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 Extreme Veteran
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| What are the differences in feeding alfalfa pellets vs cubes? I've always soaked - is it NECESSARY to soak? |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
 
| Cubes can be substituted for forage. Some cubes such as Omni cubes are NOT supposed to be soaked as they also have whole flaxseed in them. I don't soak the Mustang Sally cubes, but I do the Standlee cubes because they are a harder cube. My sister doesn't soak hers. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| My horse is currently on alfalfa and Timothy pellets. I was wondering if it would matter or make any difference if I switched the alfalfa to cubes? |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I really don't know. I am really paranoid about colic so when I switched mine over I did it as if I was switching feeds. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-09 3:39 PM I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak.
Are they softer? Or do you go through and break them up a bit? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1165
Location: California | I feed alfalfa pellets and never soak. I use the Bryant pellets, they are a softer and smaller pellet. I fed cubes for a while but they are more expensive and the set up I have now I can't just separate horses as easily. So I pull out the ones that get "grain" and put them back when they are done. They are less bulky so easier to store as well. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I use the Wyoming Cubes in the white bag. I do not soak. My mare loves them.
I've always heard pellets don't have as much hay in them as the regular cubes. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | From my understanding... Pellets are not considered "long stem" so are used in smaller quantities like a feed and NOT used as a full hay replacement. Cubes ARE considered "long stem", similar to hay, and CAN be used as hay replacement pound for pound. I would LOVE to use alfalfa cubes, but I can't get my one horse to eat them unless I hand feed them to him like a treat. :(
Edited by TBone 2017-02-09 4:23 PM
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 Texas Taco
Posts: 7499
Location: Bandera, TX | TBone - 2017-02-09 4:22 PM From my understanding... Pellets are not considered "long stem" so are used in smaller quantities like a feed and NOT used as a full hay replacement. Cubes ARE considered "long stem", similar to hay, and CAN be used as hay replacement pound for pound. I would LOVE to use alfalfa cubes, but I can't get my one horse to eat them unless I hand feed them to him like a treat. :(
This...
however mine love them and I do feed them as their main ration. I love Hay Rite cubes and do not soak them. |
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Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-09 3:44 PM
BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-09 3:39 PM I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak.
Are they softer? Or do you go through and break them up a bit?
They are soft. The horses and even my pony have no problem breaking them up themselves. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 795
Location: GODS country | If I do not have access to excellent quality alfalfa hay I will feed soaked alfalfa cubes to mine.
Summer time since they are on pasture 24/7 I don't feed alfalfa, but will "grain" with alfalfa pellets with their Renew Gold. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1079
Location: MN | BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-10 9:16 AM Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-09 3:44 PM BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-09 3:39 PM I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak. Are they softer? Or do you go through and break them up a bit? They are soft. The horses and even my pony have no problem breaking them up themselves.
Wow. And no problems with choke? My horse can be a bit piggy at times. He choked on me last summer eating alfalfa pellets so now im a worry wart  |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| I have used both at some point. Right now I use the Omnis cubes and you do not soak nor do you have to. I have a 27 year old that has no trouble at all eating them. I also use the Sandlee alfalfa/oat cubes they are softer than just the regular alfalfa cubes. I soak these in the morning so that their supplements stick to them. I also use the alfalfa/burmuda cubes and soak them also. I use the Bluebonnet alfalfa pellets as they are smaller and softer and you do not have to soak them. My horses all like the Omnis cubes and are doing well on them (too well). |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-10 12:09 PM BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-10 9:16 AM Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-09 3:44 PM BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-09 3:39 PM I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak. Are they softer? Or do you go through and break them up a bit? They are soft. The horses and even my pony have no problem breaking them up themselves.
I also will feed Stanley alfalfa/timothy cubes along with flaked alfalfa. Mine will not eat them if I soak them, I can sprinkle a little water to get supplements to stick but if they get mushy they won't touch them. So far I have had no issues and I feed everthing off the ground which is suppose to help. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I can't speak for the special cubes with ingredients other than alfalfa, but I do soak alfalfa cubes when I feed them. To me, it's a insurance policy. I've seen them choke on alfalfa cubes, and, it helps them increase their fluid intake. That's just me personally. I don't bother soaking pellets because of their small size. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 439
Location: Ohio | When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;) |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Vegas - 2017-02-10 11:10 PM
When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;)
What is the mold inhibitor that Top of the Rockies used do you know? On the web site they list it as an ingredient but I didn't see where they said what specifically it was. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | I feed my 35 year old Standlee alfalfa/oat cubes because he is no long able to consume a sufficient amount of hay. I do break them up before feeding as a precaution against choking. I do not soak, as he will walk away from anything that is wet or soaked. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | While there is no question that a cube is a better replacement for forage, I don't think you can say that pellets *can't* be used that way. If that was the case, senior feeds would not be considered forage replacements. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-10 12:09 PM
BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-10 9:16 AM Kay-DRacing. - 2017-02-09 3:44 PM BamaCanChaser - 2017-02-09 3:39 PM I feed Standlee cubes and do not soak. Are they softer? Or do you go through and break them up a bit? They are soft. The horses and even my pony have no problem breaking them up themselves.
