Alfalfa for Winter Feeding: Supporting Equine Health in the Winter Months
As winter fast approaches, as a horse owner, it’s your responsibility to ensure your horse is ready for the cold weather ahead. The winter comes with a range of factors to consider, including your horse’s diet. As temperatures drop, your horse will use more energy to keep themselves warm. They will also require nutrients to support the immune system to ensure they remain in good health throughout the winter. This is where alfalfa comes in. Let’s take a closer look at how alfalfa can support equine health in the winter months.
The Nutritional Value of Alfalfa
Let’s take a closer look at the nutritional value of alfalfa that makes it a good addition to your horse’s diet over the winter:
High-quality Protein
Your horse may require assistance when it comes to maintaining condition and muscle tone during the winter months when access to good-quality grazing is reduced. Alfalfa has a high protein content and contains essential amino acids that are necessary for muscle maintenance and overall health. Alfalfa hay is commonly fed in the United States or Europe and typically contains over 20% protein, whereas grasshays will typically have around 8-10% protein. In the UK, alfalfa is generally fed in smaller quantities alongside grass hay as a chopped fibre and is a great way to boost your horse’s intake of quality protein over the winter months.
Vitamins and Minerals
Nutrients are essential during the winter months to keep your horse healthy and to support the immune system. When there is reduced access to fresh pasture, the intake of vitamins and minerals may be limited. Alfalfa provides good levels of key nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and vitamin A to support your horse during the colder months. However, alfalfa alone will not provide a fully balanced diet and so should be fed alongside the correct levels of a suitable balancer or vitamin and mineral supplement.
Energy
Alfalfa is energy-dense and highly digestible, making it a great alternative to other types of chopped fibers for supporting weight and condition. The fermentation of fiber in the hindgut also allows your horse to generate internal heat as a by-product, which can be especially important for older horses during the colder months. Alfalfa is also a good option for horses that are prone to winter weight loss, as it provides energy for weight gain without the need for cereal-based concentrate feeds.
Digestive Health
Alfalfa can also support your horse’s digestive health throughout the winter. It provides an additional fibre source, which can be helpful alongside your horse’s normal hay or haylage ration to reduce the risk of issues such as colic during the winter when your horse may be less active and have limited forage options. It also acts as a buffer to acidity within the horse’s stomach due to the higher calcium content.
Feeding Alfalfa in Winter
If you think your horse would benefit from alfalfa in the winter months, be sure to balance their diet to suit individual needs. You can do this with the help of your feed company’s nutrition helpline or an independent equine nutritionist to ensure your horse’s requirements are being met. Make sure you introduce alfalfa into your horse’s diet slowly to reduce the risk of any digestive upset and monitor their weight and condition so that any changes can be made accordingly.
