Orchard vs Timothy vs Alfalfa: NSC, Protein, Ca:P & When to Feed Which
- Horse Education Online
- 2 days ago
- 15 min read
Choosing between orchard, timothy, and alfalfa is really about matching nutrients to the horse, not picking a plant name. This guide to Orchard vs Timothy vs Alfalfa shows how NSC, protein, and the calcium to phosphorus balance shape weight control, performance fuel, and metabolic safety. Use a hay lab on a dry matter basis, then tailor intake with your veterinarian and keep basic biosecurity in mind.
If you need a refresher on energy, protein, minerals, and dry matter, skim our Basics of Equine Nutrition primer first. For metabolic red flags and vet coordination, see Equine Metabolic Syndrome. For hydration planning with salt, use the Salt & Electrolyte Calculator. To sanity-check body weight targets, open the Weight & BCS Calculator.
This article does not diagnose or treat. Always make forage and feeding decisions with your veterinarian based on a current hay report and the specific horse in front of you.
TL;DR (What to feed when)
Orchard grass: versatile “middle-of-the-road” grass hay; NSC and protein sit between timothy and alfalfa. Good for many idle/light-work horses if the lab fits your target.
Timothy: often the leanest grass hay; frequently lower NSC and protein than orchard (still verify). Useful for easy keepers and EMS candidates when a tested lot meets NSC goals.
Alfalfa (hay/pellets): high protein, higher calories, high calcium; NSC can be low but energy density is high. Helpful as a portion for ulcer-prone/performance horses or hard keepers; mind overall Ca:P and calories.
Owner-safe NSC target for EMS/PPID management: choose forage that tests ≤10–12% NSC on a dry-matter (DM) basis, in consultation with your vet and nutritionist.
Pellets/cubes: legit stand-ins for hay when teeth, dust, travel, or supply require; soak for choke control and dust management when appropriate.
Always decide with a hay lab + vet; plant name alone isn’t enough.
Reading hay labs (DM, NSC, protein, Ca:P) in 60 seconds
Before picking a plant name, anchor your choice to the hay report. A quick read of dry matter, NSC, protein, and the calcium to phosphorus ratio tells you how the forage will behave.
Lab term | What it is (quick) | Rule-of-thumb targets (adult, maintenance/light work) | Why you care |
DM (Dry Matter, %) | Water removed on paper; all nutrients are compared on DM. | Read everything on a DM basis to compare apples to apples. | Wet hay looks “lower” in nutrients if you read as-fed. DM normalizes it. |
WSC + Starch = NSC (%) | Non-Structural Carbohydrates: sugar + starch. | General: many horses do fine up to low-teens. EMS/PPID management: aim forage ≤10–12% NSC (DM) with your vet. | Drives insulin response. Lower NSC helps manage metabolic risk. |
CP (Crude Protein, %) | Protein estimate. | ~8–12% suits most idle/light-work adults from forage alone if intake is adequate; athletes or growth need more (whole-diet). | Protein supports muscle, enzymes; too little slows top-line; excess isn’t a problem if water is ample. |
DE (Digestible Energy) | Calories (often Mcal/lb or Mcal/kg). | Choose to maintain body condition. If weight is drifting, adjust forage DE or amount. | Calorie control is usually easier (and safer) with forage choice than with “diet” grain. |
Ca (%) & P (%); Ca:P ratio | Macro minerals driving bone/nerve/muscle balance. | Whole-diet Ca:P ~1.2–2:1 for adults. Grass hays often near 1–2:1; alfalfa can push >3:1 and needs balance elsewhere. | Too-wide ratios over time can unbalance mineral absorption. |
ADF/NDF (%) | Fiber markers (cell walls). | Higher = more filling, fewer calories per kg (generally). | Useful for satiety/weight control planning. |
Ash (%) | Total minerals; high ash can flag soil/contamination. | Outliers (very high) warrant a second look. | Sand/soil raises ash; not great for gut or nutrients per kg. |
Numbers above are practical waypoints for adult horses; specific horses (growth, late gestation, heavy work, metabolic disease) require vet-guided targets.
Fast workflow
Confirm the report is on a DM basis.
Check NSC against your horse’s risk profile (EMS/PPID target ≤10–12% DM).
Confirm CP aligns with workload and forage intake.
Scan Ca, P, and Ca:P; if using significant alfalfa, plan the rest of the diet to land near 1.2–2:1 overall.
Use DE/ADF/NDF to steer weight up/down without jumping to concentrates.
Make changes with your vet/nutritionist; re-test new lots. Keep storage clean/dry to protect quality (biosecurity & mold control).
