anyone experinced itchiness with Alfalfa?

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fuffy

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I have been feeding my four on alalfa pellets along with chaff and basic beetpulp.Usually I use a basic nut but thought the higher protein would help keep condition on. Firtly my oldest mare got itchy, so I reduced the amount of alfalfa now my next oldest also has the same symptoms. they are now on a basic nut instead and I wondered if anyone has had the same reaction... this is the only difference in last years diet. also if this is the case how long b4 symptoms subside. I have spoken to Dengie helpline and they weren't much help!!
 
Some horses do seem to be intolerant of alfalfa and this does seem to present as skin problems/itchiness, so seems sensible to take your horses off it.

As regards the link above, it refers to the danger of alfalfa hay - ie where alfalfa is fed in very large quantities and is the main portion of the diet, whereas most people in this country just feed a little to mix with hard feed or a few pellets in a bucket. It does, however, illustrate why it is not wise to feed alfalfa chaffs by the tub full as a partial hay replacer.
 
Many thanks for the response. The article made a lot of sense in the reactions I have been getting in my horses. I was aware from years back that lucerne(alfalfa) hay needed to be fed carefully but assumed pellets were OK. mine were having quite a large amount as being old I wanted weight kept on. Have now gone back to a basic nut with beet and chaff. Been very helpfull, than you all .:)
 
I once fed Alfa-A Oil for two weeks. Not only did it act as Rocket Fuel, but the horse came out in big, itchy lumps.

Been very careful ever since.
 
mine wasnt itchy with alfalfa but was shaking from head to toe when being ridden - she had so much energy she didnt know what to do with it. She was a shaking wreck - like a kid on E numbers.
Took her off it and so much more relaxed - still spooky sometimes but at least relaxes and works. So now avoid it like the plague.
Fine with high protein just cant cope with alfalfa
 
This is very interesting as my lad gets itchy scabs over his rump and flanks mainly when I feed Alfa a Lite... I wondered if it was a too-heavy rug, but trial and error seems to indicate the alfalfa, even though it was only a small quantity.
 
My horse also came out in lumps and was itching when i tried him on alfa a, took him straight off it and now use just grass or readi grass instead and he is fine on those. I always check now that anything i feed has no alfa in it, alot of fibre feeds do have it added so check the bag labels carefully.
 
I've been feeding the new Hi Fi molasses free to two horses who don't normally itch and now they can't stop. Nothing else in their feed/rugs/lives has changed, so I was wondering if there could be a connection.

It's strange that there are suddenly such itchy horses around :confused:
 
Mine are on Alfalfa oil and are fine, they have always been on Alfalfa with no probs, but i do know that it doesn't suit all horses.

The temperature has got a lot warmer recently, and i've noticed in the past mine go a bit itchy and scratchy if they are too hot- which is understandable!

Years ago, one of mine went through an itchy episode for no apparent reason, a previous vet who was on the yard at the time and didn't know my horse advised me just to give him steroids!!- which i didn't do- i just washed him in seleen shampoo which seemed to do the trick.

I think it can be caused by so so many things, allergies, heat, protein, mites etc etc i guess its a process of elimination- a very good vet once told me that garlic can make them itchy as it makes their blood very hot!?- anyone else heard of that?

hope you get it sorted!
 
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