You can feed two types of hay to horses with a few precautions and moderation. the cubes than for long-stem alfalfa hay. Alfalfa had the highest yield at 6.9 tons per acre in comparison to perennial ryegrass (3.2 tons per acre) and teff (2.8 tons per acre). Also, alfalfa hay generally provides a high content of digestible protein along with quality sources of energy, Calcium, Magnesium, and Vitamin A. Table 1. However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. For a start, alfalfa contains almost twice as much protein as grass hay as much as 15%, which is more protein than most concentrate mixes offer. Analyses of Timothy hay harvested at several stages of maturity are shown in Figure 1. Alfalfa contains between 15 22% crude protein. Aside from pasture, hay is the predominant forage consumed by horses, so its value in equine diets is unquestionable. Also, the ratio of calcium minerals to phosphorus is 2 to 1. Nutritional value. In 17.5 pounds of grass, hay provides 15.75 mega calories of digestible energy, 14 pounds of crude protein, and 39 grams of calcium. 2-2.5% is the general rule. 4 ALFALFA Total dry Forage Concentrate Class of horse matter intake (lb) intake (lb) intake (lb) Smith says that many factors can impact the levels of protein, energy and minerals, including harvest conditions and maturity. In a pasture setting, says Martinson, horses can graze alfalfa in So, if Alfalfa Hay Selection for Horses. Is It Okay to Feed Moldy Hay to My Horse? of hay per day. Pound for pound, alfalfa and clover hay have the highest energy and nutritional value of all the hay types. Expect your animal to get 8% of proteins but 32% of fiber content. Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Grass hay is a long hollow stem that can grow up to 60 inches tall with leaves that can grow up to 17 inches long. Moreover, alfalfa is packed with minerals, particularly calcium. of hay per day. 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 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 pregnant or lactating mares. DrO: Member: Hwood: Posted on Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 - 8:59 am: Alfalfa hay is a very digestible feed source that is high in protein, energy, vitamins and minerals. If Bermuda grass is harvested in a mature state, it also becomes harder to digest. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy. Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, and Vitamin A. Alfalfas nutritional value remains relatively constant whether a horse eats it two months or two years post-harvest. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. Its mixed with a little molasses to make it tasty and the fat is super low at 1.5% so the horse wont gain too much weight. Have the hay tested to determine its nutrient content. Basically, it has comfortable protein and sugar levels for most all horses, is new and is generally less expensive than all other grass hay Here is a link to read about it and understand the analysis. Feeding alfalfa hay as half of a horses roughage will meet this need. It has a rather low protein content compared to, for instance, alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of highly available calcium, but unfortunately is often a poor source of phosphorus. Alfalfa hay can be used to provide energy, good quality protein and a source of fibre to the diet of a performance horse; however, it must be used in moderation. Alfalfa Hay is also higher in Calcium, with about 3 times as much as Grass Hay. The types of hay we work with that are the most common are: Grass hay and legume hay. Most nutritionists agree that exceeding the protein and calcium requirements is not harmful for normal healthy horses. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. Alfalfa is an excellent source of protein and energy, according to Wright. The amount of protein supplied by alfalfa can go a long way toward satisfying the high protein requirements of young growing horses. The average Arizona horse consumes about 3.5 tons of hay annually, thus our horses use between 35-38% of the total hay produced in our state. Of course, hay kept in storage for a long time will lose its field-fresh smell, but that will not affect its protein or energy nutritional value. Its also higher in calories and lower in fiber than grass hay. Alfalfa hay analysis will vary depending on the time of year the alfalfa hay was harvested, the soil conditions in which it was grown, etc., but an average alfalfa hay analysis will be around this range: Alfalfa Hay Analysis (average) Crude Protein 15.0% 22.0% Crude Fiber 25.0% Non Structural Carb (NSC) 8.75% 13.25% The biggest benefit of alfalfa for horses is that it tends to be more nutrient-dense than most grasses when harvested at the same stage of maturity, says Martinson. It typically contains more digestible energy, more crude protein and calcium, and fewer nonstructural carbohydrates (sugars and starches). How much alfalfa should I feed my horse a day? How much alfalfa hay do you feed a 1,200 pound horse and how often? Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. Which is better alfalfa pellets or hay? Youre faced with the choice of offering your horse alfalfa pellets or hay. Its been thought that a long-stem forage source was a better form of forage to feed than a smaller particle size. Oat hay also has a higher Magnesium level, with low Calcium. Alfalfa is especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high caloric value and horses love to eat it. When compared to alfalfa cut at the same level of maturity as oat hay, oat hay is lower in crude protein and lower in digestible energy. Long-term storage does increase the dryness of hay in some instances. Blister beetles contain a toxin that can be fatal to horses. Horse Nutrition: Alfalfa hay for horses is a very rich horse feed containing ample protein, beta carotene, chlorophyll and trace minerals. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added. It is a blend of timothy, oat and alfalfa hay chopped really short for easier chewing and digestibility. It must be noted here, the horses high fiber need can only be filled with hay, haylage, and grass. Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. The price is the same as the Oat & Alfalfa and the straight Alfalfa Cubes. Alfalfa Cubes are formed by coarsely grinding Premium Colorado Sun Cured Long Stem Alfalfa and forcing it through a large dye. Alfalfa Hay is also higher in Calcium, with about 3 times as much as Grass Hay. During certain times of year, hay may be the only forage available to horses and therefore the selection of well-preserved hay harvested at the appropriate stage of maturity is critical. However, it lacks in terms of energy levels, calcium, and vitamin A content. Alfalfa is nutritionally dense. It contains high levels of calcium, as well as magnesium, potassium, iron, phosphorus, lysine, vitamin C, vitamin K, and folic acid. Alfalfa helps slow down sugar absorption into the blood. This can make it a useful dietary addition to the feed for metabolic horses if they can tolerate it. Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. Like Bermuda, its a good grass hay candidate for your horses. This can become important when considering the ideal Calcium:Phosphorus ratio for horses, which should be about 2:1. The Calcium in Alfalfa is higher, but the Continue reading >>. For growing horses, a diet consisting of both grass and legume hays is best. Alfalfa contains between 15 22% crude protein. Many horse owners purchase bales alfalfa and bales grass hay. I Grass hay falls short of meeting the nutrient requirements of high production life stages, but is an excellent filler for horses that require bulk in the diet. Many different types of analyses are available, and the cost can range from $10-20 per sample to more than $100. Clean, dust free alfalfa can be a useful hay for horses if it is fed with an understanding of its nutrient value and nutrient needs of various types of horses. An excellent source of protein and roughage for all classes of horses and large livestock. To eliminate mold commonly found in hay bales, West Chester, Pa., equine veterinarian Frank Reilly suggests flash soaking tearing pieces of hay off of the bale, putting them in a hay net and then under a heavy rock in a bucket of water for 10 minutes. It should not be fed straight to horses. 1kg of dry matter forage would be approximately 1.22kg of hay, 2.5kg of haylage and 4kg of grass (from grazing, not a bag). Horse owners should be aware that alfalfa hay has been associated with a few problems in horses. However, if the alfalfa has an extremely high calcium:phosphorus ratio (over 6:1), the only way to significantly affect the calcium:phosphorus ratio in the diet is to replace at least half the alfalfa with grass hay. But some farmers do use alfalfa cubes to feed horses. Its also higher in calories and lower in fiber than grass hay. A good-quality grass hay may meet most of the adult horse's basic nutritional needs. chewing.Because these diets use alfalfa hay as the forage source, they provide more protein and calcium than are required for recreational horses. Published December, 2011. Alfalfa is especially helpful for a hard keeper because of its high caloric value and horses love to eat it. That being said, the horse needs to eat more pounds of dry matter per day to meet it's requirements. However, it lacks fiber compared to first and second cuttings, and horses need a lot of fiber, plus it can be difficult for them to digest. Oat hay has a high vitamin A content- 10 pounds of oat hay per day can meet a mature horses vitamin A needs. Alfalfa hay is usually the highest in protein and energy, with 15-22% crude protein. This feed has more fiber. The best way to know the nutritional quality of Timothy hay is to take a representative sample from the hay lot and send it to a laboratory for a guaranteed analysis. Quality alfalfa hay has high protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. However, Martinson does not recommend adding calories. ProElite Alfalfa Advantage Diet Balancer, while lower in protein and calcium than ProElite Grass Advantage, is important in predominately alfalfa hay diets to meet the essential amino acid, trace mineral and vitamin needs of these horse. It is also lower in nutritional value but has good amounts of vitamins A and D, calcium, and phosphorous. