Alfalfa pellets

[happy appy]

I finally found a supplier for Alfalfa pellets but it didn't come with a feeding chart. What amounts do you feed?

 

[chandab]

What are you looking to use it for? Increase protein in the diet? Improve the quality of forage? Replace part of hay? What are the ages and sizes of the horses you wish to feed it to?

Its still hay, and should be fed pretty much the same as you'd feed any "hay". Usually, you can feed a little less of it than baled hay, as there is little to no waste (so the horse pretty much gets all you feed of it).

 

[ohmt]

How much hay and grain are you feeding? The thing to remember about hay pellets is that they can provide nutrition, but do not replace forage for the digestive system, so only feeding small amounts to supplement is best.

 

[happy appy]

I am using it to help increase the protein levels. I am not feeding any grain now and they have access to hay 24/7. it's not for a mini but a rescue pony that I took in. She is 2 but under developed in the muscle department and her top line isn't the best. She has a bit of a hay belly. Now my other minis are good and don't require extra grain. The hay holds them well. I just figured I'd give her something that will be easy for the husband to do after he gets home from work. I am heading back to school next Monday and then I work full time also. This is only for 6 months but i'd like to do something to help her along now that the family can do easily while I'm at work. My days will be starting at 7 am when I leave for school and I wont be getting back until after my shift ends at 10pm. I think the mare is a draft cross but she is only 12 hands at 2 years old. I'm at work so I don't have any pictures with me to post. She coming in on the weight tape at 420lbs.

 

[chandab]

Under those circumstances, I'd probably work towards the alfalfa pellets being about 20-25% of her diet. [if she weighs 420#, she probably needs 9-12# feed per day (if she were in good weight, I'd probably suggest a little less, but since she needs muscle and seems small for her age and breeding I'm going to go with more), so I'd work towards 2-3# of alfalfa pelelts, give a bit of time and see what that does for her. Then increase or decrease accordingly. I'm not one to feed lots of alfalfa, so this might be a very conservative place to start.]

 

[happy appy]

Thanks for the comments! I will start her on it tomorrow. She hasn't had any grain so I hope she eats this.

 

[chandab]

Start small, and she'll probably eat them before the end of the first day (they are usually tasty, so she might eat them immediately). If she seems unsure of the pellets, sprinkle a small amount of the baled hay in with them, she'll get a taste and that's usually all it takes.

 

[LindaL]

If you re going to feed large amounts...break it down into 3-4 feedings...They will digest it much better and can handle smaller amounts more often much better than say 2 large meals.

 

[stormy]

I have been using alfalfa pellets as a hay stretcher this year and found my minis did not take to them right away, it did help to soak them with some sweet feed to get them going...within a very few days they were all cleaning them right up and will eat them dry now though I still prefer to soak them to increase water intake in the winter weather.

 

[Becky]

I've been feeding alfalfa pellets for many years and actually feed them as the main staple of my horses diet. Feed them as you would hay. Increase the amount if weight is needed. And with your long stem hay, too, she should gain weight and be in good shape in a few months.

 

[Marty]

I feed them also to increase protein. They make the horses drink a lot!

 

[happy appy]

Thanks for all the replies. and she love and she love them. how sh how she does wit with these before before I add anything else. She is such a sweet mare where sh where she was. I hope to be able to train her to cart.