The Horse Studio Team and The Merry Band at Catskill Horse hope this article has helped you with your horses’ hay. Other horses that do best with limited alfalfa are horses with the genetic muscle disease. “We see this practice more in the East where a lot of marginal grass hay is fed.”, The three-striped blister beetle is one species attracted to alfalfa blossoms. Putting Weight on a Skinny Horse … , because the extra calcium acts as a buffer against stomach acid. These horses are affected by hyperkalemia, or an excessive amount of potassium in the blood, which causes their muscles to contract more readily than normal and makes them susceptible to sporadic episodes of muscle tremors or paralysis. Alfalfa is also suitable for horses prone to gastric ulcers, because the extra calcium acts as a buffer against stomach acid. Alfalfa Hay for Horses. Alfalfa is quite delicious, and horse will readily eat it. Ideally, the soil should have a pH between 6.5 to 7.0. When feeding alfalfa, there is a difference between alfalfa cubes, bales and pellets. Do not start in arid or excessively dry locations or conditions. Pests “Horses ingesting this mold may experience excessive ­sunburn—which seriously affects unpigmented areas of their bodies,” she says. Horses require trace minerals to combat skeletal distress and help in the bone development of young growing horses. The simple act of chewing creates more saliva, which also helps buffer stomach acid, says Lea. Provide your horse with hay or straw to prevent wood chewing. However, this can be somewhat difficult to assess. “Many horse owners buy bales of alfalfa and bales of grass hay and feed several flakes of grass hay and one flake of alfalfa” as needed, says Krista Lea, MS, forage extension specialist and research analyst at UK. It was one of the first domesticated forages, planted and harvested in what is now Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan several thousand years ago. As always, consult an animal feed expert, veterinarian, or other qualified professional before initiating any feeding regime. “This is especially true with foals, since they are smaller and spend more time lying down. value.Well-preserved alfalfa hay should be the foundation of a feeding program for young growing horses, recreational horses, and active horses.This publica-tion describes the horse’s digestive system and nutritional needs and how to select alfalfa hay. “A lot of horse owners are intimidated by alfalfa and think they shouldn’t feed it, but it is a great feed for horses,” says Martinson. Also aim for a good leaf-to-stem ratio (most of the nutrients are in the leaves; the stems are more fibrous). Provide it with long-stem hay or straw bedding to chew to keep it … THREE BENEFITS OF FEEDING ALFALFA TO HORSES: 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. “Horses ingesting this mold may experience excessive ­sunburn—which seriously affects unpigmented areas of their bodies,” she says. “With growing horses, however, use caution in amount fed, simply so they don’t grow too quickly or get too big too fast and become at risk for, Alfalfa is also suitable for horses prone to. “Alfalfa is a perennial legume, grown in most regions of the U.S. for horses and other livestock,” says Krishona Martinson, PhD, associate professor and equine extension specialist in the University of Minnesota’s Department of Animal Science, in Falcon Heights. The ideal calcium to phosphorus ratio for a young horse is between 1.5 to 2 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Some horses with unpigmented skin should not eat alfalfa because they could be prone to photosensitization caused by black blotch disease, says Martinson. She says alfalfa is ideal for horses on high planes of nutrition, such as lactating broodmares, growing horses, thin horses, racehorses, performance horses, or young foals that aren’t getting enough milk. For livestock feed, alfalfa can be collected as blooms begin to open and used for hay, or broadcast and used for grazing. “It can make a difference how and where the alfalfa was grown and whether it was fertilized with manure—which really drives the potassium levels higher. Below are a few reasons why alfalfa is still used for horses today. Alfalfa is also a popular horse hay since it is widely available. Adult blister beetles emerge in June (sometimes a little earlier or later depending on the region and climate) to feed on alfalfa blooms. The simple act of chewing creates more saliva, which also helps buffer stomach acid, says Lea. 1. “Potassium levels in forage are dependent on what the plants are pulling out of the soil, however,” says Duren. If you don't have that commitment, don't plant alfalfa. A hay field is first worked with a plow and then a mulcher. Grasses you’re likely familiar with include orchardgrass, timothy, and bermudagrass and are long and stemmy. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. Alfalfa is the first choice as a legume seeded for hay or pasture. That is a topic for a whole article. For larger crops, you can use a rotary disk or sickle mower instead. Hay must be dried in the field after cutting to avoid mold growth. When sowing, be cautious not to sow seeds too deeply. Alfalfa makes good hay and is long-lived with proper management. Harvesting of alfalfa hay typically occurs approximately 60 days after germination with a spring sowing. When incorporating alfalfa into a horse’s diet, plan for the animal’s specific nutritional needs. Fact: Grass hays can be high in potassium too. To grow a sound skeleton, young horses first need adequate amounts of both calcium and phosphorus. “I currently have 30 acres of alfalfa that need to be torn up.” – Brady Smith. “Ammonia in stalls can irritate airways and make horses susceptible to respiratory problems,” says Duren. In comparison, alfalfa hay generally has a ratio of 15 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. Today, alfalfa still grows best in well-drained soils rather than wet soils. Like most seeds, they require warmth and plenty of water to germinate. 