Question on feeding alfalfa hay...

cascy · 09-04-2008, 08:30 PM

It's getting close to winter time, so I'm wanting to put on some extra weight to the boys...

Jake was on alfalfa and safe choice when I bought him (see avatar) and now he is currently on 24/7 pasture and strategy.

My main issue is alfalfa hay is not easily acessible around here (or atleast not that I have found) and I don't have a place to store several square bales at the momment either.

I popped in to the local feed store though, and they sell chopped alfalfa in a bad...

So, Seeing as this is "chopped" I can't really tell how much would equal a flake?

Any idea how much I should start him out on and how much we should work up to? Or any other suggestions?

**seerfarm** · 09-04-2008, 08:50 PM

I use the bale in bag Alfalfa...few things I can tell you.

It is processed a bit more so it's protein level won't be as high but it is still good.

It does store longer and easier, will last months in a sealed trash can.

If it is the US Premium Alfalfa Bale in Bag by Purina, it is a #40 lb. bag. So, based on what a flake of hay would weigh, or on the amount you would like to feed, you can weigh it out.

I feed mine just a handful per meal and mix it into the dinner that is wet. It is well tolerated and gives mine just that little extra I want them to have.

Thekidsmum · 09-04-2008, 09:13 PM

chopped hay is called chaff here. Only the best hay is chaffed. There is about a blale of hay to a bag of chaff.

You could also try lucerne pellets. They are often cheaper and more economical.

If you want to use the same amount of chaff as hay then work out how much a biscuit of hay weighs then use the same weight as chaff or pellets.

reiningfan · 09-04-2008, 09:21 PM

I never feed by flake, I always weigh my hay. I would recommend buying a cheap scale and weighing each meal.

blueberry · 09-05-2008, 05:56 AM

Do they have alfalfa cubes where you buy your feed or at a Tractor Supply by you? When hay ran short this spring the BO used those to feed the horses for a few days. The horses really seemed to like them.

PaintsQH · 09-05-2008, 06:02 AM

That sounds like a good idea Seerfarm. My horses would probably like that. We have an abundance of Alfalfa here. Its really cheap right now because there is so much. I buy the compressed so I feed by the pound. Cubes might be good, but dont forget to get the water based ones not the benzoiwhatever based ones. They are too hard

**gbarmranch** · 09-05-2008, 08:16 AM

Cascy, we are using the cubes, soaked, here with some Utium (did I spell that right

) - so far I am very pleased with the results.. fat and sassy - along with pasture and free feed hay.. We can't get good bermuda or alfalfa bales here without paying an arm and a leg.. Besides, this way I can up it a bit for the harder keepers, and cut it back a bit for the porkers..

cascy · 09-05-2008, 08:16 AM

The only place I have found with the cubes is TSC, but those suckers are HARD! I can't break them by hand if I tried! I don't know if they are whatever kind of "based" but I just went with a bag of chopped...

**gbarmranch** · 09-05-2008, 08:20 AM

Ours are too.. but I soak them to soften them up before they are fed.. too big a risk otherwise for choke or impaction...

We are feeding two large coffee cans full of soaked cubes to the adults, with 2 cups of Ultium ( I weighed it out in these measurements, so it equals the correct poundage.. but I don't have the written weight equivilants here at work.. sorry..

) - the alfalfa is equal to one good sized flake.. I have noticed a shine on horses that are generally difficult to get that from unless they have oil in their diet, or are groomed all the time.. and the weight on everyone - including the two mares who still have foals on them - is excellent..

cascy · 09-05-2008, 08:32 AM

gbar, do you know what ya'll are paying for the bag of cubes and how much that bag weights?

The chopped I get is 40 lbs and it's 9-10 dollars a bag (can't remember exactly)

If the other is more price efficent, I will try to find some.

**gbarmranch** · 09-05-2008, 08:37 AM

50 lbs for $11.95.. we buy a pallet at a time since they have a tendency to "run out" - we go through about 5 bags a week with 13 horses.. and 4 or 5 bags of Ultium a month.. it is cheaper then the grain we were feeding, and seems to be doing a better job with the hay we have this year.. good orchard grass...

Now we will switch the mares over to a mare and foal within 45 days or so of foaling.. and we may have to up it a bit when the weather gets cold.. but all feed programs need to be constantly re-evaluated depending on work load, weather, gestation, etc..

nrhareiner · 09-05-2008, 10:39 AM

I feed alfalfa and then either stratagy or Equine Sr. My old broodmare gets Equine Sr Alfalfa and Alfalfa Cubs soked. She puts on good weight during the winter. even better the pasture on the summer. It is all easy for her to eat and digest.

Heidi

ToveroMom · 09-05-2008, 12:57 PM

App 3 lbs of cubes equals out to a nice flake of alfalfa.
I do not soak my alf cubes but I also do not feed the hard cubes with the Bentonite clay as a binder.
I prefer my horses not to eat clay actually

BTW thekidsmom lucerne is alfalfa.

**gbarmranch** · 09-05-2008, 01:03 PM

We ordered the ones specifically without the clay binder.. we get ours at a local feed store - instead of the ones that our TSC carries.. But I still like them soaked.. gets that moisture in their gut as well..

