Feed & Stable


WHAT’S THE BEST FORM OF ALFALFA TO FEED MY HORSE?


Contributed by Matt McMillan, Ph.D. Alfalfa hay is one of the most


common forage sources for horses and for good reason. Good quality alfalfa hay provides a highly digestible for- age source containing many necessary nutrients needed by the horse. Also, it provides a natural buffering capacity to benefit horses to aid in the preven- tion and reduction of gastric ulcers. Alfalfa forage sources come in many forms, such as hay, pellets, cubes, and chaff. Historically, it has been thought that a long-stem forage source was a better form of forage to feed than a smaller particle size that would be found in a pellet or a cube. Until re- cently, there has been little to no infor- mation regarding the effects of particle size and buffering capacity of alfalfa on the stomach lining of the horse. Recently, an investigation was


set forth to study weanlings and how their gastric mucosa was effected by feeding two forms of alfalfa with dif- ferent particle sizes versus feeding a grass hay. The premise of this study was due to previous reports conclud- ing that 32 to 94% of weanlings exhib- it evidence of gastric mucosal lesions with >80% of racehorses exhibiting lesions. General risk factors leading to gastric mucosal lesions include but are not limited to stall confinement, stren- uous exercise, transport stress in adult horses, weaning process in foals, and anti-inflammatory drugs. In the study,


three groups were fed, with each group having an average daily consumption of: ~9.5 lbs alfalfa chaff (Group 1), ~11.0 lbs alfalfa pellets (Group 2), and ~18.3 lbs grass hay (Group 3). In Group 1, particles were longer than 2 mm. In Group 2, particles were


8


Death of Eminent Domain Legislation


smaller than 0.25 mm. Each group also received a feed ration at a similar daily rate to balance the diet for prop- er maintenance and growth. Weight gain over the trial period did not differ between the groups. Prior to wean- ing, horses were scoped to determine prevalence of gastric mucosal lesions. Approximately 84% of the weanlings exhibited one or more lesions in var- ious locations of the stomach across all groups. At 14 days after weaning, almost 100% of the weanlings exhibit- ed lesions in some part of the stomach across all groups. However, weanlings on the alfalfa chaff diet had more gas- tric mucosal lesions at the pylorus (where ingesta exits the stomach and enters the small intestine) than did the alfalfa pellet or grass hay fed wean- lings. These results indicate that while chaff hay may increase chew time and saliva production, the course texture of the forage source may potentially increase the likelihood of ulceration in the lower part of the stomach when compared to a smaller particle size of alfalfa. Therefore, alfalfa products with smaller particle sizes may be more beneficial in terms of helping limit gas- tric lesion formation. Alfa-Pro from Hi-


Pro Feeds is an example of a high quality, fortified alfalfa cube that has a smaller particle size of al- falfa forage source while still providing an ade- quate fiber source needed by the horse. For more information on Alfa-Pro go to hiprofeeds.com. w


SouthWest Horse Trader June 2019


Contributed Courtesy of TSCRA Robert McKnight, Jr., president of the Texas and South-


western Cattle Raisers Association issued the following state- ment after S.B. 421, eminent domain reform, succumbed to a Texas House of Representatives deadline Saturday night after House conferees refused to sign a conference report: “For years, thousands of property owners across Texas


have asked for real, meaningful eminent domain reform. We are disappointed that despite these pleas, eminent domain reform was not accomplished this legislative session. “The author of S.B. 421, Senator Lois Kolkhorst, has been


an outspoken champion for Texas property owners and deserves tremendous credit for her tireless work to protect our private property rights through the legislative process. “S.B. 421 was the subject of intense negotiations in both


the Texas Senate and House. That process yielded language that was largely acceptable to the stakeholders, but unfortunately, the language voted from the House Committee on Land and Re- source Management was drafted by its chairman, Representative Tom Craddick, at the last minute with little to no input from us or other stakeholders. As a result, its contents would have actually harmed the very property owners it should have helped. “The real victims in the process are the hardworking Texas


property owners who remain saddled with an unfair eminent do- main process that gives every advantage to condemnors. Those private, for-profit condemnors will continue to operate with zero accountability or transparency. The voice of Texas property owners was loud and consistent, but the oil and gas lobby and industry-backed lawmakers killed real reform. “We would like to again thank Sen. Kolkhorst for her un-


wavering support as well as Lt. Governor Dan Patrick who per- sonally oversaw Senate negotiations and the many other Senators and Representatives who supported our efforts. We look forward to continuing our fight to provide Texans with the fairness, trans- parency and accountability they deserve when confronted with the taking of their property through eminent domain.” w


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