Is alfalfa good for older horses?
Older horses often have difficulty eating hay because their teeth are either worn down or missing. Coleman has found that mixed grass-legume hay, such as orchard-alfalfa or timothy-alfalfa, is often a good choice.
What happens if a horse eats too much alfalfa?
He might even suffer from dehydration (due to extra sweating and increased urination from the alfalfa breakdown/flushing from the kidneys) and be more likely to experience heat stress. “Extra protein cannot be stored in the body like extra fat or carbohydrates and must be excreted,” says Duren.
Is alfalfa cubes bad for horses?
Alfalfa cubes can be used effectively as the sole source of roughage for all classes of horses. Because of the high nutrient values for energy, protein, calcium, and vitamins, alfalfa cubes are very effective in feeding programs for broodmares and young growing horses.
How do you feed alfalfa cubes to horses?
So if you’re feeding nothing but alfalfa cubes, you should feed 1.5 to 2 percent of the horse’s body weight per day. If you’re giving it in addition to hay and/or grain, the total of everything should add up to 1.5 to 2 percent of the horse’s body weight.
How long do alfalfa cubes last?
Heat processed feeds typically have a longer storage length (think hay or alfalfa pellets) due to the fact that the heat kills off some bacteria. Generally, experts accept that commercial pellets are viable for about six months.
How long should you soak alfalfa cubes?
Soaked alfalfa cubes are easier to eat, and they contain more nutrients than grass hay. Before feeding an older horse, soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they’re soft and soupy. If necessary, experiment with soaking methods and keep an eye on your horse’s feeding habits to find its preferred consistency.
Can alfalfa cubes replace hay?
Forage cubes can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio of the like hay type the horse currently consumes. For example, you would replace five pounds of alfalfa hay with five pounds of alfalfa cubes and adjust the amount if needed to maintain the animal’s proper weight.
How many alfalfa cubes do I eat?
How many alfalfa cubes do you feed a horse? It depends on a regular diet or feeding only Alfalfa. If you are feeding only Alfalfa cubes then 1.5 to 2% of body weight is enough. Additionally, if you are adding grain or hay then add 1.5 to 2% of total body weight including other diets.
What is an alternative to alfalfa?
Another option is to plant a forage type soybean. Research utilizing soybeans as forage is very limited. Forage soybean feed analysis indicate protein and fiber values to be nearly comparable to alfalfa: protein 18-20 percent, NDF 38-46 percent, and ADF 28-34 percent.
What is the difference between alfalfa hay and alfalfa pellets?
Is there a significant difference between the two? A: Nutrient-wise, alfalfa hay and alfalfa pellets are similar in content. The main difference between the two is the horse’s chew time when eating them. A horse will consume alfalfa pellets much faster than baled alfalfa.
Should you soak alfalfa pellets?
For those that struggle to chew, Alfalfa Pellets can be fed soaked prior to feeding. To soak Alfalfa Pellets you can use hot or cold water. Pellets MUST be soaked before feeding, as they expand considerably when mixed with water. Shreds can be fed dry or soaked.