This can offer some cost savings if you also have horses that do fine on the less-nutrient-dense hay. When grass is not available, hay may make up the largest part of a horse's diet. It’s readily available and commonly fed, so it’s a logical foundation for many horses’ diets. Hay allows us to keep horses in climates and conditions not natural to horses. And, so, that fragrant green bale comes loaded with nutrients and, for some horse owners, a multitude of misconceptions. 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). Lexington, KY 40546-0091 Poisonous weeds that sometimes grow in alfalfa fields include ragwort, groundsels, Johnson grass, Sudangrass, water hemlock, and hoary alyssum. Maturity, harvest conditions, soil conditions, and more can affect protein, energy, and mineral levels, says Smith. Protein is essential for both the growth and repair of muscles, bone, cartilage, skin, hair, and blood. This added heat can impair the horse’s ability to dissipate heat. 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. Aug 28, 2019 - Explore Premium Quality Product Export's board "Alfalfa Hay" on Pinterest. “Potassium levels in forage are dependent on what the plants are pulling out of the soil, however,” says Duren. “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. High levels of calcium, on the other hand, can interfere with the horse’s ability to mobilize bones’ calcium stores during exercise. “Extra protein cannot be stored in the body like extra fat or carbohydrates and must be excreted,” says Duren. “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. For some types of horses—in either of those areas—-alfalfa simply isn’t a great choice. If I had a horse that was sensitive to potassium, rather than exclude alfalfa per se, I would have the hay analyzed. 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. Alfalfa and/or alfalfa grass hay is palatable and is often a hay of preference for horses. She is getting no grain, and she has never developed laminitis, inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety … Grown in the Great Basin mountains at 4200 feet. Your feed salesman, veterinarian, and nutritionist can help you put together a balanced ration and recommend for or against feeding this forage. Kentucky Alfalfa Update at the 2020 UK Stored Forages Conference February 8, 2020 Liming for a Successful Soil pH January 2, 2020 Placing 12th at the 2019 World Forage Analysis Superbowl December 31, … Abstract. Alfalfa pellets are an excellent way of providing fibre in a concentrated form; No added sugar and low in starch; Alfalfa Pellets are rich in calcium and other naturally occurring vitamins and minerals See Full Listing. “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.”. Forage that has been dehydrated, ground and cooked to make pellets can technically replace hay. “Alfalfa producers who market hay for horses are aware of the issue of blister beetles,” he says. “Many performance horses are not worked to the point of dehydration, so they can handle a higher percentage of alfalfa,” he says. Not all alfalfa hay is really high in potassium, but you have to test it to find out. Even after you’ve selected good hay, it pays to check it for dust, mold, weeds, foreign objects, blister beetles, and dead animals as you feed it. “If you always check the hay as you feed it, you can discard those bales or flakes that contain beetles,” says Smith. This hay is perfect for young or lactating animals that need concentrated nutrition. Extension / View 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. Today, alfalfa still grows best in well-drained soils rather than wet soils. “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. alfalfa hay for more than 40 years. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. Premium horse hay. To steer clear of these, buy hay from a reputable person or company that knows how to grow alfalfa weed-free. He might even suffer from dehydration (due to extra sweating and increased urination from the alfalfa breakdown/flushing from the kidneys) and be more likely to experience heat stress. To determine the nutrient content of any hay, have it tested. If your horse doesn’t need the high nutrition value of pure alfalfa, look for a mixed grass/alfalfa hay. High quality hay can be an excellent source of nutrition for - including protein and calcium - for horses and ponies and is a very palatable feed.. Alfalfa is also a popular horse hay since it is widely available. At the same time, poorly managed pastures supply little or no feed and frequently are the sourc… Early farmers discovered its nutritional benefits, especially for hard-working horses, says Ray Smith, PhD, forage extension -specialist at the University of Kentucky (UK), in Lexington. While feeding extra protein is wasteful, a high-protein diet in itself does not hurt a healthy horse. Quality alfalfa hay has high protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals. In some areas of the country, alfalfa is a regular part of life. Research / It was one of the first domesticated forages, planted and harvested in what is now Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan several thousand years ago. First, cut hay also has a lower fat and protein content. This is a mold that causes black blotches on the undersides of the leaves of legumes, including alfalfa. Premium feed for livestock and horses. Research in Colorado reported that mature horses fed alfalfa cubes maintained their body weight better than horses fed equal amounts of long-stem hay. “These beetles tend to be more prevalent in late summer,” says Ray Smith, PhD, forage extension specialist at the University of Kentucky, in Lexington. Hay can also be useful when keeping horses indoors, and while transporting them. Owners might also offer the legume to horses needing to develop more muscle, particularly along the topline. In table 1, there is a comparison between a mid bloom alfalfa and a mid bloom timothy hay. Emerald Green Feeds Alfalfa Pellets are ideal for horses both young and old, they are very palatable and high in fibre content. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. When looking for good-quality alfalfa, be sure it’s clean with no dust or mold—just as you would with any hay. “Ammonia in stalls can irritate airways and make horses susceptible to respiratory problems,” says Duren. Because it’s so nutrient-dense, it is a good feed for underweight horses. Soak cubes to reduce risk of choke. “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. RFV. However, when one considers hay as that basic forage, what criteria are used to describe quality horse hay? Feeding Hay to Horses and Ponies. Horses that are fed alfalfa cubes tend to eat all the cubes provided, whereas horses fed long-stem alfalfa hay will sort through the hay and not eat all the hay offered. Weed, mold and beetle free. best hay for horses First Cut Hay. “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. “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. Also aim for a good leaf-to-stem ratio (most of the nutrients are in the leaves; the stems are more fibrous). Oxbow Alfalfa Hay is a high-fibre legume hay with the same long-strand fibre found in grass hays, but with more protein, energy and calcium. Protein metabolism creates more heat than fat or carbohydrate metabolism. Additionally, it supplies more nutrients than most nonworking horses need, leading to obesity and its associated issues. 3. Grasses you’re likely familiar with include orchardgrass, timothy, and bermudagrass and are long and stemmy. Hay pellets. This combination results in a steady release of digestible energy. Alfalfa has lower indigestible fiber than grass hays. lfalfa is often the pre- ferred forage for horses because of its high quality, high digestibility, and good roughage 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 study conducted at Cornell University showed that when given a choice, horses preferred untreated alfalfa to alfalfa that was treated with a mixture of propionic and acetic acid. Thus, after a short conditioning period, horses will consume acid-treated hay. Lucerne - Also Known As Alfalfa Cut three times a year, lucerne produces a protein-rich 14t DM per hectare without nitrogen fertiliser and on dry land. “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. Also known as as fed or as received.. Dry Matter Basis: nutrient results for the sample with the water removed. It is widely know that alfalfa hay is an excellent source of nutrients. “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.”. 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. Not all alfalfa hay is really high in potassium, but you have to test it to find out.”. “When alfalfa was first brought to the eastern part of the U.S. in the 1700s from Europe, it didn’t survive well—partly because of wetter soils and lower pH,” says Smith. The last thing you want on an endurance ride where the horse is sweating for long periods is the increased body heat, water needs, and urine production described. “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. 859-257-4772, Students / ), 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. High quality ("dairy") alfalfa supplies 20% to 25% more calories per pound than grass hays, although the difference is much smaller for more mature cuts of alfalfa. 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