Alfalfa provides excellent-quality forage but is often underused due to misconceptions
By Amy Gill, PhD
Horses love the taste of alfalfa and for many, nothing could be better for them. Unfortunately, due to some myths about this forage, it is highly underused as a portion of the total ration. When used correctly, alfalfa can supply a great deal of natural nutrition and has some other physiological benefits as well.
Alfalfa is usually fed as a forage but is also offered as cubes and in chopped form. Few horse owners realize that alfalfa is also commonly included in pelleted concentrate rations and supplements. The addition of alfalfa to a feed provides excellent-quality protein, digestible fiber, digestible energy (calories) and calcium.
Alfalfa is highly recommended to be fed to gestating and lactating mares, growing horses, and horses that are intensively exercised and competing. Geriatric horses also do very well when alfalfa is included in their daily ration because it is so highly digestible compared to other long-stemmed, coarser forages.
Green in many ways
In Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, alfalfa is known as lucerne and it is called lucerne grass in south Asia.
Alfalfa, like clover, is a cool-season perennial legume and can live from three to 12 years, depending on variety and climate. The plant grows to a height of up to three feet, and has a deep root system that can be as wide as 15 feet. Because of this extensive root system, alfalfa is fairly resistant to drought conditions.
Alfalfa has a characteristic known as autotoxicity, which means that it is difficult for alfalfa seed to grow in existing stands of alfalfa. Therefore, most alfalfa fields are rotated with other species such as corn or wheat after several years before reseeding.
Legumes are unique because their root nodules contain bacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti, that have the ability to fix nitrogen, so that the plant can product a high-protein feed regardless of how much nitrogren is present in the soil. Alfalfa’s nitrogen-fixing abilities actually increase soil nitrogen content, which helps the growth of other crops that are rotated in the field. The alfalfa plant derives the nitrogen from the air, which is 78% molecular nitrogen. Alfalfa is truly a green plant in that it requires no additional soil nitrogen fertilization.
Alfalfa has the highest levels of nutrients of all the different varieties of forage crops. It normally is not used as pasture because it does not form a ‘turf’ and therefore is susceptible to damage from trampling, as opposed to grasses such as bermuda, fescue, and bluegrass. When grown on soils where it is well-adapted, alfalfa produces more yield per acre than any other forage crop.
California, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are the leading alfalfa-growing states. The upper Midwestern states produce about 50% of the output in the United States, whereas the Northeastern states produce about 10%, the Western states 40%, and the Southeastern states produce very little. Alfalfa has an amazing range of climates in which it can be successfully grown, including very cold and mountainous regions, rich temperate agricultural regions, Mediterranean climates and desert climates.
Concentrated packages
Alfalfa has higher values for percentage of protein, digestible fiber, and digestible energy than grass forages such as timothy or orchardgrass. Having a product of such high nutrient density utilized in feed formulations for horses is quite beneficial and it ensures nutrient intake is easily obtained. In other words, often a higher quality feed can be fed in a smaller amount than a lesser quality feed. This can be beneficial for the racehorses or any horse that requires large amounts of feed to meet nutrient requirements, as high-intensity training tends to make horses go off feed, making nutrient density extremely important. Feeding high-quality concentrates and supplements also makes feeding more economical.
Horseman often have the impression that alfalfa causes diarrhea, which is not true. In actuality, because of its solubility, alfalfa helps to keep fluid in the large intestine because it absorbs water, which is very beneficial and can help prevent impaction colics.
As usual, changing from one feed to another causes changes in the digestive tract microbial population and with the addition of alfalfa, the first thing one will notice is a softer stool. This is not diarrhea, it is simply the digestive tract adapting to a new substrate and one that is particularly good at retaining more fluid in the hindgut. This is a very desirable effect of feeding alfalfa.
For comparison, using alfalfa for its stool-softening effect is no different than feeding a wheat bran mash (another soluble fiber), which is a widely accepted practice in the industry. The problem with feeding wheat bran, however, is that doing so on a daily basis can cause serious mineral imbalances in horses, because wheat bran contains more phosphorus than calcium (inverted ration) whereas the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in alfalfa is correct.
