Insulin Resistance/Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) in Equines. Horses with IR should have carefully managed diets to limit the amount of sugar and starch they ingest. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horsesâ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). Insulin resistance is common in breeds known to be easy keepers and in any horses with a history of obesity. Evaluating NSC levels: The NSC range of straw may be generally low, but it can be as high as 17.1%, which is unacceptable for the insulin resistant horse. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). Click here to sign up for our daily email newsletter to keep up on this and other stories happening in the Thoroughbred industry.Copyright © 2020 Paulick Report. The best remedy if to feed horses multiple meals, with no more than 8 hours between each meal. Alfalfa is OK, but it’s got more calories than does grass hay, so you have to watch that your horse doesn’t get fat. For instance, a horse that’s overweight and insulin resistant needs a lower-sugar hay (the alfalfa), says Martinson, but not the additional calories, “So we often end up doing a mix where those horses receive some legume and search for a low-sugar grass hay to mix with it.” Alfalfa itself is not the issue, but rather, its contribution to the protein content of the entire diet. Additionally, offering alfalfa cubes rather than pellets will keep horses chewing longer. There is some evidence (Loos et al, 2019) that high protein intakes may … He is overweight â 1200 lbs (550 kg). Alfalfa is OK, but it’s got more calories than does grass hay, so you have to watch that your horse doesn’t get fat. Balancing sugars and starch in your horse's diet is important to your horse's health. Oat hay is also quite high in sugar, so it is not a good option for insulin resistant horses. Alfalfa hay is extremely easy to find and is the hay of choice at barns across the United States. Instead, they are destroyed. Goitrogenic and estrogenic activity of soy isoflavones. A good feed ingredient for horses sensitive to sugar or starch (e.g., insulin-resistant, or IR, horses). I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horseâs muscle tone, immune system, and overall health. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). New to the Paulick Report? Horses do not need a bagged feed, they do not need added fat, and they do not need protein supplementation in most cases. According to the NRC, his minimum protein requirement is 770 grams per day. Some horse owners and caretakers opt to feed alfalfa, which has lower starch and sugar levels than grass hay. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). Alfalfa is more digestible that grass hay, providing more calories on a weight-to-weight basis. Extreme care is needed with the grain hays in horses that are known to be easy keepers and those who may be insulin resistant, because the soluble carbohydrate level in grain hays is much higher than in grass hays. Reach Dr. Getty directly at gettyequinenutrition@gmail.com. Too much protein can be problematic for the insulin resistant horse and it is easy to exceed the horseâs protein requirement when adding alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is often sprayed with buffered propionate (also known as propionic acid) to retard spoilage if baled during wet or humid conditions. Horses do not need a bagged feed, they do not need added fat, and they do not need protein supplementation in most cases. [i] Obtained from a variety of sources such as http://nutritiondata.self.com www.feedipedia.org and Nutrient Requirements of Horses, Sixth Revised Edition, 2007. Usually moderate-quality grass hay is recommended as legume hays, like alfalfa, tend to have higher calorie contents and may be consumed more quickly, which can be a problem for hungry horses needing to lose weight. Alfalfa that is baled under less than ideal conditions may be under cured, have a high moisture level and eroded nutrient quality. He is lightly active. Read more at American Farriers Journal. Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is a specialist in equine nutrition whose philosophy is founded on feeding a horse in sync with his natural needs and instincts. Answer. The National Research Council (NRC) has established lysine requirements for all horses. She is available for private consultations and speaking engagements. The table above offers several significant points. Alfalfa itself is not the issue, but rather, its contribution to the protein content of the entire diet. As of yet, requirements for the other nine essential amino acids have not been quantified, though recent research has shown that threonine may be the second limiting amino acid. Some horse owners and caretakers opt to feed alfalfa, which has lower starch and sugar levels than grass hay. But some people just don’t want to feed alfalfa; they believe it causes laminitis. Not considered to be harmful, propionate is one of three volatile fatty acids (VFA) naturally produced by the hindgut bacteria during hay fermentation. However, alfalfa, in and of itself, is not necessarily the issue. It has been shown that ponies, Arabians and Morgans are more likely to develop insulin resistance than Standardbreds. There are two plausible reasons, both leading to excess blood glucose and the concomitant secretion of insulin: 2. Alfalfa helps slow down sugar absorption into the blood. EMS is a problem in both horses and humans. When lysine is low, protein synthesis comes to a halt. Alfalfa pellets and cubes are easier to measure precisely than flakes of hay. Alfalfa actually has slightly lower ESC, starch, and sugar than Timothy Hay. User Agreement and Privacy Policy. You don’t want a damp or musty smell. