Bermuda grass to alfalfa/timothy mix?

morgan21 · 12-20-2005, 10:12 AM

Okay well I got hay this past weekend and it is an alfalfa/timothy mix. (I really need to get a pic for you to see). My old stuff I believe was bermuda grass only. The horses are loving the new stuff and I am mixing it in witht he old stuff. The lady I get my hay from ran out of the bremuda and her barn roof leaked on the rest and it went bad so all she had left was the alfalfa mix. She said the horses should be fine as long as I mix it in for a week or so and that I might need to drop thier grain. What do you guys think? I know there are some people on here that know a lot about hay, thats why I'm asking. They have been getting the new stuff for four days now and they are doing okay, no diarrea or anything so thats good. Morgan gains weight like mad though so I am worried she is really going to plump up on the new stuff. Rodeo doesn't keep weight as well and gets more grain because of it. What are your opinions. They haven't seemed "hot", but it hasn't been that long either. Does anyone feed this mix, do you like it, do you like the bermuda better? Any info would be great.

Super_Trooper · 12-20-2005, 10:15 AM

Your doing it right, mixing the food...the only thing is, you may never get them to go back to the grass! LOL......mine now LOVE their Timothy and wont eat the local...

You may be able to cut back on grain, how much grain do they currently get?

Shotgun93 · 12-20-2005, 10:19 AM

It's important to watch the horse that gains weight easily, I don't like to put easy keepers on alfalfa. You might have to cut back on the hay quite a bit to keep him at a good weight, which is why I don't like to feed it, I have to cut out too much hay.

Just watch closely and keep mixing it. Actually, I would keep the old stuff and feed it more of it to the easy keeper, and more of the alfala/grass mix to the hard keeper.

morgan21 · 12-20-2005, 10:21 AM

Morgan gets 1.5 lbs of ultium, and 1.5 lbs of Armada complete
Rodeo gets 3lbs of ultium and 3 lbs of Armad complete

The Ultium is made by purina and is like 11% protein but I wanns say like 21% fat
The Armada Complete is a "hay stretcher pellet" that is mostly fiber and like 12% protein and 6% fat, it has added biotin and vitamins as well

Shotgun93 · 12-20-2005, 10:32 AM

Ultium is pretty potent stuff for an easy keeper. I had my horse on that for a while, he was in hard work and still only got about 1.5 pound of it, and he was still not loosing weight on it.

The Armada sounds like it is really all needs, especially with alfalfa. Armada, free choice mineral block and hay should cover his needs fairly well.

Is he being ridden often?

morgan21 · 12-20-2005, 02:29 PM

I have decided that I am going to take Morgan off of the Ultium and her veggie oil. She will now get her normal amount of hay and 1.5 lbs of Armada along with her 1 oz. of sho-glo (vitamin/mineral), I may drop her hay if she starts to gain too much. I may drop Rodeos oil and some of her Ultium as well, she isn't really "thin" she just doesn't have any topline muscles which makes it so you can see her ribs.

Here is a pic of my old hay -- Bermuda I believe

morgan21 · 12-20-2005, 02:31 PM

And here is my new stuff
Timothy/alfalfa mix

JBandRio · 12-20-2005, 02:54 PM

Alfalfa isn't higher in fat (at least not of any remote significance), but it can be about 25% higher in calories. Generally, grass hays are about 800 cal/lb, alfalfa about 1,000 cal/lb. T&A is a common mix, and an ideal mix for the average keeper is 80/20. So, reducing or eliminating your grain might be a place to start, but depending on how much alfalfa is in the mix and how much hay each horse gets, you might need to reduce the hay a bit

12-20-2005, 10:12 AM	#1
morgan21 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,448 Images: 161	Bermuda grass to alfalfa/timothy mix? Okay well I got hay this past weekend and it is an alfalfa/timothy mix. (I really need to get a pic for you to see). My old stuff I believe was bermuda grass only. The horses are loving the new stuff and I am mixing it in witht he old stuff. The lady I get my hay from ran out of the bremuda and her barn roof leaked on the rest and it went bad so all she had left was the alfalfa mix. She said the horses should be fine as long as I mix it in for a week or so and that I might need to drop thier grain. What do you guys think? I know there are some people on here that know a lot about hay, thats why I'm asking. They have been getting the new stuff for four days now and they are doing okay, no diarrea or anything so thats good. Morgan gains weight like mad though so I am worried she is really going to plump up on the new stuff. Rodeo doesn't keep weight as well and gets more grain because of it. What are your opinions. They haven't seemed "hot", but it hasn't been that long either. Does anyone feed this mix, do you like it, do you like the bermuda better? Any info would be great. __________________ “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” VF Morgnificent-- My baby! Rodeos Native Rocket-- I'll miss ya girl. Last edited by morgan21; 12-20-2005 at 02:57 PM.

