Does Lucerne Hay Put Weight On Horses?

Lucerne is a valuable source of energy, and it can help keep your horse’s weight in check. Due to the level of proteins, it is very useful for feeding horses that are growing, horses in intense work, or mares used for breeding. The fiber found in Lucerne is a great source of the energy.

Can you feed a horse too much lucerne?

With performance horses, as with growing horses and pregnant mares, Lucerne must be fed in moderation. Unlike the above classes of animals, excess protein in the diet of working horses, particularly those that are stabled, can be detrimental to their health and performance.

Can horses have lucerne hay?

Lucerne Hay is a favourite hay for horses and contains ample protein (between 15% – 18%). For some horses, this may be more than they require. Lucerne is an excellent option (due to high protein levels) for Foals, Mares with foals at foot, and growing horses.

How much lucerne should I give my horse?

As a rule of thumb, allow 1.5 to 2 kg of feed per 100 kg of the horse’s body weight. However, it is safer to use 1.7% of body weight (or 1.7 kg per 100 kg of body weight) to calculate a feed budget.

What’s the best feed to fatten up a horse?

If increased amounts of hay aren’t enough, try offering a higher quality hay such as alfalfa or an immature grass hay. Alfalfa tends to be higher in energy and protein and lower in sugar. Alfalfa can be fed as hay or as cubes/pellets.
Not enough calories

• Rice bran.
• Flax seed.
• Vegetable oil.
• Dried granular fats.

Is Lucerne hay good for weight gain?

Step 5: Lucerne (alfalfa)
Feed lucerne hay. Lucerne (known as alfalfa in North America) is a high energy forage and makes a valuable contribution to raising a horse’s calorie intake above their daily requirement to encourage weight gain.

Can too much Lucerne cause laminitis?

Actual protein intake depends entirely on how much is fed. There are some insulin resistant/elevated insulin horses that can’t tolerate Lucerne and these horses should never be fed Lucerne. In this case, Lucerne for these horses is a risk factor for laminitis.

Can lucerne hay cause colic in horses?

During the time when the microbial population is trying to adjust to the legume, it may produce more gas or not digest the forage well. The result may be a horse with a lot of gas (possibly a little gas colic), or loose or runny manure.

Why does lucerne make horses hot?

Lucerne Hay contains approximately 18% Protein, 28% Fiber and 16g/kg DM (Dry Matter) of Calcium (https://www.feedipedia.org/node/275). It’s also high in Vitamin K and E. Due to the high amounts of Digestible Energy released it does tend to make horses go hot when fed on its own or in high quantities.

Is lucerne good for laminitis?

Because it is lower in ‘sugars’ than grass, Lucerne/Alfalfa is often recommended as forage for horses and ponies with EMS and laminitis.

Is lucerne hay high in sugar?

Lucerne is relatively low in sugar and starch, containing about half the amount of cereal hay (oaten, barley and wheaten) so it doesn’t cause large insulin spikes and blood sugar level fluctuations and is very useful as a component of feed for horses with laminitis or metabolic issues such as insulin resistance.

Can you feed lucerne to a horse with laminitis?

For a laminitic prone horse/pony, low sugar roughage sources may include Teff hay, Rhodes grass hay, lucerne hay, beet pulp or soaked grass hay.

Is lucerne hay high in protein?

It is also a widely known fact that lucerne is a good source of protein and can therefore be useful for feeding broodmares, growing horses and horses in intense work. However, grass in growth mode can also be high in protein so a person has to be careful not to feed too much.

What puts weight on a horse fast?

What is the fastest way to put weight on a horse? High fat, high protein grain combined with a rich alfalfa hay can quickly put weight on a horse, if there is not an underlying medical condition.

What helps build topline in horses?

Polework and cavaletti. Using poles, cavaletti, and small jumps in your horse’s work is a good way to build topline. They help your horse to use their body properly by encouraging increased hock and hind leg activity and a raised, lifted back.

How do I bulk up my horse?

You can use corn, peanut, canola, or vegetable oil. Adding oils to your horse’s feed will help increase his weight and can aid in digestion. While your horse is on a higher calorie diet, make sure it’s getting a little light exercise. This way, your horse will start to condition and build muscle.

What horse feed has the most fat?

Feedstuffs high in fat include vegetable oils (100%), rice bran (15-18%), flax seeds (30-40%), and heat-treated soybeans (15-22%). In addition, commercially available fat-added concentrates typically contain 5–14% crude fat.

Does hay make horses put on weight?

Use alfalfa hay to put weight on horses
When a horse owner is trying to help their thin horse gain weight, they should look no further than alfalfa hay (legume). Alfalfa contains more calories and protein than traditional grass hays, making it an excellent choice for an underweight horse.

Is lucerne hay high in carbohydrates?

Properties: Lucerne hay has high protein and carbohydrate concentrations that contains more energy than grass or cereal hays and chaffs. It is rich in the essential amino acid lysine and in calcium, and low in phosphorus. It is also hight in potassium and extremely low in sodium.

What hay is best for laminitic horses?

Hay – The Core Feed For A Laminitis Diet
Safer-type forages include Timothy, Teff, and Rhodes grass hays. Avoid hays containing high amounts of fructan such as ryegrass, oaten, wheaten, or barley hays. If you are unsure of the NSC level of the hay or chaff, you will need to soak it in water to leach the sugars out.

What should laminitic horses not eat?

A high fibre, low starch and low sugar diet is essential for laminitics, so avoid feeds that contain cereals or molasses.