Can I feed alfalfa cubes instead of hay?

The nutrient levels found in cubes tend to be more consistent than hay. Alfalfa cubes are sold with a guaranteed minimum nutrient content. Reduced dust. Cubes have little dust and are therefore a good alternative to hay for horses with certain respiratory problems.

Can you replace hay with alfalfa cubes?

Forage cubes can be fed just like hay, at a 1:1 ratio of the like hay type the horse currently consumes. For example, you would replace five pounds of alfalfa hay with five pounds of alfalfa cubes and adjust the amount if needed to maintain the animal's proper weight.

Can alfalfa cubes replace hay for horses?

Alfalfa cubes are chopped and compressed but not pulverized like pellets. Therefore, they provide some benefits of long-stem forage and can safely replace hay in an equine diet.

Can you feed alfalfa pellets instead of hay?

If you feed them with a long-stem fiber source, the pellets can replace calories lost when hay is unavailable or scarce. To learn more about alfalfa pellets and other options for feeding your livestock, contact Sacate Pellet Mills at 602-237-3809.

Are hay cubes better than hay?

Because of how they're processed and stored, cubes typically have less dust and lower propensity to mold. Transporting cubes is much easier than loading flakes of hay as well. As much as 20% of conventional baled hay may be wasted when fed1, while cubes have little waste.

Ask the Vet - Should I feed alfalfa cubes or alfalfa pellets?

What can I feed my horse instead of hay?

Can you feed alfalfa cubes dry?

Alfalfa cubes can be fed dry, and your preference may even be to do so, since it reduces the mess a little bit: no alfalfa cube mash to have to clean from buckets, stall walls, and even the horse himself.

Are alfalfa cubes as good as alfalfa hay?

The nutrient levels found in cubes tend to be more consistent than hay. Alfalfa cubes are sold with a guaranteed minimum nutrient content. Reduced dust. Cubes have little dust and are therefore a good alternative to hay for horses with certain respiratory problems.

How many alfalfa cubes should I feed my horse?

Alfalfa cubes are more appropriate either for lactating mares or growing horses and as a partial forage substitute. While up to 15 lbs or more can be fed per day, as little as 2 to 6 lbs of cubes per day can be used as a “hay extender” if only poor quality hay is available in limited quantities.

What happens if a horse eats too much alfalfa?

Alfalfa hay can cause diarrhea in a horse that overeats it because the hay is rich and full of nutrients. Overeating alfalfa can also cause a horse to have excess gas, develop laminitis, and founder.

Will alfalfa cubes help a horse gain weight?

Alfalfa is higher in calories and protein than grass hays, which makes it an excellent choice to help to add weight to a thin horse. If your horse tends to be wasteful with his hay, he may eat more when offered alfalfa hay cubes or pellets.

Can you feed a horse just hay pellets?

Horses often eat hay pellets faster than traditional hay because the smaller, ground particles are easy to chew and swallow. Hay pellets also do not provide any long-stem forage. However, for horses with poor teeth, soaking these pellets can still provide important fiber and nutrients.

How long do you soak alfalfa cubes for horses?

Soaked alfalfa cubes are easier to eat, and they contain more nutrients than grass hay. Before feeding an older horse, soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they're soft and soupy. If necessary, experiment with soaking methods and keep an eye on your horse's feeding habits to find its preferred consistency.

Are alfalfa cubes better than pellets?

DR LYDIA GRAY: So if you think about the space that a pound of cubes takes up, and a pound of pellets takes up, and a pound of hay, it's very different. So it's important to weigh anything you feed your horse. OK. So research has shown there's no difference in the digestibility.

Are alfalfa pellets as good as alfalfa hay?

A 1991 study compared horses that were fed long-stem alfalfa hay vs alfalfa pellets. The study showed there was no differences in digestibility for energy, protein, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and the trace minerals copper, zinc and manganese.

Are hay cubes the same as hay?

Reduced storage requirements – Cubes are denser than hay and therefore require less storage space. Approximately 3 bags of cubes fit in the same area as an average-sized, small-square bale of hay. Ease of handling – Cubes can be mechanically handled in bulk.

Can you feed alfalfa pellets without soaking?

The pellets can be fed dry, but many horses prefer them to be soaked in water and fed as a mash. For young horses, old horses, and those with dental issues, soaking the pellets first may be a necessity.

Do you have to soak hay cubes for horses?

If the cube is not properly chewed, the horse can potentially choke. Most horses will properly chew forage cubes. However, for any horse that is new or naïve to forage cubes, tends to bolt their feed, or with poor dentition, it is recommended to soak the cubes in water prior to feeding them.

What is a substitute for hay?

They can be made from grass or legume hay, but the most common sources are timothy and alfalfa. Although they are more expensive than traditional baled hay, these alternatives are both dust- and mold-free, can be easily stored for long periods of time and often come with a minimum basic nutritional analysis on the bag.

Are hay cubes good for horses?

As your horse is recovering from a colic episode, the most important thing is to provide high-quality forage as grass pasture, hay, cubes, or a combination of these. Soaking the cubes can increase water consumption that may help prevent dehydration and act as a carrier for powdered supplements and medications.

Do horses need hay everyday?

Response: An adult horse at maintenance will consume between 2 – 2.5% of their bodyweight in feed (hay and grain) each day. For example, a 1,000 pound horse fed a 100% hay diet would consume 25 pounds of hay each day.

Can you soak alfalfa cubes overnight?

In the winter, when it's cold, I can soak the pellets overnight outside, or in an unheated garage. The pellets can still be okay after 12 hours, if it's cold enough. However, my preference, when possible, whether hot or cold weather, is to feed them after 5 hours of soaking.

Is it cheaper to feed hay or pellets?

More Expensive

​Pelleted, cubed and chopped forage costs more per pound than baled grass hay.

Is alfalfa hard on horses kidneys?

Alfalfa (lucerne) products, whether hay, cubes, or pellets, are not known to cause kidney problems in horses.