If you feed a well balanced diet with Alfalfa, it should not make your horse hot. The most important thing to remember is what is best for your particular horse. It can be really rich so they need to get used to it. Alfalfa is also a popular horse hay since it is widely available. Alfalfa hay can also be useful in the diets of horses with insulin resistance. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. When selecting a hay, you want to look into those specific amounts. It can also be fed to baby buns less than a year old and used to entice even the pickiest little bunny to eat their greens. Most horses will readily consume alfalfa hay. Timothy is nutritious for a grass hay, which might make up for some of the costs associated with it. If you have a horse who doesn't get ridden that often and isn't competed on, grass may be the better option for them because they don't need the energy/nutrition boost. Grass hay is only 10.85% protein and 12.9% simple starches. If you have an older horse who is retired and not worked regularly, Alfalfa may be too rich of a feed for them because they do not exercise as much as the performance horse. I also chose this option because I am highly allergic to straight alfalfa. The two most common are Timothy and Orchard grass. Alfalfa hay is high in good-quality protein. 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. Horse Hay Alfalfa + Orchard or Timothy - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Ive always heard that the best horse hay is about a 50/50 mixture of alfalfa and grass, but which grass is best, timothy or orchard grass? One thing to watch out for is it can be more dangerous to feed grass to a horse that is overweight or prone to laminitis because of how much they consume. It’s also usually quite expensive! For example, Alfalfa contains 21.2% protein and 11% simple starches. Timothy is a great everyday hay for adult buns, while alfalfa hay should only be fed as a treat hay because of its high levels of calcium and fat. Overall, grass lacks in nutrients, but it is a very common choice among horse owners. It is also very crucial, no matter what you choose to feed, you feed it in a healthy portion. It is basically the same as someone who goes to the gym a lot. It is the preferred forage for horses that are at risk for laminitis and other metabolic maladies, as well as obese horses. Many believe that the nutritional quality of first-cutting timothy hay is inferior to the second cutting. Heavily pregnant or lactating mares, and young rapidly growing horses, benefit from alfalfa's high protein content. Mon - Sat 10:00am - 5:00pm The calcium may be higher in Alfalfa, but the Phosphorus is about the same as grass. Each horse is like each person. Earlier, I had talked about the percentage of protein in Alfalfa at 21.2%. Alfalfa pellets tend to be a bit drier (depending on the weather when and where they were made) so I soak them for 5 hours to get them to completely break down. It contains more nutrients than grass hay including protein, calcium, and energy. Forage (hay/pasture) makes up 60-100% of the diet for horses, depending on their function and activity. Legume hays (alfalfa and clover) contain 12% to 20% protein. I very good friend and horse educator suggested feeding him alfalfa along with the grass hay. However, because of its high palatability, intake must be restricted to keep horses from overeating and becoming colicky. Protein in hay varies depending on the type and maturity level of the hay when it is cut. Besides, grass is the correct feed for horses over alfalfa, but some may argue that point. Posted by Lynnsy Johnson - Saddle Up on Feb 27th 2020. Id like to hear the pros and cons for each choice. Its low protein, high fiber, and high energy content make it easily digestible. Or at least that is my goal in life. Quality alfalfa hay has high protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. Myth:The high protein in alfalfa causes osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a joint disease of young horses. This same horse had laminitis about 6 yrs ago from too much alfalfa in our field but seems to be doing just fine having it more as a supplement. Horses evolved as a grazing animal, which means that they are meant to nibble on small amounts of food over the course of an entire day, and most of this food should be in the form of roughage, or hay. Our blend of timothy alfalfa hay is easy to digest thanks to the highly digestible nature of timothy and the ulcer buffering property of alfalfa. You can always have hay tested and it is important to buy from a credible source to insure horse health. Timothy is a cool season grass, and many horse owners feed timothy as it’s easy for horses … High-alfalfa/low-grain diets have been linked to the formation of enteroliths (“stones”) in the intestinal tract, which can cause colic and may need to be surgically removed. