Can alfalfa cubes cause colic?
Alfalfa cubes and pellets can cause colic. And pellets are concentrated alfalfa hay, which also increases the risk of colic. A horse will likely eat all the alfalfa cubes they have available, but when fed alfalfa hay, they are picky and often waste some. Overeating alfalfa leads to obesity and colic.
Can you feed alfalfa cubes instead of hay?
Forage cubes can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio of the like hay type the horse currently consumes. For example, you would replace five pounds of alfalfa hay with five pounds of alfalfa cubes and adjust the amount if needed to maintain the animal’s proper weight.
Do you weigh alfalfa cubes wet or dry?
They should be at the least moistened if not soaked as they are dry and create a dry throat and choke opportunity if the horse does not chew well or tries to bolt them down. I would fill a bucket with dry cubes… 20 – 24 quart size {5 gallon}. Weigh it if possible, remember to account & add for the pail weight.
Can you feed just alfalfa?
Generally alfalfa is a good hay to feed horses, but there are caveats: Don’t overfeed alfalfa. Only feed alfalfa if your horse needs extra digestible energy, protein, and calcium.
Will alfalfa cubes help a horse gain weight?
Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.
Should I feed my horse alfalfa cubes?
Alfalfa cubes are an excellent source of nutrition for horses, and can be used for everything from putting weight on a skinny horse, to maintaining weight on a pregnant, nursing, or heavily worked horse, to ensuring an older horse receives the nutrition he needs.
Can horses just eat alfalfa cubes?
How many pounds of alfalfa cubes do you feed a horse?
Alfalfa cubes are more appropriate either for lactating mares or growing horses and as a partial forage substitute. While up to 15 lbs or more can be fed per day, as little as 2 to 6 lbs of cubes per day can be used as a “hay extender” if only poor quality hay is available in limited quantities.
How do you introduce alfalfa cubes to horses?
Adding Alfalfa Cubes to Your Horse’s Diet. Start by replacing 1/4 of your horse’s old feed with alfalfa cubes. Add alfalfa cubes to your horse’s diet gradually, as sudden dietary changes can cause health issues. If alfalfa cubes will be its primary feed, replace 1/4 of its old feed with alfalfa cubes.
Can you feed too much alfalfa?
Too much alfalfa requires a lot of calcium to buffer the acidic metabolites from protein metabolism. If there is not enough calcium available, the body will remove calcium from the bones, joints, and muscles. In addition, alfalfa can overstimulate the pituitary gland.
How many pounds does alfalfa cubes feed a horse?
Can horses eat dry alfalfa cubes?
Dry. Alfalfa cubes can be fed dry, and your preference may even be to do so, since it reduces the mess a little bit: no alfalfa cube mash to have to clean from buckets, stall walls, and even the horse himself.
How much alfalfa cubes should I feed?
When feeding alfalfa cubes to replace hay, you should feed 1 pound of cubes to replace 1 pound of hay. Alfalfa cubes can be found at most farm stores, though in my experience they might be hard to find in the smaller stores. They are usually sold in 50 pound bags.
Can you feed guinea pigs alfalfa cubes?
It depends on what type of hay it is. If it is meadow or timothy hay, they can eat all they hay cubes they want as they won’t have any detrimental effect on a guinea pig. However, they eating too much alfalfa is not good for piggies due to the amount of calcium that it contains. It is better to steer clear of feeding them alfalfa hay cubes as they will harm them.
Can I give my Goat alfalfa cubes?
Nutritionally alfalfa is the same regardless of whether it is pellets, cubes, or hay, but goats really need the long stem forage, such as hay, to keep their rumen working. So, if your goats are not on pasture, you need to provide them with some type of hay , in addition to the alfalfa pellets.
Can I Feed my goats alfalfa cubes?
Alfalfa cubes are finely chopped compressed alfalfa blocks. They are generally not recommended for goats because they can pose a choking hazard. They are very hard in texture and can be kind of big for a goat’s small mouth. Some people soak the cubes overnight in warm water to soften them.