Hay
The Alfalfa Debate!
Feeding alfalfa hay is one of the most frequently debated issues in all of the horse industry. One vet says not to feed alfalfa hay because it is too hot. The next vet you talk to may say it is all right to feed alfalfa. What should you believe and what about just feeding grass all the time, to be safe? What about just putting your horse out on pasture so you don’t need to worry about him? The truth of the matter is that all of these feeds have their place in the broad spectrum.
Alfalfa/Grass Mix
Where I live we raise three crops of alfalfa hay on a normal water year. If we have a longer growing season, we will get a short fourth cutting. I personally grow a good alfalfa/ grass mix. The grass is an orchard grass with some fescue. I will feed all cuttings to my horses but I will feed it the time of year most beneficial to the welfare of the horse. To understand what I mean by this I might first need to explain how it works from a crop growing standpoint.
Growing Seasons and Trends of Hay – 1st Cutting
Typically the first crop is going to be a little slower to start growing and then will take off on a growing spurt when the crop is about to be harvested. This is due to the temperature of the season and can change slightly from year to year. This crop will also have some of the weeds, native to our area, growing in with the alfalfa and grass. The grass will usually grow a little sooner than the alfalfa in the spring because the cooler nights slow the alfalfa at first. So as the crop nears harvest time the grasses will be heading out, or making seed. I will let those seed heads get almost ripe before I cut the hay, but I will not let the alfalfa bloom before cutting. By doing this I am putting a variety of seeds, which are a good quality, easily assimilated feed into my first cutting of hay, which also has grown at a moderate rate so as to not be too high in protein but does have sufficient protein with a variety of vegetation and not too leafy which is an excellent hay to feed in the early spring to early summer, before it gets too hot.
Second Cutting – Lower Protein content
The second cutting comes on when the weather is beginning to get pretty warm during the days and the nights are cooling a little but are still warm enough to allow the alfalfa to keep growing. The rate of growth is quite fast and therefore lower in protein. This crop will be the one with the most stem and is the one I feed during the hottest time of the year, because I don’t need as much protein to maintain body temperature as I do in the winter or colder months.
Third Cutting – Higher Protein content
By the time the third cutting comes on, the weather has started to cool off quite a bit at night and the growth time is slowed considerably. This causes the protein levels to be quite high. It will be fairly leafy with a very rich eye appeal. The grass in it will be finer than in the first and second cuttings. This cutting is going to be the cutting I feed in the winter time when I need to build more body heat.
Fourth Cutting – Feed with Caution!
The fourth cutting is higher yet in protein and with finer stems and more leaves. I feed it with great care, usually a very small amount with a good filler, like grass. I know I may not represent the vast majority of horse owners. I know, not everyone has the opportunity to choose the optimum feed specialty for their horse. I give you this information to help you understand how the alfalfa varies and help you make your own evaluations as to how to