Alfalfa Horse Feeding Facts

Alfalfa Horse Feeding Facts

The use of Alfalfa has come up again at the barn. The above is from an alfalfa grower so of course they have an interest in dispelling myths--and alfalfa does get a bad rap, but most of this is from user error.

This article however doesn't mention that by feeding less because of it's nature, your horse may not get its forage/roughage requirements, especially for stallbound horses, nor does it mention throwing the calcium phospherous ratio out of balance and it's consequences, or a higher incidence of enteroliths in horses in the southwestern regions, yet, with proper use it can be a very beneficial addition to a horses feed program. Recent research has suggested that the higher calcium content may help neutralize acid and benefit horses with ulcers.

Around here, alfalfa and alfalfa mix hay can be pricey so it doesn't always make economic sense to use it as a main forage ration, especially when considering feeding pure alfalfa, your horse will pee out all that excess protein you think he's getting, and during winter months when water intake can be an issue, he won't be able to flush out all the excess material.  All in all,  it's not the demon it's purported to be as long as the user understands its impact on equine health and nutrition and how to compensate for it's use.