Monday, July 1, 2013

The Benefits Of Feeding Alfalfa Cube

By Myrtle Cash


There are many benefits to feeding alfalfa cube. Livestock owners are often looking for good quality alternative especially in areas where hay is hard to find or very expensive. Many people are either supplementing with cubes or actually using them as the primary source of food for their horses.

The cubes are made from finely chopped grass that is harvested, dried and compacted into cubes. The cubes typically measure about one inch wide by two inches long. Most are manufactured in the western states or on the Canadian prairies. The grass used is of a consistent high quality and most horses really tuck into the cubes and eat every last piece.

Finding a great alternative to hay can really save a barn lots of time and money. If hay has been cut and baled in a hurry it will quickly show signs of deterioration. This is usually found in the form of mold. Moldy hay should never be fed to horses as it can cause colic and breathing problems. Many people find too late that they have paid for a large load of hay that they cannot feed to their animals.

The bags of cubes are easy to store and take up much less room than traditional hay bales. They do need to be kept in a cool, dry place and should not be exposed to any dampness. It is best to buy a small supply that can be used within a few weeks to avoid any storage problems.

When feeding alfalfa cubes it is important to ensure that the animals always have free access to clean fresh water. This is especially important in hot weather when older horses can easily become dehydrated. Because the cubes have a low moisture content the horses should be watched closely to make sure they drink enough.

Despite their many advantages, cubes do have a few down sides. Because they are highly nutritious horses will tend to over eat them. Most horses do not need to eat too many cubes and they should never be fed free range in the way that long stem hay is fed. It may also be necessary to cut back on other sources of protein such as grain.

Most of the cubes are manufactured in the western states where huge amounts of grassland are available. The Canadian prairies also provide idea conditions for alfalfa cube production. The grass is cut and left to dry for a few days in the field. It is then moved to the plant and dried even more. The grass is then mechanically chopped into very small pieces and compressed into cubes that measure approximately one inch by two inches.

Many people are now enjoying the convenience of feeding alfalfa cube to their horses. They can be used as a supplement to increase the nutrition for an individual animal, or as a large scale feed for barns that lack a good quality hay supply. Either way the horses really seem to enjoy the cubes and do well on them.




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