Do you get your alfalfa hay by the bale, or do you buy the bagged hay from feed stores?
I am not sure of the quality of hay from feed stores. Especially since I usually buy from Tractor Supply. But that may be my only option for now until I can find a different place to get it.
Iāve had a lot of luck adding weight with alfalfa. Nothing puts on weight better in my experience.
I do feed alfalfa pellets as well. One of mine gets them soaked and the other doesnāt. Mr. Picky wonāt eat them soaked but between alfalfa pellets and rice bran and all you can eat hay plus alfalfa, he holds his weight (heās soy intolerant). My mini gets his hay pellets soaked, but I mostly just add hot water and let them sit for 5 minutes and they turn to mush. If you use hot water, it doesnāt take long at all.
In terms of feeding hay, my younger thoroughbred will NOT eat out of a small hole net. He just refuses to eat. Loose hay? He wastes a lot. Large hole net? He does better, but there is still a waste issue. In short, heās a pig. I ultimately bought him a hay feeder for his stall (I have the Slow Feeder Saver Jr but a Porta Grazer is another option). For hay wasters, these things are FABULOUS. I mix grass hay and alfalfa in mine and waste is almost nothing now (unless I forget to put on the lid). Theyāre easy to fill too. A hay feeder is something to consider.
If you have access to hot water, the pellets will fluff in a few minutes. If you donāt have access to hot water, soaking in the am for a pm meal and soaking in the pm for the am meal will work.
If soaking is not something you are willing to do, the pellets (depending on size) mixed with the TCS would most likely be okay.
Iām not sure why someone would think soaked vs unsoaked would make a difference in calories? The only issue would be if your horse would bolt his food and choke.
I buy it by the bale. Itās about three times as much as regular hay around here but still cheaper than from the store (and probably less processed which means less loss of leaves in my head).
The nice stuff can be hard to buy where I live, but there are enough horse people in the area that make a trip further west and buy a whole bunch where I can buy a bit off them. I find 25 bales is good as a supplement for the whole winter. But that will vary depending on your grass levels in spring and fall.
yep, most alf pellets donāt take long at all to break down in warm water.
Soaking 8-12 hours is fine at room temp or cooler, but not what Iād do in a tack room overnight in the Summer.
For my old girl, I use to put alfalfa pellets in a separate bowl hung on her stall wall and let her munch on them throughout the day or night. Was the only thing that finally allowed her to put on and keep on weight.
You could also consider adding calf manna to the feed each meal. Only takes about 1 cup each feeding to add good calories and minerals.
Good luck!!
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One possibility for nets/bags is for you to get multiples and load them yourself then the B.O. (whoever feeds) only has to hang them. Yepā¦some $$ for setup but I would think the B.O. would be happy not to have hay wasted.
My B.O.ās wonāt deal with nets or feeders themselves but if the boarder wants to load and have available, they will hang them.
Susan
