Full Answer
What is the difference between alfalfa pellets and hay cubes?
There is no nutritional difference between alfalfa pellets and cubes, so the choice between the two is based on which type your horses prefer and which you prefer to feed and store. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound.
Are alfalfa pellets good for horses?
Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound. Most horse owners know the benefits of feeding alfalfa hay, but with limited room, pellets and cubes are great options. But, there is a lot to choosing the right application for your horse, and storage is just one consideration.
What is the difference between pellets and cubes?
Pellets are not a substitute for long forage in your horses’ diet, Cubes are too hard for most horses to eat in the form they are bought. It’s recommended that each cube be broken into smaller pieces for your horse to eat. Cubes are eaten slower than pellets, which is a good thing.
Can horses eat alfalfa cubes?
But most horses in good health get all the protein they need eating grass and hay. Alfalfa cubes and pellets can cause colic. Two primary causes of colic in horses is overeating, and diets that include grains or concentrated foods. If allowed, horses eat more alfalfa cubes and pellets than is healthy.
Is it better to feed alfalfa cubes or pellets?
There is no nutritional difference between alfalfa pellets and cubes, so the choice between the two is based on which type your horses prefer and which you prefer to feed and store. Alfalfa pellets, cubes, and hay provide the same essential nutrients per pound.
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.
How much alfalfa cubes should a horse eat a day?
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.
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.
Can you feed a horse too much alfalfa pellets?
Alfalfa hay will make a horse hot, or crazy. Not so, if fed appropriately. Alfalfa provides a significant amount of calories; however, an excess of calories in any form, whether from alfalfa, grain or oil, without the exercise to burn them, can result in an excessively energetic horse.
Do you need to soak alfalfa cubes?
Sprayed with Water There's no need to soak them for a long time beforehand, as they will start to soften right away after being sprayed. Just spray and feed!
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 alfalfa cubes replace hay?
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.
How often should I feed my horse alfalfa?
twice a dayIn general, feed hay twice a day; limit alfalfa to one-half of your roughage; and feed grain according to body condition and use of the horse.
Should I feed my horse alfalfa cubes?
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.
Are you supposed to soak alfalfa pellets?
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.
How long should I soak alfalfa cubes?
To properly soak forage cubes, the cubes should be totally submerged in water for approximately 30-60 minutes prior to feeding. This will soften the cubes until they dissolve into short pieces of forage fiber.
Can alfalfa pellets replace hay?
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 does alfalfa pellets do for horses?
Alfalfa pellets are an equine feed that provides a good source of protein, fibre and calcium. Typically, the pellets are soaked before feeding to slow down feed intake and improve ease of chewing for older horses.
What are alfalfa pellets good for?
Used as an animal feed, Alfalfa Pellets are an excellent nitrogen source (up to 5%). Also contains trace minerals and triacontanol, a naturally occurring plant growth promoter, which has been shown to improve the growth and yield of many crops. Pelleted for easy application with NO dust.
How many alfalfa pellets should I feed my horse?
How Many Pounds of Alfalfa Pellets to Feed a Horse? Horses eat 1.5%-2% of their body weight per day, so a 1000 lb horse would need 15-20 pounds of alfalfa pellets or cubes a day. As a general rule, feed 2% of their weight in alfalfa pellets if they are the main meal.
What about cubes?
Cubes are made for horses and cattle, and because the hay has not been completely pulverized, it does require more chewing than pellets do. However, the cubes are too big and hard for goats and sheep to eat. When we sold our cattle and had half a bag of cubes left, I broke them apart into smaller pieces for the goats, but that is not something I would normally do. So, if you find yourself with some cubes, they can be used with sheep and goats with a little work, but the pellets are definitely easier to use with them.
How many cups of feed do Nigerian dwarf bucks need?
For my Nigerian dwarf bucks, that is usually between one to two cups each feeding. If I give them more than that, they get full and walk away before they are completely finished. (And then someone winds up peeing and pooping in the feed pan, which means the leftover pellets are now garbage.)
How much should I feed?
So, don’t confuse hay pellets with grain pellets. They have nothing in common with each other. You can feed the same number of pounds of pellets, cubes, and hay . Since you don’t need to limit most baled hay, there is not really a limit to how much pellets and cubes you can feed.
What to feed Nigerian dwarf bucks?
Grass pellets are also available. If we can’t get enough grass hay for our bucks for the winter, we buy the Standlee Timothy grass pellets for them. I give them a flake of hay twice a day to keep their rumen working and I supplement them with as much hay pellets as they will eat before losing interest. For my Nigerian dwarf bucks, that is usually between one to two cups each feeding. If I give them more than that, they get full and walk away before they are completely finished. (And then someone winds up peeing and pooping in the feed pan, which means the leftover pellets are now garbage.)
