Other potential health benefits
- Improved metabolic health One traditional use of alfalfa is as an antidiabetic, or blood sugar-lowering, agent. ...
- Menopause symptom relief Alfalfa is high in plant compounds called phytoestrogens, which are chemically similar to the hormone estrogen ( 8 ). ...
- Antioxidant effects Alfalfa has a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine to treat conditions caused by inflammation and oxidative damage. ...
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What are alfalfa cubes for?
Alfalfa cubes can be used in feeding programs to replace a portion or all of the forage that horse owners would feed their horses.
Can I feed alfalfa cubes instead of hay?
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.
How much alfalfa cubes should a horse eat a day?
should eat approximately 16 pounds of alfalfa cubes per day. Horses are individuals, and you should adjust their diet based on their fitness level and body condition. If you notice your horse losing weight, feeding 1.5% of its body weight in alfalfa increase the volume of cubes you're providing.
How long should you soak alfalfa cubes?
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.
Will alfalfa cubes put weight on a horse?
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 soak alfalfa cubes overnight?
In the winter, we'll soak it in cool water 12ish hours prior to feeding and then store it in a heated tack room. In the summer, we soak it immediately before feeding to avoid fermentation and attracting flies. But I probably wouldn't go longer than 12 hours or so. I've often soaked overnight no problem.
Are 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.
Are alfalfa cubes good for older horses?
Alfalfa cubes are an excellent source of nutrition for horses, and can be used for everything from putting weight on a skinny horse, to maintaining weight on a pregnant, nursing, or heavily worked horse, to ensuring an older horse receives the nutrition he needs.
Can too much alfalfa cause laminitis?
Alfalfa hay can cause horses to founder and develop laminitis due to the excess nutrients provided by the high quality hay if too much is fed.
Is alfalfa good for ulcers?
Alfalfa has become popular for the management of gastric ulcers. Alfalfa's high calcium content is responsible for its potential protective qualities; the high levels of calcium act to buffer the stomach acid and prevent damage to the stomach lining.
How many alfalfa cubes equal a flake?
As per a general assumption, one alfalfa cube is equal to one hay flake(even if it appears huge). The default weight of alfalfa cube and hay flake is around 5lbs but it can be more or less.
Can you soak alfalfa cubes in hot water?
Alfalfa cubes can give off a distinct smell, which some may find offensive or off-putting, and this may be especially true when using hot water to soak cubes during the winter.
Are hay cubes as good as hay?
Controlled feed intake – It is easier for the horse owner to monitor and regulate the daily intake of cubed forage than long-stem hay. Consistent nutrient content – The nutrient levels found in cubes tend to be more consistent than hay.
Can you feed alfalfa pellets instead of hay?
If your animals are on pasture all day long, and you are just giving them something to munch on in the barn, then yes, you can give them pellets instead of hay because they've just spent all day eating things that required a lot of chewing.
Can alfalfa pellets replace hay for horses?
These pellets do not have particles big enough to stimulate the horse's digestive tract. This means that alfalfa pellets, while good for the horse, do not promote a healthy tract. They lack long-stem fibers and cannot replace hay. However, they can replace the calories that hay provides safely.
What to feed horses when there is no hay?
Six Hay Alternatives for HorsesBagged chopped forage. It can replace all of your horse's hay, if necessary.Hay cubes. Chopped cubed hay (usually alfalfa or timothy or a combination) is another 100-percent replacement. ... Hay pellets. ... “Complete” feed. ... Beet pulp. ... Soybean hulls.
What is cubed feed?
Cubed feed for larger livestock. An excellent source of protein and roughage for all classes of horses and large livestock. Alfalfa Cubes are formed by coarsely grinding Premium Colorado Sun Cured Long Stem Alfalfa and forcing it through a large dye.
Is Alfalfa forage good for horses?
Alfalfa forage is moderately high in protein, calories, and digestible fiber and is low in sugar. Larger livestock such as maintenance horses, light to moderate work horses, heavy work horses, lactating mares, and growing foals.
Nutritious herb may help prevent or treat certain illnesses
Barbie Cervoni MS, RD, CDCES, CDN, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist.
What Is Alfalfa Used For?
Alfalfa is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense food. According to the USDA Nutrient Database, one cup of alfalfa sprouts has only 8 calories but delivers 0.2 grams fat, 0.7 grams carbohydrate, 0.6 grams fiber, and 1.3 grams protein.
Possible Side Effects
Alfalfa sprouts are considered safe and nutritious but may cause side effects in some people. Due to its high fiber content, consuming raw alfalfa can cause gas, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea.
Dosage and Preparation
Alfalfa supplements are widely available in vitamin shops as well as many health food stores. It is also sold as an herbal tea, tincture, tablet, powder, and dried herb. Fresh alfalfa sprouts can be purchased in many grocery stores.
What to Look For
There are a number of things to consider when eating fresh alfalfa or taking alfalfa in supplement form.
A Word From Verywell
Alfalfa sprouts may be tasty and healthy, but there is no evidence they can treat or prevent any diseases or health conditions. Moreover, fresh alfalfa sprouts pose a potential risk to young children, older adults, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system.
