Re: Re:enteroliths (was Feeding/hay suggestions)

["Susan Garlinghouse" <suendavid@worldnet.att.net>]

The difference is that SW-grown alfalfa can be as much as seven times higher
in magnesium than alfalfa grown in other regions, and Mg is one of the three
primary components in enteroliths (the other two being ammonium and
phosphorus).  So the incidence of enteroliths is going to be lower outside
the SW region.  Water pH also seems to be a factor, and there have been
numerous reports of enteroliths in horses who don't get any alfalfa, but do
drink fairly alkali water (they were all from around the Ridgecrest, CA
area).

So there are other reasons not to feed a horse straight alalfa in CO, but
enterolith formation isn't as high on the list as other reasons.  However,
there *are* enteroliths in this area as well---one came out of a horse in
surgery at CSU just last week.

Susan G


----- Original Message -----
From: Michelle Fink <michrowe@redwrench.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2001 3:00 PM
Subject: RC: Re:enteroliths (was Feeding/hay suggestions)


> Is there some other factor in enterolith formation?  I asked my vet about
it
> and he said he has not seen any in our area (he's been a vet for 20+
years).
> Most people in the area feed straight alfalfa to their horses.
>
> Michelle
> (Colorado)
>
>
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