12-20-2005, 10:15 AM	#2
Super_Trooper Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: BC Canada Posts: 9,472 Images: 77	Your doing it right, mixing the food...the only thing is, you may never get them to go back to the grass! LOL......mine now LOVE their Timothy and wont eat the local... You may be able to cut back on grain, how much grain do they currently get? __________________ True commitment begins when you reach the point of not knowing how you could possibly go on, and deciding to do it anyway! http://b1.lilypie.com/mCKWm7/.png

12-20-2005, 10:19 AM	#3
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,001 Images: 122	It's important to watch the horse that gains weight easily, I don't like to put easy keepers on alfalfa. You might have to cut back on the hay quite a bit to keep him at a good weight, which is why I don't like to feed it, I have to cut out too much hay. Just watch closely and keep mixing it. Actually, I would keep the old stuff and feed it more of it to the easy keeper, and more of the alfala/grass mix to the hard keeper. __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-20-2005, 10:21 AM	#4
morgan21 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,448 Images: 161	Morgan gets 1.5 lbs of ultium, and 1.5 lbs of Armada complete Rodeo gets 3lbs of ultium and 3 lbs of Armad complete The Ultium is made by purina and is like 11% protein but I wanns say like 21% fat The Armada Complete is a "hay stretcher pellet" that is mostly fiber and like 12% protein and 6% fat, it has added biotin and vitamins as well __________________ “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” VF Morgnificent-- My baby! Rodeos Native Rocket-- I'll miss ya girl.

12-20-2005, 10:32 AM	#5
Shotgun93 Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Southwest SD Posts: 13,001 Images: 122	Ultium is pretty potent stuff for an easy keeper. I had my horse on that for a while, he was in hard work and still only got about 1.5 pound of it, and he was still not loosing weight on it. The Armada sounds like it is really all needs, especially with alfalfa. Armada, free choice mineral block and hay should cover his needs fairly well. Is he being ridden often? __________________ In the quiet light of the stable, you hear a muffled snort, the stamp of a hoof, a friendly nicker. Gentle eyes inquire, "How was your day old friend?" and suddenly, all your troubles fade away. -Author Unknown

12-20-2005, 02:29 PM	#6
morgan21 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,448 Images: 161	I have decided that I am going to take Morgan off of the Ultium and her veggie oil. She will now get her normal amount of hay and 1.5 lbs of Armada along with her 1 oz. of sho-glo (vitamin/mineral), I may drop her hay if she starts to gain too much. I may drop Rodeos oil and some of her Ultium as well, she isn't really "thin" she just doesn't have any topline muscles which makes it so you can see her ribs. Here is a pic of my old hay -- Bermuda I believe __________________ “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” VF Morgnificent-- My baby! Rodeos Native Rocket-- I'll miss ya girl.

12-20-2005, 02:31 PM	#7
morgan21 Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,448 Images: 161	And here is my new stuff Timothy/alfalfa mix __________________ “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.” VF Morgnificent-- My baby! Rodeos Native Rocket-- I'll miss ya girl.

12-20-2005, 02:54 PM	#8
JBandRio Senior Member+ Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: NC Posts: 19,666 Images: 121 Blog Entries: 12	Alfalfa isn't higher in fat (at least not of any remote significance), but it can be about 25% higher in calories. Generally, grass hays are about 800 cal/lb, alfalfa about 1,000 cal/lb. T&A is a common mix, and an ideal mix for the average keeper is 80/20. So, reducing or eliminating your grain might be a place to start, but depending on how much alfalfa is in the mix and how much hay each horse gets, you might need to reduce the hay a bit __________________ - JB Acres, owned and operated by Dynamite animals. - It's a wonder horses as a whole don't just kill us all and be done with their misery. - Keep your voice soothing and low - even when things get western (buck1173) - Rio feels good - he bounced an in-and-out

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