HorseSport.com - Full Article
This forage plant is an excellent high-quality protein source for many types of horses ‒ but there are some that should not be consuming it.
By: Madeline Boast, MSc. Equine Nutrition | January 16, 2025
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...
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https://horsesport.com/magazine/nutrition/pros-cons-alfalfa-could-your-horse-benefit/
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