Why feed lucerne chaff

Most equine nutritionists also recommend that magnesium should also be supplemented in the correct ratio to the calcium in the Lucerne. Lucerne is relatively low in sugar and starch, containing about half the amount of cereal hay oaten, barley and wheaten so it doesn't cause large insulin spikes and blood sugar level fluctuations and is very useful as a component of feed for horses with laminitis or metabolic issues such as insulin resistance.

It isn't suitable for horses with HYPP though, because it is too high in potassium. Also, some horses with Cushings do not tolerate the protein in lucerne well. Lucerne is very good for buffering stomach acid and helps to prevent ulcers due to its high pectin content and other types of fibre and minerals eg calcium and magnesium which are alkaline and help neutralise stomach acid.

It is also a good idea to feed a small amount of Lucerne chaff or hay to horses with ulcers before riding them to help buffer the stomach acid. Unlike some other feeds, Lucerne contains no known anti-nutrients like oxalates, phytates, cyanogenic glycosides, goitrogens, enzyme inhibitors etc. It is also relatively low in phytoestrogens, unlike other legumes, eg soy and clover.

Excessive protein intake should be avoided in horses in work because it increases horses' requirements for water necessary to excrete ammonia, the by-product of protein metabolism , urea levels increase in the blood leading to greater urea excretion into the gut, which may increase the risk of intestinal disturbances such as enterotoxaemia, and the level of ammonia in the blood increases, causing a number of problems such as nerve irritability and disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism.

Providing a biscuit or two of lucerne per day is a very good way to improve the amino acid profile and therefore the protein level of the diet, but feeding lucerne as the main or only source of roughage may cause problems due to excessive amounts of protein. It is important to consider the nutritional content of the chaff that you feed.

Wheaten chaff is quite high in fibre and can be used as a low energy roughage. It is a very palatable feed source and can be an excellent source of roughage for horses. Although; if the wheaten chaff has been made from an early cut crop, the wheaten chaff may contain a lot of sugar, which can increase the energy content. A typical analysis of Wheaten chaff may indicate nutritional levels such as: Protein 4. Oaten chaff is high in fibre, it is often considered softer, sweeter, flatter and more palatable than wheaten chaff.

Oaten chaff also often contains high sugar and starch levels and poor mineral levels. The higher sugar level can make oaten chaff very palatable and increases the energy content. A typical analysis of Oaten chaff may indicate nutritional levels such as: Protein 4. Lucerne chaff is very high in protein, calcium and many other vitamins and minerals.

It often contains a lower level of starches and sugars than many cereal or grass chaffs. Therefore it should be given in small doses. The presence of calcium is in direct connection with the presence of phosphorus. Be aware that the amount of phosphorus should always remain smaller than calcium from 1, to — calcium:phosphorus. Due to the level of proteins, alfalfa should be given to horses as a supplement to their diet. Generally speaking, protein-rich hay is said to be of better quality.

However, a balanced diet should be given to the animal, as too much protein can harm horse. Not all horses should be fed this type of hay at all times either.

In a nutshell, feeding Lucerne to your horse can be useful when:. Though it makes for valuable forage when given to the right type of horses, you should be cautious. Some horses may be intolerant to the alfalfa. Others may start behaving oddly once fed with this kind of hay. Why does this happen? It is all about the balance in nutrition.

It is not commonly known that Lucerne is very low in sodium and exceptionally high in potassium Being a legume, Lucerne stores all its sodium in the root of the plant. Almost no sodium is stored in the stem of the plant. This means that when you feed Lucerne to your stock, an additional portion of sodium in the form of salt for example should be given as well. If your horse is already given green grass in their day to day diet, you should think twice about feeding it with Lucerne.

Green grass and grass hay are rich in potassium. Therefore, adding the Lucerne will increase potassium levels — they will skyrocket and this can cause an imbalance in the nutrition. As a result, your horse may become restricted from performing everyday regular activities. An additional problem with Lucerne is the great level of phytoestrogen content. This can create an imbalance in the cycling of mares and later lead to other reproductive issues.

These pigments, once in the bloodstream, are exposed to the UV rays of the Sun and can cause the depigmentation of sensitive horse skin in the nose and legs just above the hoof.

Keep in mind that Lucerne, together with ryegrass and clover can contribute to the photosensitivity of your animal as well. Some horsey people think poorly about the Lucerne hay. This is due to the eventual side-effect it can cause if not fed properly to the horse.

As we have mentioned, the benefits of giving alfalfa to your horse are great. When paying attention to their daily food requirements, Lucerne will cause no harm to your horse. Make sure to check the level of nutrients that your horse needs before feeding it with any kind of hay, not just Lucerne hay.

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