|
|
Discussion on Odd Dilemma
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
vera
|
Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 12:15 pm:
So there is this farmer that lives down the road from me that I befriended last summer while working part time at the local farm and home. He came by last night with a round bale that he wanted to give me. Yes, very nice, but it has a lot of alfalfa in it and I don't feed alfalfa at all. Since it was a gift, I had a hard time telling him to take it back so it is sitting in my back yard right now. Would it be OK to mix a small amt of it with my grass hay?
|
Member:
stek
|
Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 12:35 pm:
So long as the quality is decent (not moldy etc) I would think it would be fine to peel off a little and feed it in limited quantities in addition to your regular ration.
I wish someone would DrOp off some free hay to me :-)
|
Member:
mitch316
|
Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 12:42 pm:
Angela, I mix alfalfa with my hay once per day. I would agree with Shannon on the quality, because round bales have a tendency to become moldy. I know some folks that feed pure alfalfa during show season. I use a good quality timothy, fescue, orchard grass hay, and add about half a pound to a pound of alfalfa, usually during their morning feeding before they are let out of their stalls into the pasture. Since they are not used to it, you may want to just add a little at a time, but I call it "crack for horses" because they love it so much, ha.
|
Member:
hollyw
|
Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 12:57 pm:
Angela, do the farmers have to test for blister beetles there where you live? I know that I can't feed alfalfa here in KS unless it has been tested for the beetles, and most of the farmers don't go to the trouble.
I have had bad experience here with round bales being slimy and moldy . . . and baled wet.
Please be careful . . . If it peels off easily and smells good . . . and if you don't have to worry about the danged beetles, then I concur with the other posts. Alfalfa is yummy to horses.
|
Member:
leslie1
|
Posted on Monday, Mar 16, 2009 - 1:41 pm:
Angela
If the bale is clean. Just reach in it, grab a handful and do the smell test. It should smell and look like a small bale. clean and delicious. No mold, no dust.
I fed 5X5 alf/grass round bales this winter. my guys did great on them. Its an easy and inexpensive way to feed...if your farmer knows how to properly bale large bales of Alf/grass!
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 - 12:26 am:
Hello Angela,
the article on Alfalfa gives specific recommendations on adapting a horse to alfalfa but you should also consider the effects of the alfalfa on the overall nutrition and the horse's condition.
DrO
|
Member:
vera
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 - 10:49 am:
I really don't want to feed it at all. My horses are doing fine with the grass hay and a small amt of concentrate. I don't know what to do with this huge bale in my backyard now. I guess I should call my friend and have him take it back. This is hard for me.
|
Member:
leslie1
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 - 11:05 am:
Can you donate it? If you have someway to load it on a trailer.
L
|
Member:
hollyw
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 - 11:12 am:
Have you considered raising Easter Bunnies??  or Easter Guinea pigs?? Got goats? How 'bout a milk cow or a beef calf?
|
Member:
juliem
|
Posted on Tuesday, Mar 17, 2009 - 10:10 pm:
Could you post an ad on craigslist? "Free hay, you haul" would probably get someone's attention. Sort of seems ungrateful I know.
|
Member:
scooter
|
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 - 8:21 am:
Angela I am in Il also. Here in the No. part of the state blister beetles are not a problem.
If I were you I would just peel off a little a day and give it to the horses as a "treat" mine love alfalfa and it is good for them unless they are easy keepers and even then, given as a treat should be ok, I do that with mine and they think they died and went to heaven!!! Just be sure to cover it as it can mold easily outside in the weather if it warms up and rains.
|
Member:
vera
|
Posted on Wednesday, Mar 18, 2009 - 10:12 pm:
thanks for the suggestions guys
|
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 - 9:39 am:
The clover in my pasture has got a white milky covering looking like mildew . Is it safe to let horses eat it ?
|
Member:
mrose
|
Posted on Sunday, Jul 5, 2009 - 11:15 am:
I would be afraid of it. I don't know what kind of clover it is, but some clovers can get fungi that are deadly to horses.
|
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 6:51 am:
I don't know what kind of clover it is . Will try ti identify it . You are right = it probably is Fungi - I see it also on our wines ( come and taste them in Sept.) . It appears only on one (large) pasture .
Planing to dig out all my pastures and put new seeds in autumn .
I think clover which I have doesn't agree with my horses . They have blisters in their noses - it could be due to the clover .
|
Member:
mrose
|
Posted on Monday, Jul 6, 2009 - 5:26 pm:
Horses can get blisters around their nose and mouth from eating certain weeds as well, I think, as from eating some fungis. Here is a link that has some information, and once on that page, if you go back a page to disorders of the mouth, you might find more info.
https://www.horseadvice.com/horse/messages/4/190350.html
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 7, 2009 - 7:52 am:
For more on identifying common clover pastures see, Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver » Plant Poisoning and the Liver: Hepatotoxicty.
And more on a common fungus that may present as you descrive above see, Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Mouth, Esophagus, and Liver » Slobbering, Salivation, and Clover Poisoning.
DrO
|
Member:
npo33901
|
Posted on Tuesday, Jul 7, 2009 - 11:09 am:
Thank you Dr. O. will do .
AM.
Coincidently , my Violino got diarrhea - when I brought him back from the pasture . Put him on different pasture today and will give him minimum of hard food tonight - mostly hay .
|
|
|