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. This works for alfalfa, timothy, or orchard grass pellets. Alfalfa hay has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. I planted my field in straight alfalfa last fall and the field is looking good so far this year. If you are torn on the subject, you can always feed a grass/alfalfa mix. I have had two choking incidences with two different senior horses on hay pellets. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. – It could be a nutritional deficiency, Communication: What Your Dog Is Trying To Tell You. Hay for Horses. Alfalfa hay is so packed with nutrients that you feed smaller portions to your horse. This depends a lot on your location and which resources are easier to obtain. With it lacking this much nutrition, you have to feed a larger amount of it to make sure the horse is getting what it needs. Horses need fibre, lots and lots and lots of fibre. Calcium and phosphorus are strongly linked in their functions in the body. My horses benefit from the Alfalfa but the mixture helps me be able to handle it better. People can have different opinions, but it all comes down to what is the right decision for your horse. There are many different types of grass hay in the world. Forage for horses can be divided into two categories—grasses and legumes. Both options have pro's and con's. Let's get started! People not familiar [READ ABOUT: Enteroliths] Alfalfa Myths vs. Facts. Alfalfa vs. Grass Hay - Which is better for my horse? https://www.mvsequine.com/the-hay-wars-the-truth-about-grass-hay-vs-alfalfa-hay/?fbclid=IwAR24wAGpAeOmdpHIae_-SCA6b7kZG8BZyoIIY7yBXiDo_AEozZiER5HUGsU, https://emsvet.com/feeding-grass-vs-alfalfa-hay/, (picture credit: https://lifedatalabs.com/blog/tag/best-hay-for-horses/?fbclid=IwAR0HIMTijrZy3CyNUAB0y-xyjdP4wxqsrrD2nut21p41NQO9QeyqjdudVDU), Mon-Sat 10:00am-6:00pm This type of grass hay is just about as delicious as alfalfa. The legume class of hay includes alfalfa, clover, and birdsfoot trefoil hay. For example, Alfalfa contains 21.2% protein and 11% simple starches. What kind to buy? It makes your horse feel full, but it doesn't really add weight to them. https://lifedatalabs.com/blog/tag/best-hay-for-horses/?fbclid=IwAR0HIMTijrZy3CyNUAB0y-xyjdP4wxqsrrD2nut21p41NQO9QeyqjdudVDU. Something that can also be dangerous is grass has more Carbohydrates which can add to an overweight problem or different health problems. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. An ideal hay for easy keepers will be in the higher end of these ranges. It made a huge difference very quickly. Certain regions can produce hay easier than others. They nibble on small amounts of food throughout the day. Obviously, horses need calcium, but too much can be unhealthy. As I said earlier, if the ratio is off it can cause an imbalance. Closed Tuesdays Another concern is the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio being correct. Another thing to consider is how many different types of hay are out there and how that particular hay was stored, cut, and processed. Due to its low protein levels, Timothy hay can be fed regularly to satisfy appetite without excess calories and protein, and in some cases provides enough protein for less active and stabled horses. Horses can do well on grass or alfalfa (or other legume) hay. Timothy hay is used most often as cattle and horse feed. types of hay for horses – Legume Hay. Sometimes people feed it in large amounts, like you would grass hay and with all the energy/nutrients, it will make your horse hot. I personally go this route because I have performance horses who need the boost and a retired gelding who is a hard keeper. In some places, the climate can make it difficult to grow hay and therefore they have a shortage. If the hay has an NDF above 65% and an ADF above 45% it will provide little nutrient value to your horse. There are some factors to consider when choosing the right feed for your horse and we will chat about it today. 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. ... “If you had a pile of teff, a pile of timothy, and a pile of alfalfa, the teff tends to have less NSCs—but not always,” she says. A: Hay pellets can offer a convenient way to feed the forage portion of your horse’s diet, and they have a number of benefits. Although alfalfa hay is often higher in total energy content than grass hays, most of the energy in alfalfa hay is from digestible protein and fiber, rather than from sugars, starches and fructans. This is because they are worked regularly and they need more nutrients/energy to stay healthy with all their exercise. Alfalfa has 3 times more calcium … Hay hay and more hay. Timothy hay is an excellent source of roughage for equine diets. Alfalfa has lower indigestible fiber than grass hays. Sundays 12:00pm - 4:00pm. Alfalfa has 3 times more calcium then grass hay. With the larger portion you have to feed, some horses may stand at their feeder all day and gorge themselves which can turn into a bigger problem. I think the biggest con about grass hay is its lack of nutrients. Alfalfa hay is high in energy. Sign up for the lastest news, sales, and clinics! 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