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Alfalfa Might Buffer Gastric Acid Production, Prevent Ulcers

December 19, 2007
Posted by Agricultural Communications, Texas A&M University System

Feeding grain, confinement, exercise, and overall environmental stress factors are thought to cause ulcers, he said. It’s commonly thought that horses turned out on pastures are better off than those that are confined. However, if grass hay is the on

Topics: Article, Feeding High-Performance Horses, Hay, Ulcers

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A change in diet can be good for what ails you–even if you are a horse.

Research from Texas A&M University showed that feeding alfalfa to horses either prevented or was therapeutic in treating stomach ulcers.

"Something in alfalfa hay tends to buffer acid production," said Pete Gibbs, PhD, Extension horse specialist.

According to Gibbs, 30% of the one million horses in Texas are used in racing, showing, and competitive performance. Of these, up to 90% of racehorses and more than 50% of arena performance horses have ulcers of varying severity

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