What is lucerne hay used for?
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Correspondingly, what is the difference between hay and lucerne?
The main difference between the two is that the metabolisable energy (ME) of Lucerne hay tends to be slightly higher then Vetch hay. Both Lucerne and Vetch hay tend to have thin stems which leads to a lower fibre content and a lower relative feed value (RFV).
Secondly, can horses eat lucerne hay? Lucerne Hay is a favourite hay for horses and contains ample protein (between 15% – 18%). For some horses, this may be more than they require. For most horses, Lucerne is a supplement, and an imbalance can cause trouble in horses. Grass Hay can average between 6%-10% protein based on dry matter weight.
Also Know, is lucerne hay high in sugar?
Lucerne hay (a legume) generally has a lot lower content of NSC and sugar. Good quality clover hay can contain a higher content of sugar as compared to lucerne hay because it grows in early spring and also more digestible protein which can increase blood sugar levels in EMS and IR susceptible horses and ponies.
Does lucerne hay make horses hot?
Grains and grain based feeds, molasses and forages like lucerne hay tend to be commonly blamed for making horses 'hot'. Whether this is because they do actually make horses hyperactive, or because they are energy dense feeds that are easy to overfeed and therefore by default make horses hot is hard to determine.