high calcium in alfalfa can prevent OCD and other bone problems in developing horses. Fact : Calcium is important to developing bone, but so is phosphorus, magnesium, protein, and the trace minerals.

Adequate mineral levels, in correct proportions, is the key. Myth : Alfalfa's high protein causes kidney problems. Fact : High protein is not harmful to the kidneys. However, extra protein is metabolized to ammonia, which must be excreted by the kidneys. To handle this extra demand, the horse will drink more water and make more urine. Myth : Alfalfa's high protein makes a horse "hot. Myth : Alfalfa causes heaves or allergies. Fact : Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay.

Molds growing in the bales can cause respiratory tract symptoms, but the same molds can--and do--grow in any type of hay. Fact : Grass hays can be high in potassium too. In fact, depending on when they were cut, they could be even higher. The Downside Insulin-resistant horses prone to laminitis may be sensitive to alfalfa.

The cause isn't entirely clear, but it may be related to alfalfa having more sugar in the form of glucose, and higher starch. Most adult horses seem to tolerate this, but it's not ideal for pregnant mares and growing horses. The high calcium also causes hormonal shifts that make it difficult for the horse to rapidly mobilize calcium from bone stores in times of need.

This can cause "thumps" or muscular problems in horses working hard, or weakness and muscular problems in mares when they first start to produce milk. Due to alfalfa's high protein content, excess protein will be burned as a fuel and the waste is eliminated in the urine as urea, which is convert- ed to ammonia.

Horses will drink more, leading to wetter and smellier stalls. Alfalfa can be trickier to cure and bale than grass hays. It needs a low enough moisture level so that it doesn't mold, without being put up so dry that all its leaves shatter and fall off. Grazing on an alfalfa pasture requires the same precautions as feeding alfalfa hay, plus some additional considerations.

For example, digestive upsets may be an even bigger problem, especially in the spring and fall when wide temperature swings can lead to rapid changes in the composition of the plant. And unlimited access to such a highly palatable food as alfalfa may lead to significant weight gain. Having an alfalfa-grass mixed pasture may not help much because there's a good chance that the horses will seek out and eat the alfalfa first, exclusively.

Alfalfa is prone to have more "fines" broken, crumbled leaves that fall out when you open the bale. Since this is where the bulk of the nutrition is, this can be a considerable loss. Try putting your alfalfa bale on an empty feed bag before you open the bale, and feed the small pieces that fall out in the feed trough or bucket.

For the horse who might have some respiratory sensitivities, fines can be mixed into a meal or wet down slightly, but, in general, the particles are much too large to actually be inhaled into the lungs. Not the Perfect Food, but … In summary, while alfalfa isn't a complete, "whole" food for horses, it doesn't have to be avoided either-if you make it a point to balance your horse's diet so he's getting everything he needs in the right amounts. There are many horses who need extra calcium or protein in their diets, and alfalfa is an excellent natural source of those nutrients.

Because of its taste appeal, higher digestibility, and the fact it is easier to chew, it is often a valuable addition to the diet of sick horses or senior horses. Any links on this page that lead to products on Amazon are affiliate links and I earn a commission if you make a purchase. Thanks in advance — I really appreciate it!

Most horse owners I know feed their horses alfalfa daily. Should you feed your horse alfalfa? The answer to this question is not a cut-and-dry one. Feeding alfalfa hay is good for horses that have difficulty putting and keeping on weight and for those in training. Alfalfa is bad for fast-growing young horses and ones with liver or kidney problems. Everyone wants to feed their horses, so they stay healthy, fit, and happy, and alfalfa could play a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Alfalfa is an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals essential for good health, such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. But it can be expensive to feed your horse this high-quality food, and although alfalfa has many benefits, it can also cause problems if not fed correctly or in the right amount. Alfalfa is a nutrient-dense forage containing crude proteins, calcium, and high-quality fiber without a lot of sugars.

These qualities make it excellent hay to feed underweight horses. Alfalfa aids horses with muscle weakness and reduces tying up caused by their high protein needs.

However, feeding alfalfa to young horses is tricky because too much protein causes bone growth abnormalities. I suggest consulting your vet before feeding alfalfa to a young horse. There are some downsides to feeding some horses alfalfa hay. Like I mentioned above, alfalfa is good for working horses, but the opposite is true for non-working horses. Alfalfa will fatten horses not burning the excess calories in alfalfa.

The heat requires horses to sweat more, drink more, and urinate. Also aim for a good leaf-to-stem ratio most of the nutrients are in the leaves; the stems are more fibrous.

To determine the nutrient content of any hay, have it tested. Maturity, harvest conditions, soil conditions, and more can affect protein, energy, and mineral levels, says Smith. Poisonous weeds that sometimes grow in alfalfa fields include ragwort, groundsels, Johnson grass, Sudangrass, water hemlock, and hoary alyssum. To steer clear of these, buy hay from a reputable person or company that knows how to grow alfalfa weed-free.

Your feed salesman, veterinarian, and nutritionist can help you put together a balanced ration and recommend for or against feeding this forage. Heather Smith Thomas ranches with her husband near Salmon, Idaho, raising cattle and a few horses. She has a B. She has raised and trained horses for 50 years, and has been writing freelance articles and books nearly that long, publishing 20 books and more than 9, articles for horse and livestock publications.

Besides having her own blog, www. All About Feeding Horses Alfalfa Learn more about alfalfa and whether this leafy green legume is a good choice for your horse. Favorite Share:. How much do you really know about this leafy green legume? Which Horses Benefit From Alfalfa? Beware of Blister Beetles The three-striped blister beetle is one species attracted to alfalfa blossoms. About The Author.

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