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Pros/cons of feeding alfalfa? | | Published by: wktd 2009-01-07 |
| i know that it has high calcium which is good for ulcers but bad for kidneys, and that is has alot of protien...and can also cause founder. i am thinking of starting my horse on maybe a lb a day...what are the pros and cons that you know of? any problems feeding it?
A horse doesn't need to eat as much alfalfa to get the same nutrients as is found in grass hay. This is a pro and a con. A horse's digestive system is designed to have food moving through it nearly continuously. If they don't have enough roughage they are at higher risk for gastric ulcers. On the flip side feeding too much alfalfa can make the horse sick with laminitis and other conditions. If you choose to feed alfalfa feed it in addition to plenty of quality grass hay. My horses are on coastal bermuda grass hay free choice from Oct - Mar and pasture from April - Sept. I do not feed alfalfa regularly. I sometimes buy mixed alfalfa/coastal bales and feed as a supplement when my pasture is poor due to drought or other conditions. Allowing for plenty of turnout (12 hours a day) and plenty of roughage (hay or pasture) your horses will be happier and healthier. My horses rarely have health issues, I've never had a case of laminitis or gastric ulcers and I've only had 2 horses colic. One was due to health issues not related to feed and the other was because I stupidly allowed my elderly mare free choice on the hay bale for 36 hours without a break in cold weather. Too much hay + not enough water intake = vet bills. I want to know what are the pros and cons to feeding alfalfa ::
Pet question: I want to know what are the pros and cons to feeding alfalfa or bermuda grass? What is the sugar contint of both? What is an ideal feed.
http://www.justanswer.com/questions/t1li-want-know-pros-cons-feedingHOME |
Normally i would just feed a flake of grass hay morning and night and then a flake of alfalfa like 2-4hrs after they eat dinner because giving alfalfa is like giving us a candy bar you can't have a candy bar w/ your cereal every morning. Its like a extra treat to stay warm and munch on when its past their dinner and there is nothing to do in a stall. You definitely don't want to over feed that stuff. Well hope that answered your question!!!! Have a nice day!!!
It´s always a good practice to give a little at a time when switching a horses feed, if it an expensive horse they are more likely to be more delicate or problematic. I like to mix the feed myself , grass oat or grain feeds along with some alfalfa. The word Alfalfa is Arabic and means "best Fodder" it is a very good feed. Feed a horse too as to his excersize and workout program justifies. Whether he is a working horse or just a pet , which many horses unfortuniately are these days. Raw Diet for Dogs | Natural Organic Dog Food::
Pros and cons of raw diet for dogs; What kind of meats can we feed to our dogs . Some safe herbs that are helpful in this regard are alfalfa and burdock.
http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/raw-diet-for-dogs.htmlHOME |
Eva's Cavy Care Page 3::
Dec 2, 2005 What's the pros and cons of water bowls contra water bottles? Only grass hay , meadow hay and timothy hay, not alfalfa hay.
http://goto.glocalnet.net/mars/care/gpcare3.htmHOME |
It has higher protein that horses can absorb. It is too rich generally and should not be fed free choice or in bulk. Alfalfa does not 'heat horses up', the act of eating heats them up. I think alfalfa is fine for horses who are very active and need the extra energy is provides, like polo horses. One danger is blister beetles which are deadly. Blister beetles are known to hang out in alfalfa fields and if the hay is cut especially late in the season or if it is cut and baled in one process instead of two, blister beetles can be trapped inside. Blister beetles can kill a horse even if it ingests just one beetle. Be careful when buying hay to ask about their precautions taken to ensure against blister beetle.
We feed alfalfa mainly in colder weather cause it "heats" a horse up.
A good grass hay like coastal bermuda, bahia or sharon is better for bulk feeding, along with grain in the am and pm.
I have fed alfalfa solely since 1970 without issue for any of the horses I've owned. The problem with switching hay and NOT doing it gradually is the chance of colic. The ONLY time my then 25 yr old mare EVER colicked was when the stable I boarded at changed during summer months to oat hay and didn't do it gradually.
DO NOT FEED ALFALFA TO COLTS....OUR VET TOLD US THAT IT WILL CAUSE KNOTS (GROWTHS) ON THE BONES BECAUSE
IT HAS TOO MUCH CALCIUM FOR THEM. WE FEED IT, BUT NEVER TO OUR COLTS.
I feed my horses alfalfa and don't have any problems from feeding it to them. I only buy first and second cutting alfalfa because it usually runs about 12 to 14 percent protein. Third and forth cutting alfalfa has a higher protein content ranging from 20 to 25 percent so if you feed alfalfa with this much protein, you should feed it with a grass hay.
assuming you're talking about alfalfa hay and not pellets...
feeding 1 # of alfalfa per day would be just fine. or you could give that as an extra meal. be sure that your feed is low protein (10% is good), it would help balance the higher protein in the alfalfa hay. be sure to add it to the regular hay. you never want to just switch. that can cause problems.
if you're talking about pellets...then i would start with 1/2 # per day, split up per meal.
are you feeding for weight gain? if you are, then may i suggest adding no more than 1 cup of black oil sunflower seeds for the added fat?? they will also help with hoof and hair growth and strength.
best of luck!
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