I complement you on the metabolic explanation of hypochloremic-induced
alkalosis. Alfalfa is not the big bad nemesis as you describe any more
than poor conditioning,or the enzymatic inability of the muscles to
convert ATP. This inability to convert ATP at the muscle level seems to
be the bad nemesis is chronic cases. Poor conditioning along with an
improper balanced diet are certainly the two main factors in transient
tying-up.
Carl Meyer D.V.M.