What is lucerne?

Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is a leguminous plant and is widely used in horse feed around the world due to its many benefits. It is often considered the queen of forages. Did you know that lucerne is a different crop than grass?

Unlike grass, lucerne does not need to be fertilised, as it can fix nitrogen from the air and use it to produce high-quality protein. This is what makes it so different from grass. Even when fertilised, grass generally contains much lower levels of protein.

The lucerne plant has a stem with leaves (and purple flowers when in bloom). The stem is mainly rich in fibre, while the leaves contain most of the protein, vitamins, minerals, and trace elements.

Lucerne is processed in various ways for use in horse feed. The most well-known form is as a forage (or forage replacer), for example in a forage mix. However, lucerne is also widely used in pellets (such as our Hartog Lucerne Pellets) and in mueslis (such as our Hartog Strength) as a source of fibre.

What are the benefits of lucerne for horses?

Lucerne offers several benefits for horses:

1. Rich in fibre and structure. As described above, lucerne is a type of forage and is therefore rich in fibre. Due to its high fibre content, lucerne contributes to a healthy digestion and can support gut health. A horse’s digestive system is fully adapted to processing fibre. It is therefore not surprising that fibre is essential for overall health and helps prevent digestive issues such as colic and gastric ulcers. In addition, the structure of lucerne encourages horses to chew. This increases saliva production, which helps support a healthy stomach.
   Tip: Mix your concentrate feed with lucerne to slow down feed intake, increase chewing, and provide your horse with extra nutrients—without increasing the amount of concentrate.
2. Rich in high-quality protein. Lucerne is rich in naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, and trace elements, but is especially known for its high protein content. For this reason, lucerne is often added to a horse’s ration to support muscle development. In addition, sufficient protein intake can help give a horse more “body.” This is particularly beneficial for sport horses, horses with higher protein requirements, or horses that are underweight.
3. Rich in calcium. Another important characteristic of lucerne is that it is rich in calcium. This mineral is essential for the development and support of bones and teeth. Especially in pregnant mares, this can be an important addition to support the development of the unborn foal. Calcium also has a buffering effect on stomach acid, which may help prevent gastric ulcers.
4. Low sugar and starch content. All forage contains some level of sugar. However, lucerne generally has a lower sugar content than many other forages, such as grass. On average, lucerne contains around 4.5% sugar, while hay contains approximately 10%. This makes lucerne very suitable for horses that are sensitive to sugars.
5. In some cases, molasses is added to lucerne, such as in our Hartog Lucerne Mix, but even then the sugar content remains lower than that of average hay. Would you prefer a molasses-free alternative? Then you can choose Hartog Lucerne Plus or Hartog Digest.

Which types of horses is lucerne suitable for?

As you may have noticed, lucerne is a versatile forage that is suitable for different types of horses, depending on their needs and management. In general, the following types of horses benefit the most from lucerne:

1. Sport horses. Horses active in various equestrian disciplines such as dressage, show jumping, driving, or endurance often have a higher protein requirement. Thanks to its high protein content, lucerne can be a very valuable addition to the ration—for example, to support muscle development and recovery after training.
2. Nervous horses. Due to its low sugar and starch content, lucerne does not make horses hot or excitable. It is ideal for adding extra nutrients to your horse’s ration without increasing concentrate feed.
3. Young growing horses. Yearlings and young horses in training have a higher need for nutrients to support healthy growth and development. Lucerne is rich in calcium and other essential nutrients, helping to support strong bones, muscles, and a healthy dentition.
   Please note: foals and yearlings have less developed teeth, which means lucerne may be too coarse in structure. In these cases, we recommend feeding lucerne in pellet form, such as Hartog Lucerne Pellets.
4. Underweight horses. If you have a horse that is underweight or struggles to maintain weight, lucerne can be a valuable addition to the ration. Thanks to its high protein content and digestible fibre, lucerne can help build a healthy body condition and improve overall condition, without increasing concentrate feed.
5. Pregnant and lactating mares. When a mare is pregnant or lactating, her nutritional requirements increase, not only for herself, but also to support the unborn or nursing foal. Lucerne can help meet these increased needs thanks to its protein and other essential nutrients, supporting healthy growth and development.
6. Horses with digestive issues. Thanks to its high fibre and calcium content, lucerne can support horses that are prone to gastric ulcers, colic, or other digestive problems. The fibre supports a healthy gut function, while calcium can buffer stomach acid and help prevent ulcers. In addition, the increased chewing due to its structure stimulates saliva production, which also helps neutralise stomach acid.