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. The simple answer is no, since alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, calories, calcium and Vitamin A for horses. In a subsequent feeding study, we compared a ration of alfalfa hay to a ration of alfalfa hay and corn oil. So we often mix the horses who receive legumes and look for a low sugar grass hay to go with it. It also contains more calories per pound and a reasonable balance of calcium and phosphorous levels. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of protein, both in content and quality. Alfalfa is also rich in horse should be above 1 lb of hay for each 100 lb of body weight. Again, this is a good thing as horses on restricted diets are unlikely to eat this hay as fast as more palatable hays like alfalfa, so they should eat for longer periods of time for lower calorie intake. Armed with this new information, adding more flakes of hay to the daily ration put the horse right back on track. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. Forage selection should be based on horse needs, as there is no one forage best suited for all classes of horses. Alfalfa hay has 120% the calorie content of most grass hay. Protein is essential for both the growth and repair of Its important to be aware of this possible deficiency when feeding horses hay that is more than a year old; a vitamin A supplement may be needed. However, they grazed the horses on perennial ryegrass 5 times throughout the grazing season and teff 3 times. Alfalfa is the most popular type of legume hay fed to horses, followed by clover hay. Nutritional Value: Guaranteed Analysis. It is clear that the nutritional value of quality alfalfa hay make it a valuable addition to equine diets. Pure alfalfa hay, as found in second cut hay, can have protein levels up to and exceeding 18 percent protein. Therefore 14lb of forage if there's no grass, is the minimum for a horse of 926lb. Calories Per Pound: Green Pasture: 245: Orchard Grass Hay: 872: Alfalfa Hay : 977: Timothy Hay : 804: Alfalfa Pellets : 970: Corn : 1,536: Premium Oats : 1,250: Beet Pulp : 1,059: Farr Maintain : 1,800: Compete : 1,500: Youth : 1,400: Equine Shine (Rice Bran) 1,600 Should horses eat alfalfa? Understanding Harvest Stages on Nutritional Value Cubed feed for larger livestock. For example, providing a nutrient-dense forage like vegetative alfalfa hay to easy keepers can create obesity issues; however, that same hay would be good option for a performance Hay of the third cutting is thick, green, and very nutritious, containing more legumes and high protein and fat content. Teff Grass is proving to be an excellent replacement for the more expensive Timothy Hay. Excess protein in the diet of working horses and particularly those that are stabled can be detrimental to their health and performance. Hi, Horses need a minimum of 1.5% bwt/day in forage. The roots of the alfalfa plant can reach 100 feet into the ground so it can reach minerals that are absent in shallow soils. of hay per day. These levels are a bit low for its daily needs of digestible energy, and to hit its daily requirements; you need to supplement its diet with grain, more grass hay, or alfalfa. When acreage is very limited (less than an acre per horse), exercise may be the main pasture use. Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy. The leaves of grass hay have more nutrients and are more digestible when the plant is immature and growing, and more fiber when the plant has reached full growth. Research with alfalfa cubes has shown that cubes are effective as the forage component in horse diets. Horses fed to appetite consumed 17 to 25% more cubed alfalfa than long-stem hay. To grow a sound skeleton, young horses first need adequate amounts of both calcium and phosphorus. Good-quality hay is an important component of a horse's diet, particularly in the winter when fresh pasture is not available. *The average grazing rate of grass is 0.5-0.6kg dry matter per hour, assuming sufficient growth is present. The use of alfalfa hay in horse diets is usually touted; however, negative and incorrect information is out there. Legume hay, specifically alfalfa, tends to contain up to three times more calcium than grass hay. 