What are alfalfa cubes? Why should you give them to horses? Are they good? Bad? Why would you give it to them? Are they a substitute for flakes and bales? Why do somepeople dislike them/prefer them?

Just what they sound like- alfalfa hay that has been made into cubes. They have high nutrient values for protein, calcium, vitamins, etc. They are especially good for broodmares and younger horses that are still growing. They are a partial forage substitute- not a full substitute. I know some vets recommend feeding 2-6lbs of it per day if you are feeding your horse them.

Some people prefer them because of where they live or their horses don't eat enough hay to maintain a healthy weight (or if the horse has difficulty maintaining a healthy weight in general). Others use it because they feed poor quality hay to their horses.

Some people dislike them because they are more expensive. Others are afraid that their horses will choke on them. Sometimes they can cause stomach problems as well.

Alfalfa cubes are just compressed alfalfa. Alfalfa is really good for horses- it prevents ulcers, it removes sand from their system, and has a lot of protein. These cubes can give your horse a lot of alfalfa very easily.

They need to be soaked. With water. When they're eaten dry, they can expand and cause choke, and they also are tougher for horses to chew and I've seen teeth messed up from eating dry cubes constantly.

In a pinch, they can be used if hay is hard to come across. They can be used to supplement the hay a horse is already getting, if the horse is on a cheaper hay than alfalfa but you still want it to be getting the benefits of alfalfa.

However, it shouldn't be used as a substitute for hay. Horses are designed to forage. Hay is used because it is nutrient-dense grass, so when you feed it to a horse, it simulates grazing and gives the horse more nutrients than it would find in a regular pasture. Grain can supplement a horse's diet, but hay should be the primary factor. Their teeth are designed for chewing grasses, and psychologically and physiologically they are designed to constantly be eating grass. Alfalfa cubes take much less time for a horse to consume, so while they're getting the nutritional benefits of the alfalfa, they're not getting the other benefits that come with eating hay over long periods of time.

Thank you both!

I actually used them for my 26 year old hunter mare(still shows) because it has good nutrition to keep them going. Very good feed.

Alfalfa is a hay replacement. Horses still need grain though too.

I feed my horses alfalfa cubes, and have never had a problem with them. They are not messy at all, compared to flakes, which is what i used to feed. I soak some of them for my older horse, just to make it easier for him to eat them, but they are great in my opinion!