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| Author |
Message |
    
Susan Lenz
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 26, 1999 - 9:30 am: |   |
Hi
I have a pasture that is an alfalfa/grass mix, but right now there seems to be about 80-90% alfalfa, and the grass is coming up much slower. the alfalfa is about 1 foot high now - hasn't bloomed yet. I would like to pasture my horses all day on this - they have been acclimated to it very slowly and are used to it.
Are there problems with them eating so much alfalfa?
I have 2 2-year-olds, 2 mares and foals and an 8 yr old performance horse.
Thanks for your input |
The Advisor Vet, RN Oglesby DVM
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 1999 - 6:47 am: | |
Well it does make for a very protein-energy-calcium rich diet. Though I have no experience with it personally, horses have been grazed successfully on solely leguminous pasture. I would not be concerned about the adults so much but the growing foals may be prone to very rapid growth and this is associated with OCD. The high protein does not seem to be the important factor but the high energy does. Though the calcium-phosphorous balance is not optimal, when errored on the side of high calcium horses are very tolerant.
I think the bottom line is as long as no one is over weight, particularly the foals, you will be fine. You may be at increased risk for OCD, certain types of medical colics, and enteroliths. At the first signs of obesity, ribs not easily felt or being able to place a golf ball on the middle of their back and not have it fall immediately, you will need to limit their access to less than 4 hours a day and provide a much less rich hay while paddocked.
DrO |
Susan Lenz
| | Posted on Thursday, May 27, 1999 - 8:36 am: | |
Thankyou Dr. O. for your help.
I will be keeping a close watch on their weight -I wouldn't keep them turned out so much except that they get very bored in their paddocks - just trying to keep that happy medium between confinement and grazing.
thanks again |
