Alfalfa vs. Grass:
There is a common misconception that only high-quality grass hay will work as a horse?s main source of roughage. There is no reason to think alfalfa hay is harmful to horses when fed properly. Most alfalfa hay contains larger concentrations of both protein and energy than typical grass hay; therefore, alfalfa hay may be a better buy than grass hay when the two types are the same price. Because alfalfa hay is more nutrient dense, care should be taken when feeding alfalfa. 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. If switching from grass hay to alfalfa, less alfalfa is generally required to provide the same nutrients present in the grass hay. The best way to evaluate the amount of hay that should be fed is to monitor the horse?s body condition.

In General:
To avoid digestive and respiratory problems, always visually inspect hay for mold, dust, or other foreign material. When changing feeds, adapt a horse to the change slowly to
avoid digestive upset, such as colic. The more gradual the dietary change, the less chance for digestive upset. Feed sampling, laboratory analysis, and ration evaluation are the best steps to ensure a horse is receiving the required nutrients. Check with a local Cooperative Extension Service office for help in sampling and analyzing feed or to formulate a horse ration.

Horse Health: Botulism in Horses - Feeding Your Horse - Hay Quality and Horse Nutrition - Feeding Horses Free Choice - Choose the right hay for your horse

Feed Optoins: Straight Grass Hay - Grass or Alfalfa Hay? - Identifying Quality Hay - Contaminated Hay - Economical Horse Hay - Hay News