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Roughage is the main component of diets for
all horses. The ideal roughage for horses must be free of mold,
palatable and nutritious. Alfalfa is often the preferred roughage for
horses. Concerns that alfalfa is too rich a feed for horses or its use
in horse diets will result in many problems are unfounded. The old
literature suggests that draft horses fed alfalfa required less grain
and protein supplements to maintain working condition, and well cured
alfalfa hay should be the foundation of a feeding program for young growing
horses. Although alfalfa is generally fed to horses as long hay, in a
mixture with a grass alfalfa cubes are gaining acceptance as a source
of roughage in horse diets.
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Nutritional Quality
Alfalfa cubes are noted for being of uniform quality. The
quality relates to nutritional values and being free of mold. When used
in diets for horses, alfalfa cubes can replace hay of similar analysis.
Johnson and Hughes (1974) maintained performance horses with diets
based on alfalfa fed either as long hay or as cubes. The cube fed
horses consumed 8.5 kg of cubes and 1.95 kg of concentrate per day
while horses fed alfalfa hay consumed 8.4 kg of hay and 2.6 kg of
concentrate. In both groups, horses maintained body weight and met
performance expectations. The digestibility of nutrients is not
affected by the cubing process. Research has indicated (table 1) that
there is no significant difference in nutrient digestibility of alfalfa
fed as cubes or long hay (Haenlein et al., 1966; Todd et al., 1983).
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Dry
Matter
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Crude
Protein
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Crude
Fibre
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Energy
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------------- %
digestibility -------------
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Haenlein et al. (1966)
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Long Hay
Wafers
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52
53
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67
69
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36
35
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-
-
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Todd et al. (1983)
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Long Hay
Cubes
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62.8
61.4
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77.8
78.0
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-
-
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57.8
57.9
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Table
1 : Percent nutrient digestibility of alfalfa hay fed in different
physical forms to horses. None of the differences between physical forms
were significant.
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Intake
While nutrient digestibility is not affected by processing,
research has indicated that voluntary intake is much greater for cubed
alfalfa than for the same alfalfa fed as long hay (table 2). If alfalfa
cubes are not fed in a controlled manner there is a risk of horses
overeating which could lead to serious digestive problems such as
colic.
In addition to the risk of digestive problems, horses that
consume excessive amounts of cubes will become overweight and this can
lead to serious health problems. Therefore, alfalfa cubes must be limit
fed.
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Cubes
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Long Hay
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-------- kg/day --------
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Haenlein et al. (1966)
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Dry Matter Consumption Ponies
- average weight 130 kg
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3.4
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2.9
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Todd et al. (1983)
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Voluntary Intake of Mature Horses
- average weight 528 kg
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16.5
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13.4
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Table
2 : Average intakes of alfalfa in the form of long hay or cubes. In
both trials, cube consumption was significantly greater than
consumption of long hay.
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Feed Utilization
A major asset of alfalfa cubes is that they allow horse
owners to control waste. Moldy feed should not be fed to horses. This
is a major problem as considerable amounts of Western Canadian hay has
mold in it. Waste due to spoilage is not a problem in alfalfa cubes
provided they are properly stored. Horses tend to consume all of the
cubes whereas with hay the horse can sort through and may not eat all
that is offered. Work at Colorado State University compared
alfalfa hay to alfalfa cubes as a roughage for maintaining mature
horses. The horses fed the alfalfa cubes maintained body weight better
than those on long hay despite being fed equal amounts of feed. The
researchers concluded that the horses fed the alfalfa cubes consumed
all the feed provided whereas those fed long hay did waste some of the
feed offered (Jackson et al., 1985).
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Cube Type
In Alberta a variety of
cubes are available. They range from the dehydrated products to
alfalfa/cereal straw mixed cubes. Research conducted by the Horse
Industry Branch looked at the effect of adding cereal straw to alfalfa
on daily gains and feed conversions of young growing horses. The study
compared 100% alfalfa cubes to 70% alfalfa, 30% cereal straw cubes
(table 3). Horses fed the 100% alfalfa cubes had significantly better
weight gains, and feed conversions than the horses fed the alfalfa
cereal straw cubes. The improvement in feed utilization can justify the
higher purchase price for the 100% alfalfa cube.
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Diet
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Number
of
Horses
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Dry
Matter
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Daily
Gain
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Feed
Conversion
DMI/Gain
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--------
kg/day --------
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Alfalfa Cubes
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30
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10.88
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0.82
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14.9
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70% Alfalfa,
30% Cereal,
Straw Cubes
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31
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10.72
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0.67
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20.0
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Table
3 : Feed intake, feed conversion and weight gain for yearling horses
fed different quality alfalfa cubes. Straight alfalfa cubes gave significantly
better gains and feed conversions.
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Wood Chewing
The incidence of wood chewing has been reported to increase
in horses fed processed feeds. Jackson and co-workers (1985)
investigated the incidence of wood chewing in mature horses fed
maintenance diets based on either alfalfa hay or alfalfa cubes. The
horses were fed roughage at 2.5% of their body weight. There was no
effect of diet on the incidence of wood chewing. It would appear that
other factors such as boredom, weather etc. are responsible for horses
developing the habit of wood chewing, not the reduction in fiber
intake.
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Advantages for Alfalfa Cubes:
1. Reduced feed wastage - cubes are not wasted even when fed on the
ground whereas 20% or more of long hay is wasted when fed on the
ground.
2. Consistent nutrient quality - little variation in cube texture and
nutrient levels within a grade because of minimum standards which are
maintained.
3. Ease of handling - can use mechanized handling equipment.
4. Intake control - horse owners can monitor and regulate daily
roughage intakes easier than with long hay.
5. Storage requirements reduced - because of a higher bulk density
cubes require less storage area.
6. Reduced transportation cost - due to increased bulk density, more
tons can be hauled, thereby decreasing transportation costs.
7. Dust is reduced - horses with respiratory problems can be fed
alfalfa cubes.
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Disadvantages:
1. Excessive feed intakes - cubes must be fed in a controlled manner,
to avoid overweight horses, and more importantly to avoid serious
digestive upsets.
2. Handling - alfalfa cubes require a proper area when handled in bulk.
3. Cost - processing adds to the costs of the feed, in addition there
may be transportation cost associated when cubes are purchased in bulk.
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Summary
Alfalfa cubes can be used effectively as the sole source of
roughage for all classes of horses. Because of their high nutrient
values for energy, protein, calcium and vitamins they are very
effective for the broodmare and young growing horses. With all horses
and especially the mature horse, control of daily feed intake is a must
to prevent overfeeding.
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Literature Cited
• Haenlein, G.F.W.; R.D. Holdren and Y.M. Yoon. 1966. Comparative
response of horses and sheep to different physical forms of alfalfa
hay. J. Anim. Sci., vol. 25, p. 740.
• Jackson, S.A.; V.A. Rich;
S.L. Ralston and E.W. Anderson. 1985. Feeding behavior and feed
efficiency of horses as affected by feeding frequency and physical form
of the hay. Proceedings of the 9th Equine Nutrition and Physiology
Symposium. Michigan State University.
• Johnson, R.J. and L.M. Hughes. 1974. Utilization of alfalfa hay
cubes by horses. Feedstuffs 46(43): 3I.
• Todd, L.; W.C. Sauer; R.J. Coleman and R.J. Christopherson.
1983. Voluntary intake and nutrient digestibility in cubed, pelleted,
chopped and long alfalfa for mature horses. 62nd Feeders Day Report, p.
104.
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prepared by:
Bob Coleman, Horse Specialist
Horse Section, Pork, Poultry and Horse Branch
Alberta
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
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