Alfafa hay

[Ziggy&Herald]

I'm sure this is on here somewhere already. I've tried to search the forum, but am running out of time, I have to pick my daughter up from school. So I'll just ask again, sorry. I have been sick and I sent my husband to the store to buy hay for the pigs (don't send a man to do a womans job). Well he came back with alfafa. My pigs are older so I know they shouldn't have this kind except to suppliment. My question is, since I can't get back to the store until tomorrow, is it OK to feed unlimited amounts today, then switch back to timothy tomorrow and supplement the alfafa occasionally. Or would it be better to offer a small amount and make them wait? Again sorry if it is somewhere else, just point me in the right direction please?

[aqh88]

For a short time alfalfa is fine. It's more the longterm effects from the excessive amounts of certain vitamins and minerals found in alfalfa. It also tends to be very stemmy and pigs have been injured from getting poked in the eye or puncture wounds that become infected. Normally I leave piles of the hay in the cage for the pigs to dig through but alfalfa might be better in a hayrack where they can't shove it around as much and get poked.

[Ziggy&Herald]

Thanks aqh88. I did notice how much more stemmy it was. It looks completely different then timothy. But glad to kow they can still have their hay today. Thanks again.

[auburnmare5]

I think i twould be fine as said before for a short time. I would not worry too much, it will not kill them if they have it for one day. Make sure they get Timothy soon though.

[Justin]

I also use grass hay as bedding and alfalfa in hay rack, even for babies.

[ali's_pigs123]

It does not matter how old the pig is, all gps should get some form of a grass hay. Alfalfa is generally given as a supplement. Alfalfa should never be used as a substitution for a grass hay.

[Justin]

Originally Posted by ali's_pigs123

It does not matter how old the pig is, all gps should get some form of a grass hay.

I should had known it before I bought a huge bale of alfalfa. I misunderstood as alfalfa only was OK for babies.

Now I ended up with two huge bales of different types of hay.

[LoveCutePiggies]

So if you have a baby, do you give both alfalfa and timothy hay or just alfalfa?

[Justin]

Originally Posted by LoveCutePiggies

So if you have a baby, do you give both alfalfa and timothy hay or just alfalfa?

I give them both of alfalfa and grass hay(orchard grass in my case). For pellets, I give only timothy. I think they have enough alfalfa from hay.

[Ly&Pigs]

Originally Posted by LoveCutePiggies

So if you have a baby, do you give both alfalfa and timothy hay or just alfalfa?

Grass hay such as timothy is what you need unlimited amounts of from the day they are born until they pass. Alfalfa is a supplemental hay they can have in addition to the timothy/other variety of grass hay