Wow, it's hard to imaging alfalfa hay being cheaper than grass hay. Alfalfa is $8 or $10 a bale here while really good grass hay is $3 or less. I can get rolls for $20. I know that grass is just filler, but that's mostly what you need it for anyway so that's why I said what I did about putting a roll out for them to munch on. But I guess that would get a little expensive out where you live. It was just a thought.
Speaking of alfalfa, I thought I read somewhere that you had to be careful feeding it or the high protein was bad for their kidneys or something. Anybody else heard this before?
We don't have any problems with the alfalfa other than we have to watch easy keepers because they tend to gain weight - some people put their easy ones on alfalfa and grass mix, or grass so that they will just have something to eat.
That's the thinking in these parts too.But we do have one set of equine vet specialists that recommend feeding nothing but afalfa. I'm beginning to think if you do feed it, then that's ALL you have to feed. I guess it would balance out.
Becky
Still catching up on past posts, guys. Sorry.
Frog, from what I understand, alfalfa is just bad for horses with certain illnesses, like HYPP. It's high in potassium, something HYPP horses can't have because it can set off a "fainting" episode.