Can you feed alfalfa to a ram?
However, keep in mind that alfalfa hay is not appropriate for bucks, wethers, rams, or some horses. If you would not feed alfalfa hay to an animal, then you should not feed alfalfa pellets to that animal.
Can you give pigs 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. Horses and pigs have a single stomach, so none of the above info applies to them.
Do forage pellets chew?
The longer stemmed forage takes more chewing. So, if you only fed them pellets, which are pulverized hay, they would not have to chew much. If you give them cubes, they will have to chew a little more because it has not been chopped up quite as small as the hay in the pellets, but it would still not require anywhere near as much chewing as hay, ...
What is the best pellet for a racehorse?
In any feeding program for racehorses, fiber is always a great cornerstone. The fiber content of Timothy pellets can be a good source of energy that can keep them going for the entire day.
Why do horses eat alfalfa?
Horse owners feed their horses to keep them fit, happy, and healthy. Alfalfa pellets can greatly help in achieving this.
Why do horses need pellets?
Pellets are used to add calories to a horse’s diet without causing issues, unlike grains and starch. Alfalfa pellets, for example, can provide the required calories without contributing to the hot factor. As a result, the majority of the horses are not negatively affected by alfalfa pellets.
Why do horses get fat?
But for non-working horses, there is a tendency that they will get fatter since they won’t be able to burn the excessive calories present in alfalfa. #2. Creates a hot factor. Perhaps, your horse has a kidney or liver problem; you must not feed them diets rich in protein such as alfalfa.
Can you feed a racehorse Timothy pellets?
If you are feeding Timothy pellets to your racehorse, it is possible that it won’t be able to get enough energy that it needs. That is because the energy needed by racehorses cannot be supplied by the Timothy pellets alone, so it is recommended to supplement their diet further with a portion of Alfalfa pellets.
Is Timothy pellet good for horses?
Horse owners discovered that Timothy pellets promote healthy weight, bowel regularity, and good digestion. It is especially great for obese horses or those that are protein sensitive and for horses prone to colic pain. Not only that, but it can also help in attaining a shinier coat.
Can horses eat timothy pellets?
Let us take a look at timothy pellets vs alfalfa pellets. Other than grass and hay, you can also feed your horses with pellets. Most horses can eat pellets faster than hay. That is because the ingredients of pellets are cooked and are therefore digestible.
What is alfalfa pellet used for?from cn-pellet.com
In addition to the above, alfalfa pellets can provide high-quality fiber, rich mineral content, high protein, and are easy to transport, store, and crush. They can also be widely used in sows, rabbits, sheep, geese, ducks and other livestock and poultry.
How many lbs of alfalfa pellets per goat?from dairygoatinfo.com
Lately, since finding a very nice grass hay, I have limited the alfalfa pellets somewhat by measuring out 2-3 lbs per goat and putting it all in a large tub. The dominate ones get their fill then wander off allowing the others to eat.
How much should I feed?from thriftyhomesteader.com
So, don’t confuse hay pellets with grain pellets. They have nothing in common with each other. You can feed the same number of pounds of pellets, cubes, and hay . Since you don’t need to limit most baled hay, there is not really a limit to how much pellets and cubes you can feed.
What about cubes?from thriftyhomesteader.com
Cubes are made for horses and cattle, and because the hay has not been completely pulverized, it does require more chewing than pellets do. However, the cubes are too big and hard for goats and sheep to eat. When we sold our cattle and had half a bag of cubes left, I broke them apart into smaller pieces for the goats, but that is not something I would normally do. So, if you find yourself with some cubes, they can be used with sheep and goats with a little work, but the pellets are definitely easier to use with them.
What happens to alfalfa in a calf trough?from cn-pellet.com
In the calf trough, alfalfa meal will be deposited on the bottom, affecting the cattle's feeding.
How to train goats to eat?from dairygoatinfo.com
I train them by using a rubber strap (instead of the clear shipping plastic they used in the above puc - but the position is correct) to hold the doors up against the front and keep it inside so they can just eat whenever they want to, and they learn that the big metal thing has food in it. Once you are certain they all know to eat from it, you can take the rubber strap off, and goats being goats - will get both nosey and hungry at the same time and push around it with their nose because they can still smell the pellets just under the doors. The first few hours the slamming does startle them, but after a while, when one is eating and that door slams, the others will come running to eat too. And you now how goats are...if they think they are 'getting away' with something, they become obsessed with it
How many cups of feed do Nigerian dwarf bucks need?from thriftyhomesteader.com
For my Nigerian dwarf bucks, that is usually between one to two cups each feeding. If I give them more than that, they get full and walk away before they are completely finished. (And then someone winds up peeing and pooping in the feed pan, which means the leftover pellets are now garbage.)