What are top of the rockies cubes?
From the producer to the performer, TOP OF THE ROCKIES Horse Cubes have gained popularity as an alternative to feeding long-stem hay. With reduced feed waste and a dependable year round supply, horse owners are finding that alfalfa cubes can be used in their feeding program to replace a portion or all of their forage needs. While mainly used by horse owners, TOP OF THE ROCKIES Horse Cubes can be used to feed other large animals such as cattle. Reduced dust and reduced storage requirements give any owner an added advantage to their program. TOP OF THE ROCKIES Horse Cubes is a baled hay replacement made from top quality alfalfa.
Can horses eat alfalfa cubes?
Horses that are fed alfalfa cubes tend to eat all the cubes provided, whereas horses fed long-stem alfalfa hay will sort through the hay and not eat the hay offered. Research in Colorado reported that mature horses fed alfalfa cubes maintained their body weight better than horses fed equal amounts of long-stem hay.
How to store alfalfa cubes for horses?
Alfalfa cubes are prone to spoilage, so store them in a dry, weatherproof area, such as a garage or watertight shed. Cubes for horses typically come in 50 pounds (23 kg) bags.
How to feed a horse alfalfa?
1. Start by replacing 1/4 of your horse’s old feed with alfalfa cubes. Add alfalfa cubes to your horse’s diet gradually, as sudden dietary changes can cause health issues. If alfalfa cubes will be its primary feed, replace 1/4 of its old feed with alfalfa cubes. Mix the cubes with its old feed to get its digestive tract ...
How to mix hay cubes with feed?
Place a serving of cubes into a nylon hay net, a mesh laundry bag, or another bag made of a material that will allow drainage. Set the net or bag in a large bucket, then use a hose to add enough water to cover the cubes. Let the cubes soak, pull the net or bag out of the bucket, then mix the cubes and the old feed together in your horse’s trough.
How to find a horse's favorite feed?
Experiment with the feed’s consistency to find your horse’s favorite. Some horses prefer a soupy consistency, while others like cubes that are just slightly softened. If your horse seems picky about its new feed, try experimenting with the amount of water you use and length of time you let the cubes soak.
Do you soak cubes for horses?
It’s vital to soak the cubes if your horse has a history of choking or chewing problems. While soaking isn’t absolutely necessary if your horse doesn’t have these issues, most horses prefer the consistency of soaked cubes.
Is alfalfa good for horses?
This article has been viewed 13,294 times. Alfalfa cubes are a nutritious and convenient horse feed option. They can help manage a range of horse health issues, and they’re easier to store and transport than bales of hay. Horses don’t tolerate sudden dietary changes, so introduce alfalfa cubes over the course of 10 days.
Can you supplement alfalfa cubes?
If you’re supplementing your horse’s diet with alfalfa cubes, you should still introduce them gradually. For instance, if alfalfa cubes will comprise 50% of its diet, start by replacing 25% of its old feed with alfalfa.
Premium Alfalfa
Alfalfa Hay is a main staple and one of the most highly sought after forages in the world. Grown in the Snake River Basin of Idaho, our Alfalfa Cubes contain some of the highest protein of any forage grown in the United States.
Before and After
Cubeit Hay Co. free choice and a good grain, twice daily. This is a 60 day difference on this 3yr old….with about 45days riding.
Why is alfalfa good for soil?
If you are growing your own alfalfa, you have the added benefit of the plant loosening your soil. It puts down very deep roots that help to aerate and break up clay-like soils.
What is alfalfa powder made of?
Some forms are also produced from fermented alfalfa seeds. These are then dried out and ground into a fine powder as well.
How to keep alfalfa from turning brown?
Loosely mixing the soil through your fertilizer should prevent this problem. Finally, as alfalfa pellets or cubes break down, they can turn brown and look unappetizing in a garden. You can simply hide them with some mulch if you’d like. Otherwise, soaking the pellets or cubes in water until they break apart is best.
What is the NPK value of alfalfa meal?
Alfalfa meal fertilizers have multiple benefits in the garden. The NPK value is usually balanced, somewhere around 3-1-2. But it doesn’t stop there. There’s many trace elements in this meal which make plants thrive. Vitamins such as A, B, and E are present in the meal, as well as minerals like magnesium and iron.
What is Zilla bedding?
Zilla Reptile Bedding and Litter is mostly alfalfa meal. It includes a small amount of rice bran, which acts as a binder. What I like about this is the fine pellet size. You can blend the pellets directly into the soil and allow them to break down with this one!
What is the process of fermentation of alfalfa?
Once they’re at full size and have started to flower, the adult plants should be cut down and fermented. This fermentation process is anaerobic, or done without air. During fermentation, the sugars convert to acids like lactic acid. Silage, or haylage as alfalfa silage is sometimes called, is the finished product.
How to grow alfalfa from seed?
It’s surprisingly easy to grow a crop of alfalfa. Broadcast your seeds over the surface of your soil. You can cover them with a thin layer of soil or just water them in. They’re slow to get started, but once they start putting up foliage, they can reach 3 feet in height.
