Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Alfalfa hay

>What is "enteroliths"?
>Thanks,
>Lori B.


Mineralized "rocks" in the hindgut that form out of too much magnesium,
phosphorus and nitrogen (from protein) in the diet, plus an alkaline hindgut
pH from high calcium.  The protein and calcium come from any alfalfa, the
magnesium comes specifically from SW-grown alfalfa, the phosphorus usually
comes from accompanying high phosphorus feeds such as wheat bran, rice bran
or a lot of grain.  So a straight alfalfa diet in Ohio is unlikely to form
enteroliths (because the high magnesium content is missing), whereas a
straight alfalfa diet in Southern California is a lot more likely.  I've
personally seen some enteroliths the size of a basketball and better than 40
lbs, though most aren't nearly that big.  Not every horse on straight
alfalfa gets them (or, perhaps the correct phrase is 'gets them AND has
clinical problems resulting from them', which is a different thing), but
enough do to make it a dietary issue, IMO, totally aside from other issues
that directly affect endurance horses.  There's an article on my website
about it http://www.shady-acres.com/susan/  under "Alfalfa and the
Performance Horse".  :-)

BTW, what it doesn't say in the article (I need to update it) is that
according to research out of UC Davis, the line between 'okay' and 'too
much' seems to be around 50%---that is, 50% of the ration is in the form of
alfalfa, and the other half grass hay or whatever.  More than that, and the
incidence of enteroliths and horses requiring surgery to remove them,
skyrockets.

Susan G





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