Grass hays such as timothy and orchardgrass, on the other hand, contain much less soluble fiber and more lignin than alfalfa, which does not do as good of a job of keeping the large intestine well hydrated and is often lower in protein, vitamins, and minerals than alfalfa. So feeding alfalfa not only helps keep the hindgut well hydrated, but also provides superior nutrition than coarser, bulkier forages.
Horseman should remember that soft, hydrated, easy-to-pass manure is much preferable to hard dehydrated manure that may lead to impaction colic if not quickly corrected. If the horse is healthy, has a bright eye, appears happy, and is doing what it is supposed to do well, soft manure is not a problem.
Alfalfa benefits
The importance of a high plane of nutrition becomes critical when feeding certain classes of horses as stated above.
Gestating broodmares have increased requirements for all nutrients starting the eighth month of pregnancy and should be fed a diet that includes alfalfa. Feeding good-quality forage, including alfalfa hay or in the form of pellets, cubes, or with a ration that incorporates alfalfa meal, is the most natural way to help meet these requirements. Once lactation begins, the mare’s requirements can nearly double and again, the best way to help supplement nutrients is through the use of this excellent-quality forage.
Lactating mares will utilize the extra calories and calcium found in alfalfa to help produce high-quality milk for their foals. Interestingly, alfalfa is believed by some to be a galactagogue, a substance that induces lactation.
Growth also requires nutrient intake levels beyond maintenance of normal metabolism.
Using alfalfa producs as forage for young horses is very beneficial because it is much more digestible compared to grass hays. Young horses do not have the full ability to ferment fiber until they are about a year old. Feeding higher insoluble fiber forages such as timothy or orchardgrass hay or poorer quality forage sources often results in “hay belly”. Therefore, feeding only highly digestible fiber such as alfalfa, clover, and beet pulp is recommended for the young growing horse.
The higher protein levels of alfalfa compared with grass hay will also help the young growing horse develop muscle tissue properly. Protein is not a contributing factor to developmental disorders. Imbalances in the nutrients of the ration as a whole and feeding too much starch in the diet has been shown to cause these problems.
The high calcium content of alfalfa is very beneficial to horses in training, as it helps to buffer stomach acid and thus reduce the risk of developing stomach ulcers. The low pH conditions in the stomach can damage the gastric lining. A research study compared a high-protein, high-calcium diet of alfalfa and grain to a low-protein, low-calcium bromegrass and grain diet for uclcer incidence. Horses fed the alfalfa and grain diet had a higher stomach pH, resulting in significantly fewer and less severe gastric ulcers compared with the horses receiving the bromegrass and grain diet.
Young horses entering training have a higher calcium requirement than their pastured counterparts due to demineralization of bones as a result of confinement to a stall (and lack of sprinting exercises that force the bone to adapt through remodeling the bone). Feeding alfalfa as forage as well as a component of the concentrate is an excellent way to help meet the elevated calcium requirement of these horses.
Geriatric horses can be a challenge to feed. Many become thin and underweight as they age. This occurs because the ability to digest, metabolize, and absorb nutrients out of the hindgut becomes reduced with advancing age. The energy density and highly digestible fiber in alfalfa make it a good choice for getting excellent-quality nutrition into the aged horse. The protein, calcium, and phosphorus in alfalfa are highly digestible and will help the older horse remain healthy and in good weight.
Alfalfa is a very versatile, highly nutritious, safe, and paltable feed for horses. For horses with high nutrient requirements such as those that are racing, gestating, lactating, and growing, alfalfa is highly suitable as part of the total ration. Alfalfa has been shown to reduce gastric ulcers in horses and it prevents the hindgut from dehydrating. Do not be afraid to feed alfalfa; it is excellent for the general health and well-being of the horse.
By Dr. Amy M Gill, originally published in Thoroughbred Times
Thank you Dr. Amy M Gill for this information. I was totally unaware of the benefits of alfalfa! My old guy, Patches, 34 years old, will do well with some of this in his diet! Thanks again.
Crystal thanks so much for your comment. Alfalfa is so horribly misunderstood and under used in equine diets. Let me know if you need any help with your senior! Sounds like you are doing an amazing job!
