What is the best hay mixture for horses?
The ideal mix of hay for your horse will depend on your horse’s nutritional requirements. Timothy-Alfalfa, Orchardgrass-Alfalfa, and Timothy-Orchardgrass-Alfalfa mixes are very popular since they have the added energy boost of a legume.
Is timothy or alfalfa better for horses?
Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. While other feeds such as Alfalfa hay can meet energy requirements of horses in high levels of products, low nutritional concentrations of Timothy hay are ideal for many life stages.
How much alfalfa should I feed my horse?
Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy.
Can I feed my horse straight alfalfa?
Horses can successfully consume alfalfa, a good source of fibre and. protein. They can graze it in pastures or eat it as hay. Myth: Do not feed straight alfalfa to young, growing horses.
Why alfalfa is bad for horses?
The high calcium content of alfalfa causes an imbalanced calcium/phosphorus ratio if not corrected by other feeds or supplements. Most adult horses seem to tolerate this, but it’s not ideal for pregnant mares and growing horses.
What are the benefits of feeding alfalfa to horses?
Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. Its concentrations of protein and calcium meet the nutrient needs of horses in high levels of production, such as growth and lactation, but exceed the nutrient requirements of horses in other life stages.
Can alfalfa hay cause colic in horses?
Rich alfalfa hay can also cause colic, so we recommend feeding a grass hay or grass/alfalfa mix. Changes in management or a horse’s routine can be stressful and contribute to colic risk as well. Intestinal parasites can lead to colic, particularly in the young horse.
Does alfalfa make horses pee more?
Because alfalfa is high in protein and because excess protein will normally be converted to urea, a horse that gets more than its share will urinate more than usual. Alfalfa is also higher in calcium than grass hays.