Soaking Alfalfa Pellets

anglojumper · 09-05-2008, 10:49 AM

so this may seem like a very stupid question... but I was wondering if anyone knows how much alfalfa pellets expand when soaked? do they expand as much as beet pulp?

My horse comes into a stall at night and I am trying to give him a bit more protien by adding some alfalfa pellets and I figured if they are soaked and expand I dont have to give him too much ( really easy keeper) but he tends to spend A LOT of time playing with mashy type things so it might entertain him longer.... I dont want to give him beet pulp because he is already borderline too fat for his age :P

EquineAlberta · 09-05-2008, 10:56 AM

With the complete feed type pellets, I found a 50/50 ratio worked well, but not sure if it will be the same with alfalfa pellets. This makes the pellets a similar consistancy to a non soggy bran mash.

Karen

Texas Paints N Arabs · 09-05-2008, 12:46 PM

I feed alfalfa nuggets to a few of mine and I have found they do not soak up quite as much as beet pulp but I would still leave plenty of room for them to fluff up. Play around with a handful of them until you get the right consistency you think is appropriate.

ToveroMom · 09-05-2008, 12:54 PM

Well alfalfa is a very good pellet to use-to put weight on. if you are looking at it for NOT making him too fat-the beet pulp would probably risk weight gain better.

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09-05-2008, 10:49 AM
anglojumper Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Edmonton Posts: 419	Soaking Alfalfa Pellets so this may seem like a very stupid question... but I was wondering if anyone knows how much alfalfa pellets expand when soaked? do they expand as much as beet pulp? My horse comes into a stall at night and I am trying to give him a bit more protien by adding some alfalfa pellets and I figured if they are soaked and expand I dont have to give him too much ( really easy keeper) but he tends to spend A LOT of time playing with mashy type things so it might entertain him longer.... I dont want to give him beet pulp because he is already borderline too fat for his age :P __________________ Gode Du Bois ( Matador du Bois X Godewind) 2005 16hh Selle Francais gelding

09-05-2008, 10:56 AM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,425	With the complete feed type pellets, I found a 50/50 ratio worked well, but not sure if it will be the same with alfalfa pellets. This makes the pellets a similar consistancy to a non soggy bran mash. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

09-05-2008, 12:46 PM
Texas Paints N Arabs Long Yearling Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,174	I feed alfalfa nuggets to a few of mine and I have found they do not soak up quite as much as beet pulp but I would still leave plenty of room for them to fluff up. Play around with a handful of them until you get the right consistency you think is appropriate. __________________ Horses help take us to a place which we cannot reach by ourselves

09-05-2008, 12:54 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 15,296	Well alfalfa is a very good pellet to use-to put weight on. if you are looking at it for NOT making him too fat-the beet pulp would probably risk weight gain better. __________________ "In America,anyone can be President. That is one of the chances you take" Adlai Stevenson