Is alfalfa hay low in sugar?

I found this to be very puzzling since alfalfa is low in sugar and starch, even lower than most grass hays. Its high protein content, however, makes it more caloric, which can be a problem for IR horses that need to lose weight.

Which hay has the least amount of sugar?

Low sugar hay is extremely important in a horse's diet due to its health properties and the enormous benefits it can offer. While lucerne usually has lower sugar than a lot of grass hays, it more often than not tests HIGHER in sugar, starch & protein compared to our Low Sugar Hay.

Is alfalfa hay high in sugar?

Alfalfa Has Low Starch and Sugar Content

When oil is added as a coating to alfalfa, sugar levels are typically less than 5%. Feeds are rarely (if ever) sugar free, as even straw contains some sugar, but the low-sugar and starch content does highlight the alfalfa health benefits for your horse.

Can a horse with laminitis eat alfalfa?

Feeds with a combined sugar and starch content of less than 10% should be fed to horses with laminitis. If horses are underweight and need to gain condition, consider adding alfalfa-based forages as they contain more calories per pound, but are low in sugars and starches.

What is the best low sugar hay?

The GREAT thing about Rhodes grass hay is it more consistent and reliable in terms of the low starch and sugar content, which makes it a good choice for horses with health issues such as insulin resistance (IR). For IR horses, the guideline is starch and sugar (ethanol soluble carbohydrates; ESC) to be less than 10%.

Ask the Vet - Why you shouldn't feed alfalfa exclusively

What hay is best for laminitic horses?

Generally, a mixture of grass hay and alfalfa is the best hay combination for horses prone to laminitis.

Does grass hay have more sugar than alfalfa?

Horses that have Equine Metabolic Syndrome (insulin resistance) and are prone to laminitis may be sensitive to alfalfa, most likely because alfalfa has more sugar and is higher in starch than most grass hays.

Is alfalfa hard on horses kidneys?

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

What are the benefits of feeding alfalfa to horses?

Alfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. Its concentrations of protein and calcium meet the nutrient needs of horses in high levels of production, such as growth and lactation, but exceed the nutrient requirements of horses in other life stages.

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.

Does alfalfa have more sugar than Timothy?

Alfalfa has more sugar and starch than most grass hays which is a problem for horses at risk of laminitis; so if your horse falls in this category, make sure you talk to your vet before starting them on Alfalfa.

What grasses are low in sugar?

That said, species that are lower in sugars and allow for longer grazing times include timothy, brome orchardgrass, bermudagrass, and teff. Millet and crabgrass are acceptable as well, although millet can have higher sugars when nights are cooler.

Does soaking hay remove sugar?

In addition to removing sugars, soaking also reduces some minerals. Crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations all decrease with soaking.

Is orchard hay low in sugar?

Unfortunately, there is no grass that is consistently low in sugar. Most cool-season grasses, like orchardgrass and fescue, can have high sugar content. Timothy and crested wheatgrass tend to be medium in sugar content, as are most warm season (native) grasses.

Does timothy hay have a lot of sugar?

Timothy hay is considered a medium sugar hay. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent.

Does long grass have less sugar?

Most of the nutritional value is in the blade of the grass. Long grass contains less leaf material and therefore less nutritional value. Long grass also contains less sugar than short grass.

What is the best hay for horses to eat?

Can a horse eat only alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a good source of nutrients for sport horses, but owners might want to avoid offering it when horses are working hard in hot weather, says Duren. Protein metabolism creates more heat than fat or carbohydrate metabolism. This added heat can impair the horse's ability to dissipate heat.

How much alfalfa hay should I feed my horse?

Horses can normally eat 1.5-2% of their body weight in hay, which equates to 18-24 lbs. of hay per day. The quality of the hay will determine how much is needed and if supplemental grain should be added.

Is alfalfa good for senior horses?

Therefore, the key to feeding older horses is to use high quality protein from sources like alfalfa, soybean meal and canola meal without oversupplying their requirements.

Does alfalfa make horses pee more?

Because alfalfa is high in protein and because excess protein will normally be converted to urea, a horse that gets more than its share will urinate more than usual.

Does alfalfa cause bladder stones in horses?

Although it's not known why horses develop bladder stones, one theory is that high levels of calcium in a horse's diet may contribute to the problem, and alfalfa contains significantly more of that mineral than grass hays.

Is alfalfa better than grass hay?

Alfalfa is a very common choice for horse owners to feed. It contains more nutrients than grass hay including protein, calcium, and energy. For example, Alfalfa contains 21.2% protein and 11% simple starches. It is higher in calcium which can be good and bad.

Is alfalfa hay high in carbohydrates?

Most scientists recommend alfalfa hay. Its low carbohydrate content keeps insulin low while providing needed protein to restore catabolized body tissues.

What's the difference between alfalfa and timothy hay?

Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are different nutritionally

Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. Alfalfa contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium compared to timothy hay (Table 1).