peanut hay

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

>Does anyone know where I could lay my hands on a nutritional evaluation Of >this type of hay. I have seen statements that it is the "alfalfa of the south", >and I was told it is no relation to the peanut. It seems palatable enough, but I >sure would like to know more before I buy.
>Thanks so much
>Dinah

 

The same or a bit higher in energy than most grass hays (about 1.9 Mcal/kg), about 11% protein, inverted calcium-phosphorus ratio.  Pretty high in fiber, so not quite as digestible as other grass or cereal grain hays.  I'm not quite sure why it would be considered the "alfalfa of the South", since it bears darn little resemblance in nutrient profile, but maybe they're referring to using it as a staple of the diet. 

 

You could certainly use it as a component of your horse's diet (be sure to supplement with some extra calcium), but I'm not sure I would go out of my way to search for it.

 

Hope this helps. :-)

 

Susan G