ridecamp@endurance.net: Re: Alfalfa and enteroliths

Re: Alfalfa and enteroliths

Duncan Fletcher (dfletche@gte.net)
Tue, 21 Oct 1997 21:31:37 -0700

>From an article written by Jan F. Roser, Ph.D., Department of Animal
Science, UC Davis. "Enteroliths are hard, solid objects, composed of
ammonia magnesium phosphate and found in the small or large intestine of
horses.....Because enteroliths have been found with greatest frequency in
the Western states in horses fed alfalfa, it is thought the high magnesium
content of alfalfa contributes to the formation of these so called GI
'stones'. However, a direct link between alfalfa and the formation of
enteroliths needs further investigation."

The ammonia comes from breakdown of protein. Calcium is not a component of
these, although it is possible that there are stones composed of other
compounds. As Susan has indicated, the magnesium content of hay can be
extremely high in some regions. Phoshorus content is not as likely to be as
variable. Bran is also high in magnesium and would not be a good choice to
feed in those regions where that is a problem.

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net

-----Original Message-----
From: MS DENISE G JOHNSON <BZVU47A@prodigy.com>
To: ridecamp@endurance.net <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Date: Monday, October 20, 1997 6:59 PM
Subject: RE: Alfalfa and enteroliths

>Hello. De-lurking here. On our family farm we grow alfalfa and
>bermuda grass that we sell as hay for horses and dairy cows. We are
>located in the SW in the Imperial Valley of CA. I read with great
>interest the topics discussing horse feeds. My horse background
>includes 3 Arabs our family had as I was a child.
>All 3 were feed exclusive alfalfa diets. All 3 never coliced, and
>they died of old age. They were pleasure horses we owned 10-15 years.
> Twenty years latter I buy another Arab. I owned him for 2 years
>and just started him in LD rides. The two rides we entered we
>completed but he coliced after each ride. One and half months passed
>before he coliced again. This time he couldn't come out of it. I
>had to put him down. A cantaloupe size enterolith ended his life.
>No sand was found in his intestines. He was on alfalfa only. He
>came to me with extremely dry manure. He would grunt and grone while
>pooping. So I was advised to feed him bran to loosen him up. I feed
>1-2 cups of bran almost daily for a year and a half. Consequently,
>I wanted to find out all I could about the formation of stones. The
>more questions I asked the more confused I became. One Vet would
>tell me it was Calcium in alfalfa. Another said it was the
>Phosphorus that farmers applied heavily to their alfalfa stands.
>Another implicated Nitrogen. I've read the cautions about feeding
>wheat bran in the SW as it has been associated with stone formation
>(Which I could understand as it can be quite gooy). Now reading
>Susan's latest post Magnesium is added to the list. Hum. I've been
>told Arabs have naturally drier systems than other breeds, and this
>might contribute to stones. One underlying thread I've concluded is
>stone formation is not well understood.
> In 95 I purchased a 6 y.o. Khemosabi son. He was foaled in L.A.
>He lived in a backyard in Rancho Cucumaga until I picked him up. He
>was feed alfalfa pellets and some alfalfa hay. Within 3 weeks I
>found a stone while cleaning out his corral. He had passed a nice
>little 1 1/2 in diameter heart shaped gift of worry to me. Six
>months latter another stone a bit smaller. I have showed both stones
>to a Vet at an equine hospital and they think based on the shape of
>the stones he probably has more. He has never coliced or been sick.
>But I will have him x-rayed in the future for hopefully peace of mind.
> Nearly 1 1/2 years have passed and I haven't found any more stones.
> I currently feed my two Arabs small flakes of alfalfa and they have
>bermuda grass free choice all the time. I bran my horses
>occasionally. I never feed candy alfalfa you know, all leaves and
>very yummy looking.
> So back to what causes stone formation. Alfalfa is a legume. On
>its' roots are nitrogen fixing bacteria.
>Nitrogen is supplied to the plants via this symbiotic relationship.
>Rarely is N applied to an exsisting alfalfa stand. So farmers do not
>supplement their stands with N. Phosphorus is applied at least
>yearly since every ton harvested depletes the P needed for growth. P
>is very expensive and only what is needed per ton harvested is
>applied. Potassium is not applied that I know of. Calcium, Sulfur,
>Magnesium, Iron, Selenium,
>etc. and other micronutrients are not applied that I know of and I
>will check. We haven't on our stands. Soils vary considerabley here
>in the SW. In the Imperial Valley, which alfalfa is grown
>extensively, soils can vary from clay to loams to sandy. All soils
>here are alkaline in ph. Susan I would like to know more about your
>info on Mg causing stones and it's naturally occuring high % in the
>SW soils. Does the SW also include AZ, Fallon NV alfalfa, Scott's
>Valley alfalfa in No. CA too? Could the salt laden Colorado River
>water be a factor? I couldn't bear to look at the stone they
>removed from my little guy in the vet's office for a few years now.
>Just the other day I did look. I know it could be analyzed. It
>looks like layer after layer was built up like a snowball. Lots of
>little fibers glued together. I sincerely hope someday we will know
>exactly how to prevent stone formation and still be able to feed
>alfalfa, because face it, the horses love it and green pastures are
>few and far between in the desert SW.
>
>Denise
>

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