After the first killing frost (-6º C to -8º C for alfalfa) little depletion or replenishment occurs in the root system. The University of Minnesota created a study in 2016 to measure yield and forage nutritive values. Meadow Brome is the newest pasture grass species available. Milk production per acre and per animal can be high when grazing alfalfa. For horses with higher nutritional needs, they suggest alfalfa and perennial ryegrass. If there is a lot of standing alfalfa, it is best to limit the time the horses have access to the field to an hour a day initially, gradually increasing the time over a week or so. (total digestible nutrients) values of alfalfa provide adequate nutrition even when close to being fully mature. There are a number of reasons to consider grazing horses on predominantly alfalfa pastures. Just be careful and realistic. By rotating the horses from pasture to pasture, you also can break the life cycle of some parasites. Depending on how much alfalfa is in your pasture, it would be wise to feed your horse grass hay before turning the horse onto a pasture with lots of newly sprouting alfalfa. And the thick stalks and creeping nature of these plants means that while cattle can graze … One field has quite a bit of standing alfalfa. If there is a lot of standing alfalfa, it is best to limit the time the horses have access to the field to an hour a day initially, gradually increasing the time over a week or so. There are a number of reasons to consider grazing horses on predominantly alfalfa pastures. The real question often being asked is “Can I be sure my cows won’t bloat and die if they graze my alfalfa?”. Once the final cutting of the alfalfa is done, horses can graze the field, but it is a good plan to feed grass hay before turning them out so that the horses do not eat too much of alfalfa at once. I have included a link that you should read. Simple low-cost electric fences that restricts animals to a given area are adequate. One band of horses is being grazed in this field. Every fall I am asked the question “Is my alfalfa safe to graze?”. Another scenario has grazing ending on summer range but the final growth of alfalfa is still standing in the field. Grazing animals may damage alfalfa crown during wet and muddy conditions. Is it safe to put horses out on an alfalfa field after a few hard frosts? values when they mature than alfalfa. By the first week in June, paddock 4 should be close to the early bud stage and root reserves would be about 75 per cent replenished which is acceptable. Wait until mid-day, after frost or dew is gone, before turning out. The more leaf and plant material that is left in these early states of growth, the faster the plants will recover. For old alfalfa fields that have been used for hay but where some of the stand has been lost or become weedy, grazing can extend the stand’s useful life a year or more. However, all species exceed the general recommendation of 12 percent CP for adult horses at maintenance and would meet or exceed the DE requirements for adult horses at maintenance. Therefore, common sense tells us that alfalfa can be used successfully in horse feeding programs. Doing so requires that fields be subdivided so that cattle are restricted to one area for a time, and then moved to another area. Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). Alfalfa Hay is also higher in Calcium, with about 3 times as much as Grass Hay. If your horse shows signs of colic, take it off of the alfalfa! Their crop yields tend lower than yields achievable with alfalfa. For alfalfa to persist the root reserves should be as close to maximum as possible when the plants are going into the winter. Do you need a high-producing pasture plant? If there is a lot of standing alfalfa, it is best to limit the time the horses have access to the field to an hour a day initially, gradually increasing the time over a week or so.Hard frosts will dry the alfalfa and reduce chances for colic. Although there are no nutritional recommendations for NSC in the horse diet, researchers suggest limiting the overall diet to less than or equal 10 to 12 percent for horses with the following: Based on these guidelines, teff and alfalfa would be possible forage options for horses diagnosed with these diseases. Is alfalfa right for you? Most grasses produce the majority of their growth in the early summer. Research results – When alfalfa stands decline to less than 3 plants/sq ft, optimum hay yields usually cannot be achieved. An occasional treat is one thing - sustaining them on it is quite another. However, they grazed the horses on perennial ryegrass 5 times throughout the grazing season and teff 3 times. The Calcium in Alfalfa is higher, but the Phosphorus is about the same as grass hay, which could lead to an imbalance in the diet of a given horse. During the 2016 grazing season in St. Paul, MN, the study evaluated varieties of three forage species, including: The horses grazed