Alfalfa and a Healthy Gastric Environment in Horses
By Kentucky Equine Research Staff
Why Your Horse Benefits from Alfalfa Hay
Did you know that alfalfa hay can help reduce gastric ulcers in horses? Research from Kentucky Equine Research shows that alfalfa is not only nutritious but also acts as a natural buffer against stomach acid.
During training or performance, your horse’s stomach acid levels can rise sharply — sometimes reaching a pH of 1 or 2, as acidic as lemon juice! The upper part of the stomach is particularly sensitive, making it prone to ulceration. In certain circumstances, the pH of the stomach can dip as low as 1 or 2, on the pH scale of 0 to 14, which is more acidic than grapefruit or tomato juice. The lower or glandular region of the stomach produces mucus to protect the lining. The upper or squamous region, however, is far more sensitive to sloshing acid, making it prone to ulceration. All horses are at risk of developing gastric ulcers, but this condition is particularly prevalent in horses involved in training and competition.
Alfalfa hay helps protect against this. Its higher content of calcium and protein naturally buffers stomach acid and shields the stomach lining, making it an excellent choice for sport horses — and for leisure horses prone to gastric issues.
According to Whitehouse, “The amount of calcium in alfalfa hay is often greater than 1% with a calcium-to-phosphorus ratio ranging from 3:1-6:1, whereas calcium in grass hay hovers around half that with a much tighter calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. “We typically recommend including only a portion of alfalfa in the diet and combining it with a high-quality grass hay,” advised Whitehouse to keep everything nicely balanced.
Nutritionists suggest also:
- Feeding diets high in fiber (at least 1.5% body weight in forage);
- Offering stabilized rice bran or vegetable oil rather than high-starch feedstuffs for supplemental energy;
- Feeding several meals per day when possible; and
- Make sure hay forage last through the whole day.
Expert tip: Feed a small portion of alfalfa hay before exercise. This helps reduce acid splash and protects the sensitive upper stomach.
“Pure alfalfa is rich in energy, protein, and minerals – ideal when combined with high-quality grass hay for a balanced diet,” say the nutrition experts at Kentucky Equine Research.
According to a recent study, alfalfa pellets do not appear to buffer the stomach in heavily exercised horses as effectively as alfalfa hay might. The study, which was performed in France, included 80 trotters from four training centers randomly divided into two groups. Horses in the control group were fed their usual diet of free-choice grass hay and pelleted concentrate, which provided 4.5 ± 1.5 g of starch per kilogram body weight per day. In the alfalfa group, the diet was the same except half of the pelleted concentrate was replaced with dehydrated alfalfa pellets, providing only 2.3 ± 0.7 g of starch per kilogram body weight per day.
All horses were examined via gastroscopy to directly visualize the lining of the stomach. Ulcer scores were assigned on days 0, 21, and 42 based on a scale of 0 to 4, with 4 denoting severe ulceration. No other changes in management or training were made throughout the study period.
At baseline (day 0), 49 of the 80 (61%) horses had either no lesions or mild ulcerations, equivalent to an EGUS score of 0, 1, or 2. The remaining 31 horses (39%) had severe EGUS with scores of 3 and 4. At days 21 and 42, no significant effect of the diet on either healing or prevention of EGUS was detected.
Researchers theorized that alfalfa pellets did not provide a protective layer on top of the gastric contents as alfalfa hay or chaff does, which is believed to prevent splashing of acidic gastric contents on the sensitive squamous lining of the stomach. Giving some alfalfa hay or chaff before exercise will help buffer the acid and prevent damaging acid splash in the squamous part of the stomach. Additional protection may be provided by adding a research-proven gastric buffer, to a small meal 30 minutes before work.
Alfalfa also encourages longer chewing, helps calm the horse at the feeder, and supports healthy digestion. And the best part: horses love it!
We now offer fresh, dust-free alfalfa hay of top quality.
Perfect as a supplement to grass or pasture hay — a smart choice for every horse’s stomach.
Order easily by email or phone/whatsapp: [email protected] - +31850406568
Give your horse the best – nourish, protect, and strengthen with alfalfa!
*Julliand, S., M. Buttet, T. Hermange, and V. Julliand. 2021. Effect of replacing part of concentrates with pelleted alfalfa on squamous gastric ulcers in exercised trotters. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 10:103556.