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). Butyrate provides energy for the cells that line the hindgut epithelium. Waste. Other factors that Getty mentions are addressing inflammation and lowering iron intake. Clover hay has lots of sugar, and should probably be … Itâs this third path that potentially causes problems for the IR horse. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses' diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). A horse that is prone to insulin resistance problems or laminitis would do best with hay cut in the early morning when the plants are lowest in sugars and starches.” ( So test your hay for WSC plus starch for IR or Cushings horses.) Alfalfa Horse Hay. Insulin-resistant horses prone to laminitis may be sensitive to alfalfa. https://www.succeed-equine.com › succeed-blog › 2015/12/02 › hay-is-for- Best hay for insulin resistant horses Oat and rye grass hays have more sugar than do timothy hay or orchard grass hays. In order to keep a horse chewing for as long as possible, grass hay can be combined with the alfalfa each feeding. Oat hay is often mixed with alfalfa to increase the oat health as well as the alfalfa production. [READ: Buy the Right Hay] 7 Alfalfa Cons. The horse may get worse. The cause isn’t entirely clear, but it may be related to alfalfa having more sugar in the form of glucose, and higher starch. Supply, price, and quality have always been important parameters to consider when buying hay for horses, but now, more than ever before, horse owners are becoming aware of the importance of the nutritional components of the hay they feed. Alfalfa hay is generally fed in much larger quantity than adding a whole food such as alfalfa pellets, split peas, or hempseeds (see table 1), making it appear as though it is the alfalfa that is the culprit. Buying hay for your horse can be a challenge whether you buy it a few bales at a time or purchase a year’s supply when it becomes available in the summer. I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horse's muscle tone, immune system, and overall health. Sensitivity. I worry that a horse with insulin resistance from excess iron may not improve if it is given free-choice hay and it continues to shovel in the hay. Pepperâs owner decides to remove the alfalfa hay. Multiple cuttings from the same field of grass can yield hay with different levels of NSC. Don’t let your horse drink the soaking water as it is high in sugar. When feeding alfalfa, there is a difference between alfalfa cubes, bales and pellets. Contrary to popular belief, grass forages are generally higher in sugars, starches and fructans than legumes such as alfalfa. Insulin Resistance Metabolic Syndrome. The recommended NSC level in hay for insulin-resistant horses is 10%. Juliet M. Getty, Ph.D. is an independent equine nutritionist with a wide U.S. and international following. I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horse's muscle tone, immune system, and overall health. A: With insulin deregulated horses, alfalfa, like any other forage should be lab analyzed to understand its composition and to balance it with the complete diet plan. Also, research shows that alfalfa hay is associated with higher glucose levels after consumption versus grass hay. Find a world of useful information for the horseperson at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com: Sign up for Dr. Gettyâs informative, free e-newsletter, Forage for Thought; browse her library of reference articles; search her nutrition forum; and purchase recordings of her educational teleseminars. Dr. Gettyâs comprehensive resource book, Feed Your Horse Like a Horse, is available at www.GettyEquineNutrition.com -- buy it there and have it inscribed by the author, or get it at Amazon (www.Amazon.com) or other online retail bookstores. The NSC range of grass hays (both cool and warm … If the hay NSCs are unknown or higher than recommended, soak in cold water for one hour before feeding it. Bales should be consistent in weight (too heavy indicates mold or too much moisture, while too light can indicate over … Severely affected Insulin Resistant (IR) horses need to be kept below 10% ESC + starch in the total diet, while all Laminitic horses should to be kept below 10% WSC + starch. Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horsesâ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). ... (such as alfalfa), which has higher calcium levels than grass forages. Oct 25, 2017 - Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those who are insulin resistant (IR). For a protein to be of high quality, it must contain all of the essential amino acids in proper proportion. Bales harvested incorrectly can have dust and mold, as well. A small serving of a supplement with alfalfa in the base isn’t likely to be a problem. All rights reserved. Both grass hays had NSC levels above 12 percent. The other two VFAs are acetate and butyrate. Hay should be dry to the touch. As part of equine metabolic syndrome or Cushings, IR can lead to equine obesity or laminitis. The seven separate volumes in Dr. Gettyâs topic-centered Spotlight on Equine Nutrition series are available with special package pricing at her website, and also at Amazon in print and Kindle versions. Fact, lead to equine obesity or laminitis higher calcium levels than grass forages this considerable,. Chewing for as long as possible, grass forages are generally higher calories. The rest or supplements prone to laminitis may be under cured, have a high level. By other feeds or supplements ( table 1 offers suggestions on alternative whole foods that can be an excellent to! Read: Buy the Right hay ] 7 alfalfa Cons Research Council ( NRC ) has established requirements. Much the same whether a horse has insulin resistance, Cushing ’ s needs mature hay. Many horses thick tougher stalks that some horses will not eat of ingredients to create quality protein e.g.... 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