Intake and palatability are key components in the quality and relative usefulness of forage. Alfalfa forage is typically more palatable and preferred by horses than other grass forages and this study demonstrated that horses found the Standlee alfalfa highly palatable.
During this study, horses consumed local hay on average in 2 hours, 25 minutes, and 10 seconds after it was presented to them, at a rate of consumption of 0.09lbs/min. When fed Standlee alfalfa, horses completed their hay 2 hours, 59 minutes, and 6 seconds following feeding, at a rate of consumption of 0.07lbs/min. Horses fed Standlee alfalfa spent 33 minutes and 56 seconds longer consuming their hay than when fed local hay, decreasing the consumption rate by 0.02lbs/min.
Lengthening of consumption time is an important consideration for horse owners as horses are meant to consume forage continually throughout the day. If horses can consume a similar amount of hay but take a more extended amount of time to consume that same amount, it may further benefit horse owners. The study participants noted that the Standlee alfalfa had a longer fiber length and was more compact than the locally sourced alfalfa. The looseness and relative fine stem nature of the locally sourced hay led to a greater deal of wastage than the Standlee product. While this was not measured, this may be a key finding related to the physical characteristics of the Standlee alfalfa vs. the locally sourced alfalfa analyzed in this trial.
When survey participants compared the two alfalfa sources, the Standlee alfalfa consistently scored much higher than the locally sourced alfalfa in all categories, specifically related to the texture and stem length mentioned previously. Overall, horse owners believed that the Standlee alfalfa was of higher nutritional quality and was preferred by the participants over the locally sourced product.
Testimonials
“My horses love the Alfalfa Pellets and Teff Pellets! My older horse is metabolic/IR and he is now within range after changing his diet to Teff after 3 months. His hair coat changed and he has a better attitude towards work. I recommend any horse owner with an easy keeper or metabolic horse to switch to the Teff right away. Thank you, Standlee, for this great new addition to your Product line up.” Cindy Bistodeau
"My momma just made the switch to Standlee Premium Western Forage alfalfa pellets and it's like Dallas and I are getting in on Halloween candy too! The difference is obvious on all fronts: color, texture and smell! We love it and are never going back to other brands!" Caz the Unicorn
“I've feed Standlee's compressed hay, pellets, and cubes for some time, and it's become a very important part of my training operation. For many years, like so many pro operations, I fed regular alfalfa hay as my staple. The problem with this program were the consistency in the nutritional content of the actual product varied greatly. With Standlee I know exactly what my horses are ingesting nutritionally, and there is very little waste. The bags are easy to store and maintain, as are the compressed bales.” Tom Foran
Claims are based on joint studies between Standlee Premium Western Forage and Purina Animal Nutrition in 2016 & 2017. A veterinarian should evaluate changes in diet before implementation. Claims not verified by AAFCO. Claims are intended for informational use only and should not be considered as healthcare advice, veterinary or medical diagnosis, treatment, or prescribing of any kind. Proper medical assessment and veterinary recommendation should be obtained before making any changes to your animal’s diet.