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. Pregnant and The net energy of milk production of alfalfa hay in the first and full bloom stages is 1.23 and 1.68 Mcal/kg, which is close to medium energy feed. Alfalfa forage is moderately high in protein, calories, and digestible fiber and is low in sugar. If pasture is a feed source, horses with a mature weight of 1,000 to 1,200 pounds generally need the following amount of pasture: mare and foal, 1.75 to 2 acres; year-lings, 1.5 to 2 acres; and weanlings, 0.5 to 1 acre. Alfalfa is a legume hay and is possibly one of the most well-known types of legume hay. They contain twice as much protein, three times the calcium and have the highest vitamin content. Many years ago, oats were introduced in However, alfalfa cubes must be limit-fed, as voluntary intake is much greater for. Cleanliness of the hay, nutrient value, palatability and cost are all important. A horses need for protein is relatively low and is easy to meet with alfalfa. High-quality (dairy) alfalfa supplies 20 to 25 percent more calories per pound than grass hays, although the difference is much smaller for more mature cuts of alfalfa. Alfalfa hay may not be the best feed for all horses in all situations, but it contains nutrients needed for many classes of horses. Alfalfa should be mixed with other grass hays. Other hays grown in our state contributed in excess of 100,000 tons of annual production. Martinson says that a horse with insulin resistance or overweight needs to eat a lower-sugar hay (the Alfalfa). 1. Diet balancers, while very dense in their protein, vitamins and minerals, are lower in calories themselves. Adult horses require 10 to 11 percent crude protein in their overall diet, while growing horses require 12 to 14 percent, he says. Third Cutting. This blog post is courtesy of Jennifer Earing, PhD, University of Minnesota. So a 500kg horse would need to eat, per day, roughly: 15.25kg of hay 31.25kg of haylage 50kg of grass*. U.S., with Arizona hay producers contributing about 1.3 million tons of this alfalfa. Moreover, alfalfa is packed with minerals, particularly calcium. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. Horses in this study ate 1.5% to 1.8% of their bodyweight in teff hay, with the lower intakes being on the more mature hay. So, if you want to give your horse, rabbits, or other animals more roughage, then you should pick on Timothy hay. One way to evaluate hay quality is to have your hay analyzed. Feeding alfalfa hay as half of a horses roughage will meet this need. The roots of the alfalfa plant can reach 100 feet into the ground so it can reach minerals that are absent in shallow soils. The excess protein in alfalfa is broken down into carbohydrates and used as an energy source. Generally alfalfa is a good hay to feed horses, but there are caveats: However, from a practical standpoint, its best to feed alfalfa hay mixed with grass hay. As long as your horse is working at light levels, it benefits from eating small portions of alfalfa hay. But too much alfalfa can cause serious health issues. However, grass hay meets the nutrition needs of the majority of horses while also making them feel full without excessive calories or energy. Heavily pregnant or lactating mares, and young rapidly growing horses, benefit from alfalfas high protein content. It might not be as high in fiber as Alfalfa hay but still, timothy hay is considered the second great source of fiber for horses. When choosing, or producing, hay for horses, several factors should be considered. For a start, alfalfa contains almost twice as much protein as grass hay as much as 15%, which is more protein than most concentrate mixes offer. The average adult horse requires 10-11% crude protein in their overall diet. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay but its also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. Even the timothy hay overdose is not harmful, the high fiber dose, balanced protein, and high energy content make it easily digestible. Dry hay tends to be more brittle, so more may be wasted during feeding. This added heat can impair the horses ability to dissipate heat. Protein, Fiber, and Sugars. If you want her to gain weight, she needs more. I really dont know why more growers arent seeding with this. What are the pros and cons of choosing teff hay for horses? For horses with high protein needs, Bermuda hay is not the best option. To avoid a big hay belly or to provide supplemental energy for work and protein, alfalfa cubes are generally available everywhere at the feed store. If your horse is having digestive or metabolic problems, Teff Combination Cubes may be a good option for you. nutrient value and palatability. Now the mixture is ready to feed. We will In some parts of the U.S., a small percentage of horses fed alfalfa hay have developed intestinal stones. And the good news? Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. Alfalfa hay is high in energy. Yes they are 35% Teff Grass and 65% Alfalfa. The nutritional value of hay is related to leaf content. Hay that is high in dust or mold can irritate the horses respiratory tract. Grass Hay for Horses. Alfalfa cubes provide horses the same nutritional benefits as alfalfa hay in a much more convenient form; their high protein content and palatability make them an excellent choice for horses in many stages of life and at different workload levels. 1 Flake Alfalfa hay 3lb@ x 4 flakes per day = 12 pounds per day x 1000 calories = 12Mcal (12,000 calories) With that simple change in hay, she had cut her horses caloric intake by 4,000 calories per day over the past month. Underweight horses benefit from eating a higher percentage of alfalfa hay. With the exception of milking mares, most 66- to 122- pound horses need from to 1 pound of digestible protein daily. Due to alfalfa's high protein and mineral content, your horse will likely drink more water when being fed this legume. These legumes make a good feed choice for growing foals, pregnant and lactating mares, as they have higher nutritional needs during this period in their lives. This is the reasoning behind "alfalfa makes my horse hot." Many native or prairie grass hays contain just 6 to 8 percent. This can become important when considering the ideal Calcium:Phosphorus ratio for horses, which should be about 2:1. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. A. Teff is a warm-season annual grass originally developed and grown in Ethiopia as a grain. "The nutritional value will be depended on the stage of maturity the crop was at harvest" Coleman said. This has real benefits for gastric health as it is one of the qualities that means alfalfa is a natural buffer to acidity in the horses stomach. But alfalfa also isnt for every horsewhen making a decision about whether to incorporate alfalfa into your feeding program, its important to be informed about its strengths and weaknesses. Performance horses in training and competition. It sounds like you are watching body condition and would adjust the feeding rate according to the body condition. It is not unusual for mid-bloom alfalfa hay to have a crude protein content of 17% or greater. Alfalfa is also a popular horse hay since it is widely available. Horse Nutrition: Alfalfa hay for horses is a very rich horse feed containing ample protein, beta carotene, chlorophyll and trace minerals. Studies have shown this reduces the organic dust count, he says. For more on this see Care for Horses Nutrition Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses. Protein metabolism creates more heat than fat or carbohydrate metabolism. Next, the young horse requires calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio to one another. A mixed grass/alfalfa mix is a good choice if your horse doesnt require the high nutritional value of pure alfalfa. This is especially true for warm season grasses such as Bermuda. Horses can graze legume pastures and obtain the same nutritional benefits as they would eating legume hay. But in general, Horses consume approximately 11/2-2 lbs of alfalfa pellets per day, depending on their size, body, and capacity. It has a Calcium: Phosphorus ratio of approximately 1.3:1 (with 1.6:1 being the ideal). Good alfalfa can be 18-20% protein and 55% TDN or energy. Alfalfa hay that may be contaminated with blister beetles should not be fed to horses. With the exception of milking mares, most 66- to 122- pound horses need from to 1 pound of digestible protein daily. A fortified grain concentrate can be used to supplement the ration, increasing its energy, protein, vitamin and mineral content. The nutrients provided by rhizoma peanut hay meet the nutritional needs of horses at maintenance, while resulting in less nitrogen excretion than alfalfa.. Alfalfa is also rich in vitamin k and bioflavanoids. As the colder weather settles in, many of our forages will lose nutritional value. The researchers concluded that rhizoma peanut is a high-quality legume hay for horses providing nutrient intake and digestibility intermediate between alfalfa and bermudagrass. Mature horses require 10 to 12 percent CP (crude protein) in their diets. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. This means that alfalfa plants can take up more calcium than grass chopped alfalfa contains between 30 and 50% more calcium than grass forages. Recently, theres been minimal information regarding the effects of particle size and buffering capacity of alfalfa on the horse stomach lining.
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