Alfalfa vs. Grass
Equestrian News Release
Nearly all horses prefer alfalfa hay to grass hay, but that doesn't mean you should give them a steady diet of it.
Alfalfa, or lucerne, is a perennial legume, in the same family as clover and various bean plants. Alfalfa hay is a good source of energy and protein, but not fiber. Too much alfalfa can cause hyperactivity, obesity, and even colic in horses. Australian clinician Wrangler Jayne Glenn.
"Alfalfa is like chocolate. I limit my alfalfa to less than twenty percent of their overall diet. They're best off with grass hay, just regular cut pasture hay. They just take a bit and go away and come back as they need it. It's like giving a child vegetables."
Grass hay, with its high fiber content and abrasiveness on the teeth, is better for the digestive and dental health of horses. It also allows a horse to eat longer, which is good for his mental health.
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