How much lucerne can you feed per day?

The amount of lucerne you can feed per day varies and depends on several factors, including the horse’s specific needs and your feeding goal. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and the correct amount differs per horse.

However, there are some general guidelines. If you feed lucerne to add structure to concentrate feed, one scoop per feeding may already be sufficient. If you want to benefit from the protein and other nutrients, for example for muscle development or weight gain, then feeding more lucerne is recommended.

The exact amount depends on the product and brand, as well as the percentage of lucerne in the product. For Hartog Lucerne Mix and Hartog Lucerne Plus (with the highest lucerne content), we recommend feeding 1.5 to 3 kg per day for a 600 kg horse when aiming to provide extra protein. Feeding less will have limited effect on muscle development or weight gain.

Tip: a standard 10-litre bucket holds approximately 1.5 kg of Hartog Lucerne Mix.

Imbalance in calcium-phosphorus ratio

Finally, when feeding lucerne, it is important to monitor the calcium-phosphorus ratio, especially when feeding more than 2 kg per day. Lucerne has a ratio of approximately 5:1, while the ideal ratio for an adult horse is 2:1. However, this only becomes an issue when large quantities are fed.

What matters is the balance of the total ration, not individual components. In most cases, lucerne is part of a balanced diet and the ratio is corrected by other feeds. For example, a ration of 10 kg hay, 2 kg concentrate, and 2 kg Hartog Lucerne Mix or Lucerne Plus is still well balanced. If lucerne forms a large part of the ration, it can be balanced with phosphorus-rich feeds such as grains or bran.

If you are unsure about the right amount of lucerne for your horse or pony, you can always request free feeding advice from us.

Different types of lucerne for horses

There are different types of lucerne suitable for feeding horses, each with their own characteristics and benefits:

1. Artificially dried lucerne. Lucerne is dried in a factory using warm air. This reduces moisture and extends shelf life. Because it is dried quickly after harvesting, nutrients are well preserved. Available in pellets, cubes, and mixes.
2. Sun-dried lucerne. As the name suggests, this lucerne is dried naturally in the sun. The leaf content is less well preserved and nutritional values may be less consistent.
3. Lucerne pellets. Lucerne (usually the leaf part) is pressed into pellets. This form is practical and highly concentrated, as it mainly contains the most nutrient-rich parts of the plant. Ideal for horses with chewing difficulties or lower appetite. A downside is that it provides less structure and therefore stimulates less chewing.
4. Lucerne mixes. A commonly used form among horse owners. Chopped lucerne (usually artificially dried) is packed into bales. Sometimes mixed with vitamins, minerals, or other forage types to meet specific needs. These mixes are a convenient way to provide extra fibre. Examples include Hartog Lucerne Mix and Hartog Digest.

Hartog lucerne for horses

At Hartog, we offer a range of lucerne products that are specially formulated for horses. One of these is the Hartog Lucerne Mix, our original lucerne mix which we have been producing since 1991. Hartog Lucerne Mix is made from locally harvested lucerne. In this product, we deliberately include the leaf material in the final mix so that the benefits of both the leaves and the stems are utilised. The leaf material of the lucerne plant contains the highest concentration of nutrients for which lucerne is known, making it the “gold” of the plant.

We also offer Hartog Lucerne Plus. Lucerne Plus is made from pure lucerne enriched with linseed oil, which is what distinguishes it from Hartog Lucerne Mix, where molasses is added. This mix can help promote a healthy, glossy coat and supports muscle development thanks to its high-quality protein content.

Finally, we have Hartog Digest. Hartog Digest is specially formulated to support your horse’s digestive system. This support works in two ways. Firstly, Hartog Digest is forage-based, which extends eating time and stimulates saliva production. Secondly, it contains functional ingredients that support the digestive system, such as postbiotics, magnesium, lucerne, and linseed oil. The added magnesium and lucerne both help to neutralise stomach acid. In addition, Hartog Digest contains postbiotics, which provide the right combination of metabolites to nourish the microbiota, help maintain balance, and support gut health.

Curious about what Hartog can do for your horse? Feel free to request feeding advice!