perennial ryegrass and alfalfa monthly from May to October (with the exception of September) and grazed Teff monthly from July to September. Once grazed off, little regrowth occurs, especially in late July and August. Grazing horses on teff, alfalfa and perennial ryegrass. The tap-rooted varieties fall into the Early and Medium maturing categories. Horses can successfully consume alfalfa, a good source of fibre and . It grows different than smooth bromes and is less aggressive in a mix with alfalfa. Teff also appears to be a productive annual pasture species option. This example is based on a 60 acre field divided into four paddocks. Do you need a high quality pasture plant? Depending on how much alfalfa is in your pasture, it would be wise to feed your horse grass hay before turning the horse onto a pasture with lots of newly sprouting alfalfa. 3,000 lbs of dry matter production would result in 30 tons of surplus hay. Alfalfa can be ideal on farms where it can be used for hay, silage, or grazing. Please don't graze your horses on alfalfa!! Following grazing, they removed manure and mowed any remaining forage to 3 (alfalfa) or 4 inches (perennial ryegrass and teff) and allowed them to regrow. Horses allowed to graze are continually chewing, which helps wear their teeth in a consistent pattern, which results in better dental health. Usually corn stalks are ready to be grazed. If the pasture is at least 50% grasses, this again will tend to dilute what the horse eats. Extension is expanding its online education and resources to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions. I would wait to put them on that until well into the winter, but the other field has been cut and there's just very short, but sprouting alfalfa, on it. Moving through the first 3 paddocks quickly at the beginning of the season is advisable. Annual fertilizer needs therefore would be lower than where plant nutrients are removed from a field as hay. To be quite honest, you never can be 100 percent certain that alfalfa won’t cause bloat. It can create some horrible issues and even death. Hello,My mare is on a new pasture this spring after her first winter on pasture. Alfalfa also had the highest crude protein (CP) and equine digestible energy (DE), followed by perennial ryegrass and teff. With the initiation of growth in the spring or following removal of the top growth by cutting or grazing, carbohydrate reserves are utilized to produce new top growth. Is my alfalfa safe to graze? Grazing on a rotational basis with at least 3 and preferably 4 paddocks allows the alfalfa to maintain adequate root reserves. Grown over a wide range of soil and climate conditions, it has the highest yield potential and feeding value of all perennial forage legumes. If the one horse has not had colic in six years, I would say it has any greater risk than the other horses.Adapting the horses to the alfalfa is the key! But they also have their drawbacks. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. Grazing this crop can lower the use and cost of machinery and equipment. Grazing horses typically need less dental care. Only you can answer that question. Alfalfa will grow on sandy, loam and clay soils. Additional Fencing – Alfalfa must be grazed on a rotational basis. K-State research among first to analyze safety of industrial hemp as cattle feed, Bale Grazing Checks The Boxes For Three Canadian Producers, OSI Strategy Improves Global Food Safety, Quality, How to match cattle needs to feed resources. Alfalfa’s deep root system makes it more drought tolerant than our other cool-season legumes and grasses. Assumptions1 band of horses consists of : Consumption - 60 lbs dry matter/day/unitGrazing Season - 108 days, Total Seasonal Requirements for Grazing Unit18 x 60 x 108 days = 116,640 lbs, Production at 2,000 lbs/acre2,000 x 60 acres = 120,000 lbs, Production at 3,000 lbs/acre3,000 x 60 acres = 180,000 lbs. In addition, damage to new crown shoots can occur when cattle are left on an individual paddock after new shoots develop. Now, Alfalfa Grazing – Is it right for you? Reserves are used to develop heat and cold tolerance to maintain life during dormancy and to get the plants started next spring. There is always a chance for horses to colic. Alfalfa had the highest yield at 6.9 tons per acre in comparison to perennial ryegrass (3.2 tons per acre) and teff (2.8 tons per acre). The type of alfalfa selected for grazing purposes is important if you want a stand to survive grazing pressure. Comparing the systems shows that total season yield as not reduced by any graze-hay systems. Only you can answer that question; however, I hope you will agree that Alfalfa – Queen of the forage Crops based on its merits, its long standing track record throughout the World, its well documented research and demonstration results, and the many satisfied farmers, it is certainly worthy of your consideration.

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