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Veteran
Posts: 165
 
Location: TN | Would like info on feeding alfafa hay. We usually feed Bermuda hay but it's hard to find in our area this time of year so we had to buy alfalfa. We have heard feeding it over a period of time will cause kidney problems in horses. Can someone give me the pros and cons on feeding this type of hay? It makes me nervous feeding it, I'm only feeding 2 small flakes each feeding. |
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 Expert
Posts: 5293
| Lol and I am the opposite. I won’t touch Bermuda with a million foot pole ! Lol there are different grades of alfalfa. I tend to feed my horses the number 2 mid grade. It’s not super green and dense. It has a little stem to make them take all day to clean it up. I feed small flake twice a day and provide unlimited Timothy for mine to munch on. |
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Mrs. Txdad
Posts: 14084
Location: the fantasy txdad married | I Free feed alfalfa and have forever. Never had any issues with any kidney problems. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 194
Location: Texas | We are big alfalfa feeders. Mine get a flake twice a day. My horses have always done great on it and it helps shine them up :)
Edited by AshleyJ2911 2018-03-29 7:48 AM
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 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| I've been feeding alfalfa in place of bagged feed for many seasons now. No issues. The only time I had kidney issues was a very old mare whose time was nearing the end. I feed timothy hay also, it's a great compliment to the alfalfa.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 595
Location: North Dakota | Many on here feed alfalfa cubes of some sort as their sole ration. I would feed more of it if I had the choice. I board my horses so either have to buy my own on top of board or have 1 flake available to me per day and it isn't the best. When I have my horses at my own place one day. Alfalfa will be a big part of my program. I doubt you will see any ill effects by feeding quality alfalfa.
Edited by MidWest1452 2018-03-29 8:41 AM
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | Alfalfa is a major component of my personal feed program. We feed third cutting, typically between 16-18% protein. It's pretty clean and weed free by third cutting, which is why we feed it. They get about the equivalent of a flake in the morning and a flake at night during the coldest months of the year (we fork off a big round bale). It helps them produce body heat in the dead of winter. I usually back off to one time per day now that is getting warmer. I feed it because it's high in calcium and helps balance the calcium/phosphorus ratio, since my horses have access to pasture 24/7 and we pretty much feed free choice native prairie grass. In the summer I love hauling with it because it settles their tummy and it helps give a little boost of energy. Protein is also a building block of healthy tissue and I just like how my horses look and feel when they are fed good quality alfalfa. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| I've fed alfalfa for over 40 years, never had a problem. I do not feed high protein feeds, and try to let mine get grass time too. |
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Location: Choctaw, OK | I'm curious as to why some don't like bermuda? My horses are out on pasture plus get alfalfa daily, but i feed bermuda if I'm keeping one up overnight, in hay bags, ect. |
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Expert
Posts: 5293
| RoughstockKennel - 2018-03-29 5:45 PM
I'm curious as to why some don't like bermuda? My horses are out on pasture plus get alfalfa daily, but i feed bermuda if I'm keeping one up overnight, in hay bags, ect.
There might be Bermuda differences but the Variety found in CA is a major cause of impaction colics out here. Before I knew better years ago I had a horse need colic surgery and they took out a nasty ball of wadded up Bermuda. Vets at the hospital told me it was a 10K dollar bale of hay! |
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Location: Choctaw, OK | Ohh gotcha. I recently bought a pony from California that was owned by a vet. He told me out there bermuda is really a low quality hay but in other areas it's one of the better hays. Weird! |
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Good Ole Boys just Fine with Me
Posts: 2869
Location: SE Missouri | I feed free choice alfalfa (18.2%) and tiny amount of oats twice a day. Plus a mineral block or tub. No problems and simple..
Also had one colic on Bermuda. |
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Veteran
Posts: 165
Location: TN | Thanks for everyone's info on the alfalfa, I'm feeling better about feeding it. They sure love it. |
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