Alfalfa: Pros and Cons

[JLR1]

Nutrition gurus, could you please tell me what the pros and cons of feeding alfalfa are. Regarding the calcium to phosphorus ratio, can rice bran be fed in conjunction with alfalfa or is that a no-no.

I am considering moving my horse to a dry lot "pasture" situation where a few of the horses get alfalfa at meals. He currently gets hay and can continue on hay, but I am certain he will try to get in on the alfalfa fun. He has been given alfalfa pellets in the past with no changes in behavior or attitude.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

Does your horse need to gain weight? Lose weight? I use alfalfa to put weight/muscle on.

[Meredith Clark]

My 2 OTTBs did great on Alfalfa. They were out 24/7 so if it was making them a bit hot (which i'm not sure it was) they could run it off.

I've come here to ask questions about feeding but you can also ask your extension specialist. Our state horse extension specialist will tell you how to get your hay analyzed (or just use the standards), and then balance the rations with the grain and supplements you feed to either gain, loose, or maintain weight depending on activity level.

[JLR1]

As a matter of fact my horse could definitely stand to gain a bit more muscle, so maybe alfalfa is my missing link! I always hear how bad it is for horses, but I just never understood why.

[LMH]

Actually is not simply amount of protein that builds muscle-it is the quality...as in amounts of amino acids and kinds.

Grass hays are known to be deficient in lysine-a limiting amino acid. Without sufficient lysine, the other amino acids can not be utilized.

Alfalfa is a good source of lysine but you would likely have to feed a lot to get a sufficient amount.

I would be interested in studies showing Omega 3 and 6 worsens Cushing's-never heard of such a thing.

[LMH]

I understood excess Omega 6 has been contributed to inflammation while Omega 3 was able to assist in reducing inflammation. All of this, of course, considering achieving a correct ratio between the two.

I understand wanting to limit excess fat in a Cushing's horse.

I am not familiar with limiting fatty acids because they can convert to glucose.

[JB]

An adult horse shouldn't have more than 10-12% protein in their total diet,
10-12% of how many calories? An easy keeper can consume few enough calories that even 12% protein isn't enough grams of protein for him. A harder keeper can consume so many calories that an 8% protein diet can provide well more than enough total grams of protein.

20lb of 9% hay provides 817gm of protein - more than enough for most adult horses.

which is nicely found in most grass hays.
Agreed. But, a bigger issue (since, as per above, total protein really isn't ever an issue unless the forage is just really, really low in protein) is the amino acids, with lysine being a big one. Grass (and therefore the hay) can easily be too low in lysine. Obviously you have to test to be sure. But if it's too low, and providing less than 30gm of lysine for most adult horses, it's likely necessary to provide some additional.

The really high calcium ratio is the biggest concern for alfalfa hay, which is why it is a dairy cattle feed, but you need to talk to a credentialled equine nutritionist for your particular horse. Whether rice bran provides enough phosphorous to offset and balance the calcium ratio I am personally unclear on, and is a good question to ask a professional.

All depends on how much alfalfa is added to the diet. Several pounds a day is a good way to help offset the generally unbalanced ca/phos ratio of most grasses.

[JB]

Normally I would say Omega 6 and 3 are great at reducing inflammation
O3 is anti-inflammatory, O6 is pro-inflammatory.

Both are necessary - an inflammatory response is vital in certain situations. Too much inflammation though is where things get in trouble :)

But, while excess O6 has been implicated in issues like arthritis in humans, that has not transferred as proven in horses. It IS known that horses don't *need* more O6, but it's just not proven what extra does.

That doesn't take away from the anecdotal evidence of folks feeing BOSS, very high in O6, starting to have problems with their arthritic horses. The horse gets better when the BOSS is stopped.

So, while not proven, something high in O6 isn't something *I* would feed to an arthritic horse.

[Auventera Two]

As a matter of fact my horse could definitely stand to gain a bit more muscle, so maybe alfalfa is my missing link! I always hear how bad it is for horses, but I just never understood why.

Alfalfa is an excellent forage. We have fed alfalfa - either mixed, or straight - for over a decade. I buy grass hay, grass/alfalfa mix, and straight, dairy premium alfalfa. I feed each to individual horses as needed. Our horses have always been well muscled and fit, and they maintain it for long periods of time, even when not in work.

The QUALITY of the diet is crucial to keep your horse healthy and fit, with good weight and bloom to the coat.

[Pat Ness]

After 23 years of feeding alfalfa (and a lot of it) - my only problem was tubby horses.

After 1 winter of feeding free choice grass hay - FAT horses and 2 founders.

That was my only change that winter...

My lesson I learned was test all grass hay....

[gubbyz]

Yes, amazingly we all used to think alfalfa=protein=founder! When in reality it can be grass hay=sugar=founder! We feed a nice blend of both.