Hay Vs. Pellets: Which Form Of Alfalfa Is Best For Buffering Stomach Acid?

Alfalfa is known to buffer the acid found in a horse’s stomach, possibly aiding in the prevention of ulcers, and feeding it before riding has been shown to have positive effects. But does the format of the alfalfa affect its buffering abilities?

The higher calcium and protein content in alfalfa is what gives it better buffering abilities than grass hays. Hay in any form will increase saliva production as it is chewed, and saliva contains sodium bicarbonate, which also helps buffer stomach acid. Long-stemmed forage will form a mat in the horse’s stomach that will prevent acid from sloshing into the upper portion of the horse’s stomach, where most ulcers occur, reports The Horse.

Hay pellets require less saliva to chew, so offer less buffering ability from bicarbonate. The calcium in alfalfa pellets might be able to buffer the stomach more rapidly because of their smaller particle size, but the calcium may also move out of the stomach more rapidly. In addition, pelleted forage will not create a mat.

If the stomach’s acidity is low, there will be less concern about the acid splashing into the unprotected areas of the stomach, making a hay mat less important. If buffering a horse’s stomach before a ride is the goal, pellets may be the best bet, even if they don’t create a mat. Commercial products which buffer more quickly than alfalfa are also available, though they will last only a few hours.

Feeding alfalfa in any format to a horse with an empty stomach will most likely reduce his risk of developing gastric ulcers.

Read more at The Horse.