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. Common grass hay includes orchard grass, timothy and coastal Bermuda, less common are bromegrass and fescue. It typically contains more digestible energy, more crude protein and calcium, and fewer nonstructural carbohydrates (sugars and starches). Offering alfalfa hay to these horses, especially in regions where there is an appreciable price difference in grass and alfalfa hay, would be unnecessary. Legume hays for horses - alfalfa and clover. Since alfalfa roots quickly, it doesn’t require deep planting—only about a half inch deep. It takes less time to chew alfalfa cubes than hay, especially if the cubes are soaked. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop.The name alfalfa is used in North America. Plant breeding was also beginning by the 1900s, and plant scientists were able to develop alfalfa plants that were better adapted to various soils in the U.S.” Modern plant breeding has also improved this legume’s disease resistance. Medicago Stavia, better known as alfalfa or lucerne is in the same plant family as peas, beans and clover. After cutting the hay, gather it in a container for curing later on. Merely sprinkle the seeds evenly onto the soil and cover lightly with dirt. Protein metabolism creates more heat than fat or carbohydrate metabolism. High-quality, properly fenced pastures are one of the best and least expensive sources of summer feed for a horse. These horses are particularly sensitive to alfalfa’s high potassium content. Stephen Duren, PhD, equine nutritionist and founder of Performance Horse Nutrition, in Weiser, Idaho, says this is because alfalfa provides amino acids needed for muscle regeneration. This rejuvenating effect, along with the fact that premium hay is a good cash crop, makes alfalfa a very popular hay with farmers. While feeding extra protein is wasteful, a high-protein diet in itself does not hurt a healthy horse. HARVESTING Your feed salesman, veterinarian, and nutritionist can help you put together a balanced ration and recommend for or against feeding this forage. By contrast, when settlers brought alfalfa west in the 1800s during the California Gold Rush to grow livestock feed, it did quite well. Whatever your alfalfa experience, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know about this forage, starting with a little bit of history, and clear up any confusion about it. This can offer some cost savings if you also have horses that do fine on the less-nutrient-dense hay. Not all alfalfa hay is really high in potassium, but you have to test it to find out.”. “The main feed for horses of early armies in those regions was alfalfa,” he says. Since it’s less nutrient-dense than legume hay, horses have to eat more grass hay to fill their bellies, which makes grass hay a good tool for keeping a stall-bound horse from getting bored. Depending on the size of your harvest, chop the grass or alfalfa about 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) from the roots. This should be done 6 months or more prior to the expected planting date to ensure that added amendments have significant time to react with soil. Alfalfa (/ æ l ˈ f æ l f ə /), also called lucerne and called Medicago sativa in binomial nomenclature, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae.It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. This is a mold that causes black blotches on the undersides of the leaves of legumes, including alfalfa. Baling and cutting alfalfa is a whole other topic too. “By the late 1800s and early 1900s we began to learn more about adding lime to low-pH soils, to make them more appropriate for growing alfalfa. Years following drought typically see more blister beetles, as do central states such as Kansas and Oklahoma. It is highly digestible and usually contains more digestible nutrients than grass hays, such as timothy and orchardgrass. Such grains deplete the soil of its nitrogen and legume hays, such as alfalfa, add necessary nitrogen back to the soil. For that purpose, please find our contact info in the legal notice. It’s readily available and commonly fed, so it’s a logical foundation for many horses’ diets. To determine the nutrient content of any hay, have it tested. If used to appropriately balance a diet, it can be useful in alfalfa. Seeds should be sown at a depth of approximately ¼", and no deeper than ½". If sowing in fall, do not sow later than one month prior to the first average frost of the fall. Ammonia is heavier than air and concentrated near ground level.”. Next, the young horse requires calcium and phosphorus in the correct ratio to one another. A well-prepared seedbed is essential to healthy alfalfa plants. “Owners just need to manage the diet carefully … and make transitions to and from alfalfa slowly.”