Can a horse with laminitis eat alfalfa?
The horse should be fed low-NSC hay at the rate of 1.5 to 2% of body weight. Alfalfa hay (lucerne) can be part of the diet during the acute stages. Chaff, beet pulp, and soy hulls can provide part of the fiber intake.
Can horses eat alfalfa?
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 you feed a horse too much alfalfa hay?
It can be detrimental, however, to horses with impaired kidneys or liver. “In California there are many cutting, reining, and other performance horses that eat a lot of alfalfa hay (due to its wide availability) and balancer pellets, and that’s their entire diet and they do fine.”
How do you feed alfalfa?
You can add alfalfa pellets or cubes to a grass hay diet for the same effect. Alfalfa is also suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers, because the extra calcium acts as a buffer against stomach acid.
How much does a ton of alfalfa hay cost?
The start of 2020 saw the average U.S. price for alfalfa drop $4 per ton from December. The latest USDA Agricultural Prices report pegged alfalfa at $171 per ton, which was $8 per ton lower than one year ago.
Does alfalfa have more calories than grass hay?
The energy content is also different between alfalfa and grass hays. Alfalfa hay typically has more calories per pound than grass hay, so if you are feeding your horse alfalfa hay, he may need to consume less hay to maintain his body weight.
Can a cow die from eating alfalfa?
Grazing fresh young alfalfa can induce bloat in cattle. Bloat can sometimes be fatal to cattle. Bloat in cattle is a seasonal problem for producers which can be caused by grazing forage such as certain legumes and to a lesser extent by the fresh growth of winter annual cereals and leafy forages such as turnips.
