Alfalfa is a popular feed ingredient for horses, and for good reason! There are many positive nutritional features of this forage plant. However, not all horses benefit from alfalfa, and there are situations in which to exercise caution when feeding. Understanding the nutritional content of this plant can assist horse owners in making educated feeding decisions.
What is Alfalfa?
There are two main categories of forage plants fed to horses: grasses and legumes. Alfalfa is a legume. The nutritional difference between these two plant types depends on a variety of factors such as soil type, maturity at harvest, and weather conditions. The general nutritional differences are that grasses tend to be more fibrous and legumes have more leaf matter, resulting in higher protein and energy content.
Alfalfa can be added to the diet in a multitude of different ways. There is alfalfa hay, and processed forage options such as cubes and pellets. Additionally, this feed ingredient is incorporated into many pelleted equine products such as ration balancers and performance feeds.
Nutritional Content
Let’s dive into the many benefits of including this feed ingredient in equine diets. Firstly, alfalfa is a high-quality protein source for horses, meaning that it provides essential amino acids. As it is higher in protein than most grasses, it can be used to supplement protein intake for horses that do not have their protein requirements met by the hay that they are maintained on.
Secondly, alfalfa is a calorically-rich fibre option. It is well known that horses have evolved to consume a forage-based diet, therefore relying on higher calorie forages such as alfalfa to meet increased calorie demands instead of starchy grains can be beneficial to their gastrointestinal health.
Relying on high-calorie forages such as alfalfa instead of starchy grains can be beneficial to the gastrointestinal health of horses with elevated nutritional requirements. (James C / Pixabay)
Another positive to this plant is that it is lower in hydrolysable carbohydrates (HC). It is a common myth that alfalfa is not an appropriate feed ingredient for metabolic horses, but it is generally lower in starch and sugar than many grasses. Therefore, in terms of starch and sugar content, it is generally accepted as safe to feed horses with insulin dysregulation. Despite this, if your metabolic horse is an easy keeper or overweight, alfalfa is not an appropriate forage to feed due to the higher caloric content.
A final consideration in regard to the nutritional content of alfalfa is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Alfalfa is a great source of calcium, but when large amounts are fed it can skew the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the diet. This can easily be addressed in the diet by adding additional phosphorus sources (wheat bran, rice bran, soybean meal, beet pulp), and if you work with a qualified equine nutritionist, they will be able to ensure that the overall dietary ratio is within the acceptable range.
Practical Applications
With the greater nutritional content than many grasses, alfalfa is commonly used for horses that have elevated nutritional requirements beyond maintenance levels. Growing horses, performance horses, broodmares, senior horses, and even horses with recurring gastric ulcers can benefit from alfalfa being included in their diet.
Growing horses require nutritional support to promote optimal growth. Alfalfa can be incorporated into their program as a quality protein source. However, with the higher amounts of calories and the elevated calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, care must be taken to balance their diet as rapid growth resulting from excess calories in the diet can increase their risk of developmental orthopedic disease.
Working and performance horses are another group that have higher nutrient requirements. Alfalfa can be incorporated into the diet to support their increased needs without solely relying on grain-based concentrates. These horses also tend to be those that are at a higher risk of developing squamous gastric ulcers. Incorporating alfalfa hay in their diets is thought to be beneficial to reduce the risk of gastric ulceration, as the high levels of calcium can act as a gastric buffer.
Broodmares, especially during lactation, have significantly increased nutrient requirements. In many cases, it can be challenging to meet their nutrient requirements without overloading them with concentrates if the hay they are fed is not of adequate quality. Replacing some of their grass forage intake with alfalfa can be beneficial for increasing their calorie and protein intake.
Another great application of alfalfa is for senior horses, who often struggle to maintain both their body weight and muscle as they age. These horses are also at a greater risk of developing Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), commonly referred to as Cushing’s disease. Using alfalfa as a quality protein source that is providing supplemental calories and is lower in starch and sugar when compared to many grass forages can be beneficial in these cases.
When to be Cautious
Although alfalfa is a great feed ingredient for numerous types of horses, there are classes of horses that should not be consuming alfalfa, and there are some additional safety considerations to be aware of:
- Horses that easily maintain their body condition, or are overweight, do not need a nutrient-dense forage like alfalfa. Despite it being low in starch and sugar, if your metabolic horse is an easy keeper, it not a good candidate for alfalfa inclusion in the diet.
- The high protein content can also cause health concerns for horses that have kidney or liver issues. Even in healthy horses, it is also not advised to feed a large proportion (greater than 25-30%) of your horse’s forage intake as alfalfa due to the higher protein content.
- Additionally, horses that are prone to bladder or kidney stones should have controlled calcium intake, making alfalfa an unacceptable forage choice for these horses.
Take-Home Message
Overall, alfalfa is a great forage option for many horses, and with the convenience of processed forages like pellets and cubes, can be easily incorporated into equine diets. Horses that have higher protein and energy requirements could benefit from the inclusion of alfalfa in the diet. When using forages that have higher protein and energy contents, it can decrease the amount of concentrate required. However, as this is a richer forage, it is not a good match for all horses.
If you are curious about adding alfalfa for your horse’s diet, it is recommended to consult a qualified equine nutritionist, as they will be able to take a comprehensive approach when balancing your horse’s diet and evaluate all aspects.