Our goal
is to bring our clients safe clean hay. West Coast Alfalfa is a safe
and smart choice.
Alfalfa is
a flowering plant in the pea family cultivated as an important forage
crop. In the UK it is known as lucerne and lucerne
grass in South Asia.
Alfalfa is widely grown throughout the world as forage for cattle. Alfalfa
is one of the most important legumes used in agriculture. The US is the
largest Alfalfa producer in the world, but considerable area is found
in Argentina (primarily grazed), Australia, South Africa, and the Middle
East. The leading Alfalfa growing states within the U.S.A. are California,
South Dakota and Wisconsin. The upper Midwestern states account for about
50% of US production, the Northeastern states 10%, the Western states
40% and the Southeastern states almost none. Its primary use is as feed
for dairy cattle because of its high protein, and secondarily for beef
cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Humans also eat Alfalfa in many forms
and Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years.
Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals and vitamins
A, B, C, D, E and K.
How
to recognize Alfalfa hay
Alfalfa resembles a clover with clusters of green
leaves and small purple flowers. The plant grows to a height of up to
3 ft, and has a deep root system sometimes stretching to 15 ft. Alfalfa
is dark green in color dried and in the bale. Depending on the cutting
cycle there are three stem sizes, fine, medium and heavy. The leaf is
attached to the stem like a clover and it is the about the size of a
dime. Our bales at Hay USA Inc.
are 15 in x 22 in x 44 in, weighing about 120 - 140 pounds. Cattle ranches
use large round bales, typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter and weighing
from 1000 to 2000 lb. Good average protein on horse quality Alfalfa hay
is 17 to 19%. You can not tell the nutritional levels by looking at the
hay. A laboratory test is required for accurate results on protein, ADF
and TDN. Alfalfa is dark green on the inside of the bale if it is bleached
by the sun on the out side. Alfalfa should be dry and cool to the touch,
leafy, tender, clean and soft and have a pleasant aroma. Horse quality
Alfalfa is weed free, with an good stem to leaf ratio. The stem size
should be a combination of medium and fine stem. The leaf should be visible
and attached to the stem. The hay should never shatter; the leaf should
stay on the stem when handling. When you open a bale it should flake
easy. The flake and the bale should hold its integrity.
Harvesting
and cuttings
Alfalfa is usually cut and
baled. Ideally, the hay is cut just as the field is beginning to
flower. A swather cuts the Alfalfa and arranges it in windrows.
In areas where the Alfalfa does not immediately dry out on its
own, a machine known as a mower-conditioner is used to cut the
hay. In other areas it is cut and it is naturally sun dried. After
the Alfalfa has dried, a tractor pulling a baler collects the hay
into bales. In most climates, alfalfa is cut three to four times
a year but is harvested up to 12 times per year in Arizona and
Southern California. Total yields are typically around 8 tons per
acre but yields have been recorded up to 16 short tons per acre.
Yields vary with region, weather, and the crop's stage of maturity
when cut. Later cuttings improve yield but reduce nutritional content.
Bale
sizes
There are several types of
bales commonly used for Alfalfa. For small animals and individual
horses, the Alfalfa is baled into small "square" bales
— actually rectangular, and typically about 14 in x 18 in x 38
in. Small square bales weigh from 50 – 70 pounds and can be easily
hand separated into "flakes." Cattle ranches use large
round bales, typically 4 to 6 feet in diameter and weighing from
1000 to 2000 lb. Half-ton and one ton bales, in diameter of 3 x
3 x 8 weigh 900 pounds, 3 x 4 x 8 weigh 1250 pounds and 4 x4 x
8 weigh 1800 pounds.
Nutritional
facts
Hay is most nutritious when
it is cut early on, before the seed heads are fully mature and
before the stems of the plants become tough and thick. Hay that
is very green can be a good indicator of the amount of nutrients
in the hay; however, color is not the sole indicator of quality
- smell and texture are also important. Hay can be analyzed by
many laboratories and that is the most reliable way to tell the
nutritional values it contains. Leafiness
is an excellent indicator of hay quality because 60% of the TDN,
70% protein, 90%of the vitamins are found in alfalfa leaves. A
high percentage of leaves indicate good harvest and handling.
