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  Discussion on Forms of alfalfa appropriate in ulcer prevention
Author Message
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 - 12:00 pm:

Good quality alfalfa hay is at a premium in Texas right now because of our extreme DrOught conditions. In the past, our show horses were fed free choice alfalfa during show season. That will not be possible this year.

Will other forms suffice, such as pellets, chops, or cubes?

In addition to twice daily pelleted feed, our program also includes a medium quality alfalfa/timothy mixture hay, along with soaked shredded beat pulp mixed with rice bran. Supplements include rice bran emulsion and oil (generally dac, but right now it's wheat bran oil because I found it on sale.)

Fitting schedule allows for turnout in a .5 acre pasture for about 8 hours a day, but grazing is pretty much gone by this time of the year.

Work schedule includes long trotting and backing, with a 2 on/1 off/2 on/ 2 off routine.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 - 12:23 pm:

Hello Michelle,
Certainly cubes or chopped alfalfa will be a good substitute. Pellets may not provide enough long stem roughage to regulate good bowel transit.
DrO
Member:
lrhughes

Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 - 1:04 pm:

DrO,
In the cold months we turn our horses out in the CA foothills. This year we've had no rain, so roughage type grazing is not abundant, though it is present. We feed alpha 3 times a week as no one lives on our place and we pay a person to come and feed. Is this approach asking for trouble? Our horses have generally lived to about 30 years of age, but I keep reading about the need for frequent feeding. I know from observation that many wild horses live on sparse feed during annual periods of poor forage availability. They seem to do well even so. Can you comment?
Thank you,
Member:
cmatexas

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 17, 2012 - 2:00 pm:

Thank you, Dr. O. I will make the changes.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Jan 20, 2012 - 6:18 pm:

Hello LRH,
I believe we can help you with your question but let me get you started off right so you can get the best answer as quick as possible.

You will get more responses if you start your own discussion rather than post at the bottom on another member's discussion. Each discussion is "owned" by the original poster and all replies in that discussion should either directly or indirectly address the concerns of the original poster.

We do have a better article covering your topic where you can start your discussion. You will find it at HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Equine Nutrition, Horse Feeds, Feeding » Equine Nutrition an Overview of Feeding Horses. This will be a Article Page on this topic. Below the article you will find a list of already existing discussions on this topic. Under this list you will find the "Start New Discussion" button. You should first review the article as it will have important information on your subject. Next check the titles of the already existing discussions to see if your question has already been answered.

If your question remains unanswered, now is the time to Start a New Discussion. Select a short title that describes your specific concern. A title like "Help!!!" does not help others find your specific topic. Instead something like "Ace for Colic?" allows others to rapidly find and understand what your topic is about just by viewing the title. This is likely to bring more responses from those with some experience with your topic and allows members to find answers to their questions quicker.
DrO
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