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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 396
 
| My current program is alfalfa, grass hay, and whole oats (#42). I just have salt out and the horses seem to do well. We are getting a load of last years alfalfa for our hay and I need to cut my chores down timewise so the oats will be discontinued. Being last year's alfalfa do I need mineral? If so, is there a block form I could put out-not graining horses and we have multiple horses. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 464
| The mineral content, and the protein value of hay, will remain in tact for many years. Vitamins (especially water souluable) can drop, but would take longer than a year. I hope that helps. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
 
Location: Willows, CA | Since a horse makes the water soluble vitamins that it needs in a properly functioning hind gut, your only potential concern would be fat soluble vitamins. These are stored in the body for a pretty extended period of time. In your hay, the two fat soluble vitamins that may suffer over a years time are A and E. If the horse is getting any newer hay or any access to pasture, the vitamin A levels should be fine. If not, a vitamin mineral supplement or block may be a good idea. | |
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Feeding last years alfalfa-need mineral?