I add a couple handfuls to their daily feed, in the flash dried form. They eat all their feed of course. Lol. It does soften the stool, which is great….especially if you have a horse with known or history of ulcers or other gut issues. The key is moderation. Mine get fed twice a day to help keep things moving. Feed and alfalfa mix….then now that it’s cooler, I add free hay flakes after eating….especially at night turn out. I try to leave mine out on pasture and only stall to feed or in bad weather. They are very happy with their routine. I use the alfalfa mix during cooler weather and as a treat during warmer weather. They are healthy, happy and clean and clear. I started this routine specifically for a horse with gut-ulcer issues and several of mine did and do performance work, get exercised and ridden frequently so they burn off any extra. Whether it is feed, hay or alfalfa…..keep it fresh as possible, clean and stored out of the weather and keep rodents away!
Thanks for sharing your experience. Alfalfa is so useful in many feeding regimes.
Love the article Doc! Thanks for promoting alfalfa…..so many people look at it and stray away or rarely give it.
You are welcome! Alfalfa can be so beneficial in various feeding scenarios…
Alfalfa hay can have an very high protein level which is not good for growing Friesians foals. It can be as high as 22% which in effect can cause OCD in young animals???
Hi Joan – I think you are confusing protein with soluble carbohydrates, specifically sugars and starches from grains and some grass forages. More than 30 years ago, through clinical studies, it was shown that protein (amino acids which are needed for tissue growth and repair) had no negative effect on bone or cartilage and therefore was not a contributing factor in developmental orthopedic disease (such as OCD) High protein is not a problem in a healthy horse, as it can be deaminated (the amino group removed) and turned into energy that can be stored in muscle and liver for later use (glycogen). High soluble carbohydrate diets, however, especially when fed in large amounts, are proven to interfere with growth hormone, insulin, glucose, and thyroxine levels which are intimately involved in producing good quality growth in young horses. So the take home message is we never want to restrict protein (amino acids) but equine diets should contain minimal amounts of sugars and starches to avoid not only growth related disorders but also exercise, immune and metabolic issues. Let me know if you need help optimizing your young horse dietary regime! Cheers
Is it a problem to feed only alfalfa as long as the horses do not become overweight from the extra energy(calories)
Hi Jennifer – no it is not a problem for horses that are free of Kidney or Liver disease, or those with problems mobilizing calcium from their bone stores to keep blood calcium levels stable. Those horses should not be fed diets with higher levels of protein or calcium than the minimum requirement for basic metabolic processes
I feed my 23 year old TB Gelding Alfalfa mix 60% Alfalfa – free choice in a slow feed hay bag while stalled. He tested positive 2 years ago for PPID but has normal levels now on one Prascend per day. He is not IR/EMS. He goes out on normal grass turn out weather permitting. Is Alfalfa ok for PPID horses?
Yes it is great for older horses so long as they do not have any kidney or Liver disease!
I feed my horse approximately 6-7lbs of Tribute Kalm N EZ a day split into two feedings. Free choice hay. The hay is never good quality at the barn I board at so I keep alfalfa cubes on hand at all times. I don’t think his grain amount is too much , as a TB he used to get about 10lbs of sweet feed when he was at the track . But if he has the soaked cubes for more than 3-4 days in a row ( about 2-3 lbs dry before adding water ) he becomes a psycho, uncontrollable ,demon. The Tribute is 14 % protein. It is in pellet form. If I buy the timothy / alfalfa mix cubes he seems to do okay. Is this an overload of protein? Because the feed is low sugar and starch ( beet pulp based) . Is it just too much concentrated calories? Would it be better to maybe try to feed more alfalfa product , lighten the feed even more and add a ration balancer? He is right in the cusp of getting the nutritional value from the feed for his weight. I would buy more alfalfa actual bales , but I’m not 100 percent sure what is going on here. I just know I have the perfect mix right now for his weight without Satan arriving ( and I am NOT exaggerating)
The behavior is absolute INSANE. Rearing , kicking , biting , no common sense , charging , demon like behavior that could easily get someone killed .
Could my horse just maybe only be able to process a certain amount of protein ? That’s why I thought it was the protein because his feed is low sugar, ow carb and high protein content of alfalfa creating the extreme behavior.
Hi Jennie! Sounds like there might be multi-functional factors involved in your horses behavioral issues. Definitely couldn’t blame it on the Alfalfa. Please visit http://www.equiforce.com to schedule a consult if you would like to dig deeper into what might be bothering your fellow! Please stay safe!
