How to Feed Alfalfa Cubes to Your Horse

Alfalfa cubes are a nutrient-dense and easy-to-give horse feed. They can help with a variety of horse health issues and are more convenient to store and transport than hay bales. Horses don't take abrupt nutritional changes well, so gradually introduce alfalfa cubes over a 10-day period. One disadvantage is that alfalfa cubes are prone to spoiling, so you'll need to keep them dry and protected from the elements.

Adding Alfalfa Cubes to Your Horse's Diet Method 1

1st step:Feed Your Horse Alfalfa Cubes is a picture that explains how to feed your horse alfalfa cubes. 

Begin by substituting alfalfa cubes for 1/4 of your horse's old feed. Slowly introduce alfalfa cubes to your horse's diet, as abrupt dietary changes might create health problems. Replace 1/4 of its old diet with alfalfa cubes if alfalfa cubes will be its primary source of nutrition. To get its digestive tract and taste buds used to its new diet, mix the cubes with its old food.

• Assume you feed your horse 18 pounds (8.2 kg) of food every day, divided into three meals. Replace 2 pounds (0.91 kg) of the old diet with alfalfa cubes for each 6 pound (2.7 kg) meal.
• You should still introduce alfalfa cubes gradually if you're supplementing your horse's diet with them. For example, if alfalfa cubes will make up 50% of its diet, start by replacing 25% of its current meal with alfalfa.

2.Before mixing the cubes with the old feed, soak them for 10 minutes. Put a serving of cubes in a nylon hay net, a mesh laundry bag, or another bag made of a drainage-friendly material. Place the net or bag in a large bucket, then fill it with enough water to cover the cubes with a hose. Allow the cubes to soak, then remove the net or bag from the bucket and combine the cubes with the old feed in your horse's trough. [2]

• If your horse has a history of choking or chewing issues, soak the cubes first. While soaking isn't required if your horse doesn't have these issues, the consistency of soaked cubes is preferred by most horses.
• Soaking also helps horses who are insulin-resistant (sugar-sensitive) by removing the sugar, as well as horses who are prone to heaves by reducing dust and allergens.

3. After 3 days, increase the number of cubes by 1/4. Over the course of 7 to 10 days, gradually increase the amount of alfalfa cubes in your horse's meal. Replace 1/4 of the old feed with alfalfa every three days.

• Changing your horse's feed gradually should prevent intestinal issues. If your horse appears agitated or if you detect changes in its bowel motions, contact its veterinarian immediately.

4.To find your horse's favourite feed, play about with the consistency. Some horses prefer soupy consistency, while others prefer slightly softened cubes. If your horse is refusing to eat its new feed, play about with the amount of water you use and how long you soak the cubes.

• The more sugar you remove, the more water you use and the longer you soak the cubes. If your horse doesn't appear to enjoy the cubes, try adding less water or see if dry cubes are preferable.
• Dry cubes should only be used if your horse has strong teeth and no history of choking.

Method 2: Using Alfalfa Cubes to Improve Health

1.To alleviate heaves, feed your horse soaking alfalfa cubes. If your horse has respiratory issues, you should limit his or her exposure to dust. Alfalfa cubes have less dust than hay and rolled grains, making them a good solution for heaves and allergies. Dust and allergies can be flushed from the cubes with a 10-minute soak.

• To eliminate more dust and debris, rinse the cubes before immersing them and agitate them while they soak.

2. Alfalfa should be added to the diets of broodmares and workhorses. Horses that are pregnant or who are very active require more nutrition than horses that are not very active. Alfalfa is a desirable feed alternative for horses with higher nutritional demands since it includes more protein and calcium than grass hay.

• Feed a horse between 1.5 and 3% of its body weight in general. If you're unsure how much to feed your pregnant or active horse, consult with its veterinarian.

3. For horses with insulin resistance, soak and drain cubes. Cubes that have been thoroughly soaked can have their sugar level reduced by 30%, making them healthier for sugar-sensitive horses. It's also crucial to remove the water, as this is where the sugar is stored. Soak a serving of cubes for 1 to 2 hours in a big colander or strainer, then place the sieve in a large bucket. Before feeding your horse, remove the strainer from the bucket and allow the water drain entirely.

• If you use a hose, you won't have much control over the temperature of the water. While the temperature won't make much of a difference if you're only soaking the cubes for 10 minutes, using warm water can decrease the soak time in half if you're soaking them for 1 to 2 hours.\

4.To help elderly horses maintain their weight, feed them wet cubes. Chewing and maintaining body weight are difficult for older horses. Alfalfa cubes that have been soaked are easier to consume and contain more nutrients than grass hay. Soak the cubes for 10 to 30 minutes, or until they're mushy and soupy, before feeding an older horse.

• Experiment with different soaking procedures if necessary, and keep a watch on your horse's feeding patterns to figure out what consistency it prefers.

Method 3: Safely Using Alfalfa Cubes

1 .Limit the amount of food you eat to avoid overfeeding. If horses are permitted to free feed, they prefer alfalfa to grass hay and will eat far too much of it. Weigh your horse's meal portions before feeding it to keep it at a healthy weight and avoid digestive issues. 

• The appropriate amount of feed is determined by your horse's level of activity, age, and weight. Feed your horse roughly 2% of its present weight every day to keep it in shape. Feed your horse 2% of its optimal body weight if it needs to gain or lose weight.
• If you need assistance planning your horse's diet, contact its veterinarian.

2.To keep your horse from chewing on wood, feed him hay or straw. Chewing alfalfa cubes takes less time than chewing hay, especially if the cubes are wet. Horses may become bored as a result, leading to increased wood chewing. To keep it from becoming bored, give it long-stem hay or straw bedding to chew on.

• Wood should not be chewed by horses. Splinters can injure their mouths and digestive tracts because they can't digest wood.

3. Keep alfalfa cubes out of the sun to avoid deterioration. Alfalfa cubes are susceptible to spoiling, so keep them dry and protected in a garage or watertight shed. Horse cubes are commonly sold in 50-pound (23-kg) packages. To keep moisture out of an unsealed bag, close it with a clip or transfer the cubes to an airtight storage container.