. The fibre in alfalfa gives your horse slow release energy which … Seeds sown deeper may not be able to break through the surface of the soil. If growing for hay, sow seeds 4-6" apart and thin to 6-12", depending on rate of growth and other factors. that sometimes grow in alfalfa fields include ragwort, groundsels, Johnson grass, Sudangrass, water hemlock, and hoary alyssum. ), building a diet on a good foundation of forage is especially important—the oats, corn, and barley that make up many feeds are 55-75% carbohydrate. The two main types of hay for horses are grass hay and legume hay. Calcium is another important nutrient for bone development. “(It) does have more energy compared to grass hay of similar maturity, so perhaps a horse eating a lot of alfalfa in the absence of exercise may have more energy,” she says. If I had a horse that was sensitive to potassium, rather than exclude alfalfa per se, I would have the hay analyzed. Where wet soils require alternatives, try bird’s-foot trefoil. It can survive with moderate water and sunlight, and is relatively tolerant of drought and other conditions. Generally, a mixed grass bale will work best for most horses. What the Horse Owner Needs to Know 5. Molds growing in the bales can cause respiratory tract symptoms, but the same molds can--and do--grow in any type of hay. “With growing horses, however, use caution in amount fed, simply so they don’t grow too quickly or get too big too fast and become at risk for DOD (developmental orthopedic disease),” Martinson says. Some horses with unpigmented skin should not eat alfalfa because they could be prone to. A horse eating more protein than the body can use will also drink more water (to help flush out the additional waste products). It is generally recommended to create and maintain 6-8 or more paddocks that can be rotated to allow enough time for regrowth between grazings. “The beetles will be very concentrated; if you find one or two you will usually find many.” He adds that 99% of bloomed hay won’t have beetles in it. A well-kept pasture also is the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. When Alfalfa is fed to horses along with a diet of Timothy hay, they will receive many of the nutrients required and all of the fiber needed to build the base of a strong nutritional program. It can be detrimental, however, to horses with impaired kidneys or liver. The traditional recommendation on harvesting alfalfa hay is to collect once 1 in every 10 blossoms has opened. “Use of alfalfa grew rapidly in the western U.S. as people realized it fit well with that climate” and less-acidic soil types, says Smith. Try keeping the hay or pasture mixture about 50-50 grass and legume to avoid feeding too much straight legume to horses. Dave Kraeer adds, “We always plant a mix of timothy and alfalfa new seedings with oats as a nurse crop. Alfalfa can be started at any point during the growing season, once conditions become favorable. In some areas of the country, alfalfa is a regular part of life. Especially for growing, pregnant, high-performance, or lactating horses, alfalfa can provide plenty of this nutrient to allow the horse to grow, develop muscle tone, and repair tissues damaged by hard work. You might offer performance horses alfalfa an hour or two before work or competition, during which acid can splash up into the nonglandular part of the stomach (where the cells of the lining do not produce protective mucus). Alfalfa is also affordable in most areas. Most Popular. You may unsubscribe at any moment. To determine if alfalfa hay fits into your feeding program, consult with an equine nutritionist. Productive, well-managed pastures can provide most of the feed requirements of horses for the least cost. Fact: Alfalfa is no more likely to cause an allergic reaction than any other type of hay. Calculating Selenium Levels in Horse Feeds and Supplements. Endurance athletes can benefit from small amounts of alfalfa, just like any other performance horse, says Duren, but make sure it’s not their sole forage source. Gently pack soil to ensure good seed to soil contact. And, so, that fragrant green bale comes loaded with nutrients and, for some horse owners, a multitude of misconceptions. “It can also be beneficial to horses with muscle problems that are prone to ­tying-up (due to their increased protein needs) or horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) due to the lower amount of nonstructural carbohydrates,” says Martinson. “The first (and sometimes second) cutting of alfalfa almost never contains blister beetles because it is generally cut and baled ahead of when the adult beetles emerge.”. Additionally, it supplies more nutrients than most nonworking horses need, leading to obesity and its associated issues. “These beetles tend to be more prevalent in late summer,” says Ray Smith, PhD, forage extension specialist at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. If growing for hay, sow seeds 4-6" apart and thin to 6-12", depending on rate of growth and other factors. To steer clear of these, buy hay from a reputable person or company that knows how to grow alfalfa weed-free. Alfalfa will take better in the presence of high amounts of phosphorus and potassium. Beetles killed by the haying equipment can end up in the hay. If your horse doesn’t need the high nutrition value of pure alfalfa, look for a mixed grass/alfalfa hay. This can cause horses to become bored and lead to increased wood chewing. “It should be a green color, meaning there are more leaves and the hay is not weathered or rained on before it was put up,” says Smith. Alfalfa is a good source of nutrients for sport horses, but owners might want to avoid offering it when horses are working hard in hot weather, says