Feeding Young Horses Alfalfa
Is it okay to feed a growing 3-year-old horse alfalfa hay? An equine nutritionist weighs in.
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On average, alfalfa hay is typically higher in calories, protein, and calcium versus a grass hay type. | Photo: Thinkstock
Q.I recently started feeding my ulcer-prone performance horse a small portion of alfalfa hay for gut health. I often turn my growing 3-year-old out with him. Is it okay for my youngster to get alfalfa as well?
—Via e-mail
A.Alfalfa, as with any hay, will vary in nutrient content based on many factors: maturity at cutting, number of cuttings, and storage methods, for example
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Kristen M. Janicki, a lifelong horsewoman, was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and later attended graduate school at the University of Kentucky, studying under Dr. Laurie Lawrence in the area of Equine Nutrition. Kristen has been a performance horse nutritionist for an industry feed manufacturer for more than a decade. Her job entails evaluating and improving the performance of the sport horse through proper nutrition.
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