AGRICULTURE NEWS - Lucerne should be used with caution in weanlings and yearlings, as the high protein and calcium levels can result in developmental orthopaedic disease. High-protein diets can also be a problem for sports horses during hot weather. Protein is excreted through the urine as urea, and this can lead to dehydration, especially if the horse is sweating and not drinking enough water. This can be an issue in endurance horses.
High levels of protein can also affect the health of horses diagnosed with liver or kidney disease.
And horses with hyperkalemic periodic paralysis, a genetic muscle disease, should be fed a lower proportion of lucerne in their diet, as it is high in potassium.
Read the full article here on the Caxton Publication, Farmers Weekly