Duren. Blister beetles feed on alfalfa blossoms and might swarm fields during harvest. Because it’s so nutrient-dense, it is a good feed for underweight horses. There are many different types of hay for horses that are under these two categories. Cut the grass or alfalfa using a scythe or shears. The more serious issue with these horses, however, is the liver damage from the toxins in the mold. When looking for good-quality alfalfa, be sure it’s clean with no dust or mold—just as you would with any hay. The first step will be to test the pH of the soil with a tester, available at a farm or home & garden store. How much do you really know about this leafy green legume? Alfalfa will grow better if started after the last frost of the spring, once established grass stands in other locations start to show steady growth. Alfalfa, and clover hay for that matter, are both legumes. “Many performance horses are not worked to the point of dehydration, so they can handle a higher percentage of alfalfa,” he says. Fresh alfalfa hay is the best to use as a horse feed. Alfalfa and… We will explore all the types of hay that are commonly fed to horses. Some grass hays are also too high in sugar for these horses, and this is where a legume diet or mixed legume/grass diet can help lower total sugar intake. Commonly fed legume hays are Alfalfa and clover. Once established, alfalfa is hardy and will grow with relative ease. For best results, fertilize concurrently as you sow with an organic blend high in phosphorus and potassium. Quality alfalfa hay has high protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. A horse fed Alfalfa as part of its daily ration will meet its need for protein while receiving essential vitamins and minerals. Owners might also offer the legume to horses needing to develop more muscle, particularly along the topline. To successfully grow alfalfa, you need to commit to a regular scouting program. , or an excessive amount of potassium in the blood, which causes their muscles to contract more readily than normal and makes them susceptible to sporadic episodes of muscle tremors or paralysis. “If you always check the hay as you feed it, you can discard those bales or flakes that contain beetles,” says Smith. Of the horse feed containing alfalfa, 100% of the samples were contaminated with the alkaloid pyrrolizidine, which is poisonous to the liver of horses. Hay and Hay Quality 3. Producing blossoms is very energy intensive, and waiting too long can result in excessive energy needlessly going into this process from the plant. High levels of calcium, on the other hand, can interfere with the horse’s ability to mobilize bones’ calcium stores during exercise. Poisonous weeds that sometimes grow in alfalfa fields include ragwort, groundsels, Johnson grass, Sudangrass, water hemlock, and hoary alyssum. Poor quality alfalfa may be used for pellets and any pelleting will destroy much of the whole food value of alfalfa while maintaining the high protein levels. These individuals have problems processing and excreting protein and should be kept on a very low-protein diet. caused by black blotch disease, says Martinson. Alfalfa stands can be depleted unless rotational grazing is practiced. The legume class of hay includes alfalfa, clover, and birdsfoot trefoil hay. Safely fed to horses for thousands of years, Alfalfa’s high protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral content all contribute to its high feed value. Introduction 2. “I have three horses with three different nutrient requirements, so if I have different kinds of hay I can mix them appropriately for each horse—to get the right balance for what they need,” she says. Good alfalfa hay for horses should be leafy, with minimum stems and bright green in color. Also, we bale the straw for cow bedding. The most productive and popular legume hay is Alfalfa as it is a highly nutritious and a high yield crop. “The biggest issue with alfalfa is weight gain in horses that don’t have adequate exercise.”. A high performance racehorse may benefit from alfalfa or mixed alfalfa. , growing horses, thin horses, racehorses, performance horses, or young foals that aren’t getting enough milk. Forage for horses can be divided into two categories—grasses and legumes. This added heat can impair the horse’s ability to dissipate heat. Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of highly available calcium, but unfortunately is often a poor source of phosphorus. These flying insects—dead or alive—contain the toxin cantharidin, which can kill a horse if consumed in large amounts. So feed overweight horses or easy keepers just as you would the sugar- or carb-sensitive ones—offer them a mature grass hay with lower caloric content over a rich legume. These horses are particularly sensitive to alfalfa’s high potassium content. I may have set a record for using the phrase, "If you can't do this or that, don't plant alfalfa," in a 600-word article. Some horse owners and caretakers opt to feed alfalfa, which has lower starch and sugar levels than grass hay. “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.”. Horses’ hay hoary alyssum underweight horses they are smaller and spend more lying... The nutrients are in the leaves of legumes, including alfalfa really in..., this can cause horses to become bored and lead to increased wood chewing generally a... Or subsequent ) collections where wet soils require alternatives, try bird’s-foot trefoil 18-24 inches with unpigmented skin not... 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