How much alfalfa should be added or what is the safe amount to add?
Some horses like racehorses and growing foals can eat 100% alfalfa as their forage source but the amount fed and percentage of diet all depends of what physiological state and level of training or exercise the horse receives on a daily basis.
Is alfalfa safe for hoof health? I don’t believe it’s not, but I ask because my vet told me to take my horse off alfalfa completely for hoof reasons but his hooves are actually pretty healthy (he just had a case of hoof rot from previous owner) and I did but he lost weight quick and so I put him back on it myself and just seems to do so much better with it. Im also about to start feeding him fodder or ‘sprouted grains’. Which again my vet advised me to stay away from but I want to experiment and see how it goes. I feel the ‘rich greens’ are only a problem for hooves if the horse gets an abundant amount too fast without just being on it regularly or being maintenanced better, is this true? Should we be afraid to feed rich greens or embrace them as we do in our own health? 🙂 thanku
Yes, alfalfa is excellent for hoof health as it contains excellent quality protein and amino acids which are needed to make keratin, what hoof is comprised of. Unfortunately, your vet is misinformed and offered you incorrect information. That’s why it’s always wise to check with a nutritionist on nutrition issues! If your horse is not suffering from a metabolic issue the it is perfectly alright to feed fresh pasture and alfalfa. As for the foot rot, that is an environmental problem, related to poor hygiene and perhaps standing in too much wet soil or dirty stall. Use iodine or turpentine to or a hoof formula such as Coppertox to help combat hoof infections. Make sure horse stands in clean bedding and out of wetness for long periods of time.
Hello everyone! I have a 23 year old Morgan mare that is a rescue. I got her when she was 18. She had a stomach ulcer and along with the medication I started giving her soaked alfalfa cubes for the calcium. A few winters ago we had a hay shortage so I added beet pulp to her feeding routine. She has been barefoot since u have had her with great hooves. Last time I bought all of her feed they were out if the alfalfa so I thought it would be okay to increase her beet pulp for a month. Her hooves have started splitting and chipping which they have never done before. I am pretty sure it is from not having the alfalfa. Anyone else have this problem?
There can be many reasons why a horses hooves suddenly become brittle and split, but you cannot simply blame a feed ingredient, like beet pulp, or a nutrient such as calcium as there are many factors that can be involved that lead to such an issue. You mention ulcers and medication – has that been resolved? You mention feeding alfalfa for calcium, but how are you balancing all of her caloric, vitamin, mineral and amino acid needs? There are macro, micro minerals, fat and water soluble vitamins and essential amino acids that must be fed in the correct amount for the individual horse every day in order for all physiological and biochemical processes to take place, especially in a mare as old as she is. If not, over time there will be disorders that become clinical. Environmental factors also must be considered as they change very quickly. For example, mud and wet footing are the main reason hoof quality deteriorates. How is this aged mare managed, both nutritionally and environmentally? Is she eating a balanced diet, turned out to free range and graze in a low stress environment, stabled in clean bedding when kept up, not standing in water etc? If you can provide a bit more information, I would be happy to assist you in trying to find out what has caused the poor hoof quality!
Thank you for this great information! I have always been OK with alfalfa but my Friesian cross gelding shows noticeably more nervous energy on it. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Hi Jennifer, alfalfa is high in energy so it’s probably just providing more calories (energy) than a cold blooded breed like A Fresian cross would require. Generally, grass hay or a grass/legume mix is better suited for that type of horse that is not in your intense trsining, growing or reproducing.
Fresians are a special breed when it comes to alfalfa. I had never heard of their issues with alfalfa until I had a boarder with one who had been educated on the matter. https://activerain.com/blogsview/5423854/facts-about-a-friesian-horse-that-you-should-know
I moved my OTTB to a new barn recently, and he went from almost no turnout daily at the old barn, to about 6 hours of turnout per day at the new barn. He is 10 years old and has lost a lot of weight due to the increase in output/exercise. I just started him on the alfalfa cubes along with his grain and grass hay, and I’m hoping he will put the weight back on slowly, but surely. I started him with 1/2 scoop, soaked and he gobbled it up. Loves it. How many days per week should I feed him the alfalfa cubes to supplement his regular diet regimen?
It is always recommended to feed the same thing each day, so if you are adding cubes to his diet, please do it daily!