Alfalfa, a legume known for its resilience and nutritional value, offers several benefits for horses during winter. Its high protein and mineral content, along with essential vitamins, can supplement a horse’s diet when pasture grazing is limited. Alfalfa’s drought, heat, and cold tolerance makes it a reliable forage option.
What Makes Alfalfa a Good Winter Feed for Horses?
Alfalfa is a perennial, clover-like plant in the pea family that is widely cultivated for hay, pasture, and silage. It stands out due to its tolerance for drought, heat, and cold, as well as its remarkable productivity and the quality of its herbage. Alfalfa’s nutritional composition makes it a valuable addition to a horse’s winter diet.
Nutritional Benefits of Alfalfa
Green leafy alfalfa hay is very nutritious and palatable to livestock, containing about 16 percent proteins and 8 percent mineral constituents. It is also rich in vitamins A, E, D, and K.
Alfalfa as a Soil Improver
Similar to many other members of Fabaceae, alfalfa plants house symbiotic soil bacteria (rhizobia) in their root nodules to “fix” nitrogen from the air into the soil, thus making it accessible to other plants. When grown as a cover crop or as part of a crop rotation, alfalfa improves the soil nutrient levels and lessens the need for synthetic fertilizers.
Alfalfa’s Root System
The primary root of alfalfa can attain great depths, an adaptation for drought tolerance. In porous subsoils, taproots as long as 15 metres (50 feet) have been recorded in plants over 20 years of age. The roots of seedlings also grow rapidly, reaching soil depths of 90 cm (3 feet) after two months and 180 cm (6 feet) after five months. These long taproots also improve soil quality by decreasing soil compaction.
Alfalfa’s Regrowth Capacity
Alfalfa has a remarkable capacity to rapidly regenerate new stems and leaves following cutting. As many as 13 crops of hay can be harvested in a single growing season because of this abundant regrowth.
People Also Ask (PAA) Section
How does alfalfa compare to grass hay for horses?
Alfalfa generally has a higher protein and calcium content than grass hay, making it a richer feed source. However, this also means it should be fed in moderation, especially to horses prone to metabolic issues. Grass hay is typically lower in calories and carbohydrates.
Can alfalfa help horses maintain weight in winter?
Yes, alfalfa can be beneficial for helping horses maintain or gain weight during the winter months. Its high protein and calorie content provide the energy needed to stay warm and active when temperatures drop.
Are there any risks associated with feeding alfalfa to horses?
While alfalfa is nutritious, overfeeding can lead to health problems such as obesity, digestive upset, and mineral imbalances. Horses with kidney issues may also have trouble processing the high calcium content. It’s best to introduce alfalfa gradually and balance the diet appropriately.
Alfalfa can be a valuable component of a horse’s winter diet, offering essential nutrients and energy during colder months. Its high protein, mineral, and vitamin content, combined with its resilience as a crop, make it a reliable forage option when pasture is limited.
Would you like to learn more about other ways to supplement your horse’s diet during the winter?