My horse is a huge piggy, too. Stuffed his mouth so full of feed, most of it would fall out. He pawed his feed tub too. After feeding him Danco alfalfa cubes ( I used both the Omni amd Mustang Sally), he eats much slower and no more anxious pawing of his feed tub. My theory is he has to slow down to bite the cubes into a size easy to chew and he salivates more, too. He is just a lot calmer eating cubes than alfalfa pellets. |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| Yes I have found also that my 3 when eating the Omnis cubes seem to happily and slowly munch away.  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 599
| I can't find Omnis cubes anywhere close to me, and all the cubes at Tractor Supply contain that clay....what brands do not have the clay? |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Bump |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| Vegas - 2017-02-10 10:10 PM
When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;)
Do you happen to have any scientific evidence or articles on this? Or a source of where you get your information? |
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Veteran
Posts: 120
| I switched mine to cubes about a month ago and don't soak them. They eat them fine and break up the big ones on their own as well. I'm not sure on the difference in cubes and pellets though...I've heard horses can sometimes choke easier on pellets than on cubes. Not sure though! |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| nicole.b - 2017-02-20 2:43 PM
Vegas - 2017-02-10 10:10 PM
When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;)
Do you happen to have any scientific evidence or articles on this? Or a source of where you get your information?
What kind of preservatives do they use? I couldn't find it on their website. |
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Vegas - 2017-02-10 11:10 PM When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;)
How much bentonite do you think is used in alfalfa cubes exactly?
Just an FYI:
Omnis Cubes have a very minimal amount of Bentonite or they wouldn't flake apart as easily as they do. Please do your own independent research on Bentonite and it's benefits and uses as well as mold inhibitors/preservatives/propionic acid, etc.
There are risks with anything you do and anything you eat or feed. I'm personally more concerned with feeds that are using preservatives to mask otherwise lesser quality hay. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 851
Location: West Texas | I am sorry but everything in the bentonite post above is wholly incorrect.
Bentonite is a natural product and has a lot of minerals. Preservatives are chemicals. Bentonite is at the very least neutral to health and some believe it is very beneficial. The truth is probably somewhere in the middle of that. There are a lot of mistruths going around in the cube market. The anti bentonite rhetoric is one of them. I personally do not like a lot of bentonite used because it can make a cube too hard to my liking.
There is really no need for a preservative in alfalfa. Properly stored, a bale or cube will have a shelf life over a year. Preservatives in feeds are rampant. They are made from foods that won't stay good on their own and then made to resist mold and rancitity. While I am not dooming and glooming them, I just feel good not having to feed them. Afterall, how many people would actively want preservative treated or added flavors in their hay? I bet not many, so why would you want it in your hay cube or processed feed?
Whether or not you prefer bentonite or bentonite free is a personal choice. But to make wild claims about it being dangerous, a junk hay binder, or even a known undesired ingredient is irresponsible in my opinion.
Edited by Tdove 2017-02-21 7:17 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| Thank you TDove and Rachel for chiming in on the Omnis cubes. My horse all LOVE them and doing good on them. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I want to add my thanks to both Tdove and Rachel, too. I am not feeding anything to my horses unless I know EXACTLY what is in it. Preservatives with no explanation doesn't work for me, if I can't research it. I am completely happy with the Danco products, Mustang Sally and Omni cubes. Both of you helped me a lot when I was trying to find something safe and healthy to feed my horses. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 133
| I read an article in BHN that discussed alfalfa cubes and now I'm searching for a source of them that doesn't contain bentonite. The article said that you can tell the high quality cubes because they don't have to use bentonite to hold them together. That's why they're hard and you have to soak them. The two makers of non bentonite cubes said they are easily breakable without the bentonite. That bentonite soaks up water in the horses gut and you have to make sure they drink 3 or 4 extra gallons of water to make up for that. I checked out Standlee brand, my old go to brand, and they use bentonite! I saw that Triple Crown doesn't but neither Wilco nor Coastal carry that when I called. So I'm on a search.... |
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Veteran
Posts: 133
| GLP - 2017-02-20 1:00 PM nicole.b - 2017-02-20 2:43 PM Vegas - 2017-02-10 10:10 PM When feeding alfalfa cubes, be sure to buy the cubes that are bentonite free!!! Bentonite Clay is used as a binding agent. Which in small quantities is fine. However when feeding cubes as a supplement or as the only forage, keep in mind a good cube will only have the Alfalfa and a preservative. Bentonite is generally used in a hay that isn't as leafy or as good as quality as a cube that is free of bentonite. A lot of people talk about the water their horses drink when feeding alfalfa cubes. Well, if you feed say 20lbs of cubes, which is typically when feeding a 1000lb horse, your horse will have to consume 4 more gallons of water to make up the amount of water the clay has absorbed out of the horses gut!! Again bentonite is fine is small quantities and has many great uses. But when fed in large amounts, it absorbs a lot of water the horse may need to keep there guts functioning properly. I know Rural King carries alfalfa cubes that are bentonite free. I think they are Top Of The Rockies brand but would have to double check. You can feed them wet or dry. Each horse has their own preference. Mine all eat them dry and do just fine ;) Do you happen to have any scientific evidence or articles on this? Or a source of where you get your information? What kind of preservatives do they use? I couldn't find it on their website.
I recently read an article about this very topic in one of my old BHNs. I am trying to locate it and will post the information on what year etc of the article as soon as I find it again. It was just within the last couple weeks so it's around here somewhere! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2674
Location: Silver Lake, MN | Is there anyone that makes little pellets? Like ones you would feed rabbits or normal feed size? I hate the bigger pellets and I'm trying to go grain free and also don't want a lot of additives to it. I have weanlings up to older horses and the young horses just don't like cubes at all. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | CarrieH77 - 2020-01-03 11:30 AM Is there anyone that makes little pellets? Like ones you would feed rabbits or normal feed size? I hate the bigger pellets and I'm trying to go grain free and also don't want a lot of additives to it. I have weanlings up to older horses and the young horses just don't like cubes at all. BlueBonnet does its Alfa Nibblets.. 
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2020-01-03 11:46 AM
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| My horses really love the Bluebonnet Nibletts and they are small and my 30 year old has no trouble eating them. |
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ALFALFA - pellets vs cubes