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09-04-2008, 08:30 PM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,020	Question on feeding alfalfa hay... It's getting close to winter time, so I'm wanting to put on some extra weight to the boys... Jake was on alfalfa and safe choice when I bought him (see avatar) and now he is currently on 24/7 pasture and strategy. My main issue is alfalfa hay is not easily acessible around here (or atleast not that I have found) and I don't have a place to store several square bales at the momment either. I popped in to the local feed store though, and they sell chopped alfalfa in a bad... So, Seeing as this is "chopped" I can't really tell how much would equal a flake? Any idea how much I should start him out on and how much we should work up to? Or any other suggestions? __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

09-04-2008, 08:50 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portal, Ga Posts: 7,732	I use the bale in bag Alfalfa...few things I can tell you. It is processed a bit more so it's protein level won't be as high but it is still good. It does store longer and easier, will last months in a sealed trash can. If it is the US Premium Alfalfa Bale in Bag by Purina, it is a #40 lb. bag. So, based on what a flake of hay would weigh, or on the amount you would like to feed, you can weigh it out. I feed mine just a handful per meal and mix it into the dinner that is wet. It is well tolerated and gives mine just that little extra I want them to have. __________________ "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back".

09-04-2008, 09:13 PM
Thekidsmum Weanling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sunny Australia Posts: 242	chopped hay is called chaff here. Only the best hay is chaffed. There is about a blale of hay to a bag of chaff. You could also try lucerne pellets. They are often cheaper and more economical. If you want to use the same amount of chaff as hay then work out how much a biscuit of hay weighs then use the same weight as chaff or pellets.

09-04-2008, 09:21 PM
reiningfan Yearling Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Western Manitoba, Canada Posts: 516	I never feed by flake, I always weigh my hay. I would recommend buying a cheap scale and weighing each meal.

09-05-2008, 05:56 AM
blueberry Yearling Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: great lakes area Posts: 748	Do they have alfalfa cubes where you buy your feed or at a Tractor Supply by you? When hay ran short this spring the BO used those to feed the horses for a few days. The horses really seemed to like them. __________________ Proud horse mom to: Genie the beauty queenie (3yo QH) Tess the best (5yo QH) "To err is human, to forgive is equine"

09-05-2008, 06:02 AM
PaintsQH Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,417	That sounds like a good idea Seerfarm. My horses would probably like that. We have an abundance of Alfalfa here. Its really cheap right now because there is so much. I buy the compressed so I feed by the pound. Cubes might be good, but dont forget to get the water based ones not the benzoiwhatever based ones. They are too hard __________________ My treasures do not clink, they gleam in the sunlight and neigh in the night

09-05-2008, 08:16 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,218	Cascy, we are using the cubes, soaked, here with some Utium (did I spell that right ) - so far I am very pleased with the results.. fat and sassy - along with pasture and free feed hay.. We can't get good bermuda or alfalfa bales here without paying an arm and a leg.. Besides, this way I can up it a bit for the harder keepers, and cut it back a bit for the porkers.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar

09-05-2008, 08:20 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,218	Ours are too.. but I soak them to soften them up before they are fed.. too big a risk otherwise for choke or impaction... We are feeding two large coffee cans full of soaked cubes to the adults, with 2 cups of Ultium ( I weighed it out in these measurements, so it equals the correct poundage.. but I don't have the written weight equivilants here at work.. sorry.. ) - the alfalfa is equal to one good sized flake.. I have noticed a shine on horses that are generally difficult to get that from unless they have oil in their diet, or are groomed all the time.. and the weight on everyone - including the two mares who still have foals on them - is excellent.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar

09-05-2008, 08:32 AM
cascy Kid Safe Join Date: May 2006 Location: arkansas Posts: 6,020	gbar, do you know what ya'll are paying for the bag of cubes and how much that bag weights? The chopped I get is 40 lbs and it's 9-10 dollars a bag (can't remember exactly) If the other is more price efficent, I will try to find some. __________________ To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

09-05-2008, 08:37 AM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,218	50 lbs for $11.95.. we buy a pallet at a time since they have a tendency to "run out" - we go through about 5 bags a week with 13 horses.. and 4 or 5 bags of Ultium a month.. it is cheaper then the grain we were feeding, and seems to be doing a better job with the hay we have this year.. good orchard grass... Now we will switch the mares over to a mare and foal within 45 days or so of foaling.. and we may have to up it a bit when the weather gets cold.. but all feed programs need to be constantly re-evaluated depending on work load, weather, gestation, etc.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar

09-05-2008, 10:39 AM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 727	I feed alfalfa and then either stratagy or Equine Sr. My old broodmare gets Equine Sr Alfalfa and Alfalfa Cubs soked. She puts on good weight during the winter. even better the pasture on the summer. It is all easy for her to eat and digest. Heidi __________________ Double Eagle Photography www.doubleeagleph.com Definision of Gun Control: Hiting what you aim at.

09-05-2008, 12:57 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,296	App 3 lbs of cubes equals out to a nice flake of alfalfa. I do not soak my alf cubes but I also do not feed the hard cubes with the Bentonite clay as a binder. I prefer my horses not to eat clay actually BTW thekidsmom lucerne is alfalfa. __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson

09-05-2008, 01:03 PM
gbarmranch Administrator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 29,218	We ordered the ones specifically without the clay binder.. we get ours at a local feed store - instead of the ones that our TSC carries.. But I still like them soaked.. gets that moisture in their gut as well.. __________________ Quality FoundationQuarter Horses http://home.earthlink.net/~vpgann Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open – Thomas Dewar