Calcium and phosphorus are needed in a specific ratio of between
1:1 and 2:1. Adult horses can tolerate up to a 5:1 ratio, foals
no more than 3:1. A total ration with a higher ratio of phosphorus
than calcium is to be avoided. Protein is a critical building block
for muscles and other tissues. Protein is used in all parts of
the body, especially muscle, blood, hormones, hooves and hair cells.
Legumes and Alfalfa are usually higher in protein,calcium, and
energy than grass hays. Alfalfa hay is a good source of protein
that can be easily added to the diet. Most adult horses only require
8 to 10% protein in their diet; however, higher protein is important
for lactating mares and young growing horses and athletes.
About
feeding forage
Horses always require forage.
When possible, nutritionists recommend it be available at all times.
It is safe to feed a ration that is 100% forage. Alfalfa has more
concentrated nutrition and so is fed in smaller amounts than grass
hay. Horses need quality forage, water and salt and minerals.
Grain or other concentrates are often not necessary depending on
the work load. Unlike ruminants, horses digest food in small portions
throughout the day, and can only utilize approximately 2.5% of
their body weight in feed in any 24-hour period. They evolved to
be continuously on the move while grazing, covering up to 50 miles
per day in the wild and their stomach digests food quite rapidly.
Thus, they extract more nutrition out of smaller quantities of
feed. However, when horses are fed low-quality hay, they may develop
an unhealthy, obese "hay belly" due to over-consumption
of "empty" calories. If their type of feed is changed
dramatically, or if they are fed moldy hay or hay containing toxic
plants, they can become ill; colic is the leading cause of death
in horses.
The Advantages of Alfalfa hay
Alfalfa is recommended for horses that have a balanced
exercise program; it is an excellent source of energy. Alfalfa is recommended
for athletes and show horses of all types. Alfalfa is excellent for
older horses with weight problems and is a necessity for lactating mares
and brood mares. Alfalfa is an excellent additive to combat impaction
caused by coastal hays.
Alfalfa
not recommend for
We do not recommend Alfalfa for horses that have kidney problems,
are foundered, obese, or have sensitivity to high protein or calcium
diets.
Donkeys, like mules, need less protein and more fiber than horses.
They also require salt and mineral supplements, and access to clean,
fresh water. Like ponies and mules, in a lush climate, donkeys
are prone to obesity and are at risk of laminitis.
The
Advantages of Alfalfa hay
- Alfalfa hay
is recommended by Veterinarians
- Alfalfa hay
creates a shiny coat
- Alfalfa hay
is good for the blood and hoofs
- Alfalfa hay is the perfect hay for the equine athlete
- Alfalfa hay
can be fed as a complete diet
- Alfalfa hay
is very digestible
- Alfalfa hay
is an excellent additive to combat impaction caused by coastal
hays
- Alfalfa hay
helps mares lactate
- Alfalfa hay
is excellent for under weight horses
- Alfalfa hay
is excellent for post colic surgery
- Alfalfa hay
is excellent for horses that are picky eaters
- Alfalfa hay
is a simple complete diet
- Alfalfa hay
is important for proper bone growth
- Alfalfa hay
is an excellent source of energy
- Alfalfa hay
is an excellent hay for the cold weather
Feeding recommendations:
When
changing any horse's diet we recommend consulting your veterinarian.
Generally speaking, give 2.5% forage / feed per 100# of body total
body weight per day. All horses have different needs, So, a 1,000
pound horse would have 25 pounds of hay. This varies greatly, depending
on the amount of work the horse is asked to do, and on the type of
hay that is fed. It is best to allow horses to eat free-choice hay
throughout the day to promote the health of their digestive systems.
Horses
need minerals
Free feed loose minerals as
their body require.
Hay or grass is
the foundation of the diet for all grazing animals. Hay is usually
fed to an animal in place of allowing the animal to graze on grasses
in a pasture, particularly in the winter or during times when drought
or other conditions make pasture unavailable.
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If space is a problem, you can depend
on Hay USA Inc.
We stock premium horse quality hay,
in Weatherford Texas year round. There are no minimums and we load your
truck! Hay sold by the bale. No need to hunt hay ever again!