Alfalfa hay is not a one-size-fits-all forage. Its high protein, calcium, and energy density are exactly what some animals need — and more than others can use. Feeding the wrong amount, or introducing it too quickly, can cause problems that offset its nutritional advantages.
Cattle
Dairy Cows
Lactating dairy cows are the natural fit for alfalfa. They need 16–17% CP in the total diet, and Premium to Supreme-grade alfalfa (18–22% CP, ADF below 30%) meets that from forage alone. In total mixed ration (TMR) programs, alfalfa typically contributes 15–25 lbs of dry matter per cow per day alongside corn silage and grain. The exact rate depends on the rest of the ration and target milk output.
Beef Cattle
A useful baseline: alfalfa fed at 1% of body weight — about 10–12 lbs per day for a 1,000 lb cow — supplies all major vitamins and minerals except phosphorus, and meets protein requirements for maintenance, lactation, and moderate growth. Cows in late gestation, post-calving, and growing heifers benefit from higher inclusion; dry cows at maintenance can do well with alfalfa as a partial component of a mixed hay program rather than the sole forage.
Bloat Precautions
Bloat is the main risk with alfalfa in cattle. To manage it: introduce alfalfa gradually over 7–14 days, never turn hungry cattle directly onto high-alfalfa rations, and avoid feeding hay with elevated moisture. Providing grass hay or straw alongside alfalfa gives cattle the long-stem fiber buffer that reduces frothy bloat risk.
Mineral Balancing
Alfalfa’s Ca:P ratio of 5–6:1 means phosphorus supplementation is typically needed when alfalfa is a major diet component. Left unbalanced, this ratio creates a mineral imbalance over time, particularly for beef animals and rams.
Horses
When Alfalfa Is the Right Choice
Alfalfa suits horses with above-average nutritional demands: performance horses in active training, horses that struggle to maintain weight, lactating mares, and senior horses with reduced digestive efficiency. For these animals, alfalfa’s protein and energy density fills gaps that grass hay alone cannot.
When It Is Not
Healthy adult horses at light work or maintenance rarely need alfalfa’s nutrient concentration. Excess protein is simply excreted as nitrogen, increasing urine output and stable ammonia without performance benefit. Horses with kidney conditions should not receive high-protein diets without veterinary guidance.
Daily Amounts
A widely used guideline: alfalfa should not exceed 50% of total daily forage. A 100% alfalfa diet provides significantly less crude fiber than grass hay diets, which matters for hindgut function and motility. For a 1,000 lb horse eating 18 lbs of hay per day, a practical mixed program is 8–9 lbs alfalfa and 9–10 lbs grass hay. Where alfalfa is purely supplemental, 2–4 lbs alongside free-choice grass hay is a reasonable starting point.
Transition Protocol
Increase alfalfa by no more than 0.5–1 lb per day when transitioning from grass hay. Mix hay types within each meal rather than feeding them at separate meals, to avoid abrupt shifts within the digestive cycle.
Sheep
Production Stage Determines Inclusion
Alfalfa’s protein and energy profile matches sheep requirements during the most demanding production stages. Lactating ewes need 14–16% CP; late-gestation ewes have elevated energy demands; growing lambs benefit from alfalfa’s digestibility and nutrient density. For these classes, alfalfa at 50% or more of the hay ration is appropriate. Dry ewes and rams at maintenance do not need the extra protein or calcium and are better served by mixed grass-alfalfa programs.
Daily Amounts
Adult sheep eat 2–4% of body weight in dry matter daily. For a 150 lb ewe:
- Maintenance: 3–4 lbs of hay (grass hay sufficient)
- Late gestation: 4–5 lbs, with alfalfa or alfalfa-grass mix
- Early lactation: 5–6 lbs, higher alfalfa inclusion appropriate
- Growing lambs: alfalfa at 50%+ of forage ration supports fast growth
Bloat and Mineral Notes
The same bloat precautions as cattle apply to sheep. Introduce gradually, avoid feeding to hungry animals without prior roughage access, and provide grass hay or straw alongside when running high alfalfa inclusion. Monitor Ca:P balance for rams, where excess calcium over time increases urinary calculi risk.
General Best Practices
Introduce gradually. For all species, 7–14 days to reach target inclusion from zero. Sudden transitions increase digestive disruption risk regardless of species.
Check moisture at delivery. Properly cured hay should be below 15–18% moisture. Above this, mold and heating risk during storage increase significantly. Inspect and smell bales on arrival.
Store correctly. Stack off the ground, protect from rain, cover or store undercover where possible. Exposed hay loses nutrients through leaching and can develop mold at ground contact points.
Match grade to need. Supreme-grade alfalfa is warranted for high-producing dairy cows. Beef cattle at maintenance and horses in light work perform equally well on Good-grade material at lower cost. Overpaying for grade the animals cannot use is a straightforward budget inefficiency.
Always provide water. High protein feeding increases metabolic water demand. Free access to clean water at all times is non-negotiable when alfalfa is a major diet component.
Looking to source bulk Medicago alfalfa hay for your livestock operation? Contact our team to discuss quality grades, specifications, and supply volumes.