Pro tip: Label hay by lot, not by species (“Orchard #24-B, NW field, 2nd cut”). When you find a lot that fits the horse, try to buy enough to avoid mid-season swings.
Orchard vs Timothy vs Alfalfa at a glance
This section gives you realistic typical ranges so you can see how the three forages differ. Treat the table as orientation only, then confirm with your own lab on a dry matter basis.
Forage type | Typical NSC on DM basis | Typical crude protein | Typical Ca:P on DM basis | Practical notes |
Orchard grass hay | about 10 to 16 percent | about 8 to 12 percent | about 1.5 to 2.5 to 1 | Middle of the road for many adults at maintenance or light work if the lot tests in range. Palatable and often a touch richer than timothy. |
Timothy hay | about 8 to 14 percent | about 7 to 10 percent | about 1.2 to 2 to 1 | Often the leaner grass choice which is helpful for easy keepers when the lot meets your NSC target. Very dependent on harvest maturity. |
Alfalfa hay or pellets | about 8 to 12 percent | about 16 to 20 percent | commonly 3 to 6 to 1 | High protein and energy density with high calcium. Useful as a portion for performance, ulcer prone horses, or hard keepers. Balance minerals in the rest of the diet. |
You are choosing a nutrient pattern more than a plant name. Lab numbers move with cut, maturity, weather, and region, so treat the table as orientation only and confirm with a hay report on a dry matter basis.
A quick reading tip.
NSC tells you about sugar and starch response. Protein supports muscle and repair. Calcium and phosphorus need to land in a whole diet ratio near 1.2 to one up to two to one for adults. Alfalfa pushes calcium high which is fine if you balance elsewhere. Grass hays usually sit closer to the target ratio on their own.
When a horse has metabolic risk you and your vet should prefer a tested forage that is ten to twelve percent NSC or lower on a dry matter basis. Plant name alone cannot guarantee that number. If the perfect hay is not available, discuss soaking protocols and ration balancers with your vet or a qualified nutritionist.
Feeding by goal
Maintenance, weight loss, or weight gain all start with daily dry matter intake.
Hay amount is usually the safest lever for body condition. Think in dry matter so your math holds up across different moisture levels. Most adult horses do well between 1.5 and 2.5 % of body weight per day from forage on a dry matter basis.
Maintain weight
Start near 2% of body weight per day in dry matter. For a five hundred kilogram horse which is about eleven hundred pounds, this is about ten kilograms of dry matter each day. If your hay is about ninety percent dry matter, that translates to about eleven kilograms as fed. Choose orchard or timothy that fits your NSC and protein needs, then watch the rib and neck fat score and adjust the amount a little at a time.
Lose weight
Drop toward 1.5 percent of body weight per day in dry matter and choose a tested low NSC grass hay. Timothy lots that test in the lower range can work well. Orchard can work too if the lab fits. Increase slow feed time and movement rather than adding concentrates.
Recheck weight and body condition every two weeks. Loop your vet in if there is any metabolic concern, and remember that abrupt restrictions are a risk for hyperlipemia in some horses, so make changes gradually with professional oversight.
Gain weight
Climb toward 2.25 to 2.5 percent of body weight per day in dry matter if the gut can handle the volume. If intake is already high and weight is still low, add energy density by replacing a portion of the grass hay with alfalfa hay or pellets while balancing minerals to keep the whole diet calcium to phosphorus ratio close to the adult target. For the same five hundred kilogram horse, that may look like ten kilograms dry matter from grass hay plus two to three kilograms dry matter from alfalfa as a starting idea, then adjust based on condition, work level, and manure quality. Always bring your vet or nutritionist into that decision.
A practical check is digestible energy. If the horse is drifting down in condition despite adequate protein, increase total forage calories before reaching for large cereal based concentrates. If dust, teeth, or travel complicate intake, pellets or cubes can substitute part of the long stem hay, with soaking when appropriate to manage choke risk.
EMS and PPID considerations
Metabolic horses need the number, not the name. You will find practical NSC targets, pasture timing tips, and soaking notes to discuss with your veterinarian. For day to day monitoring, use the Weight and BCS Calculator.
Start with the lab, not the plant name
For metabolic horses the hay report is the anchor. A practical owner target is NSC at or below 10 to 12 % on a dry matter basis. Your veterinarian may set a tighter band for a specific horse. Alfalfa can still fit in small portions because its sugar and starch are often low, but calories and calcium are high, so watch body condition and the whole diet calcium to phosphorus balance.
Why the number matters
NSC drives insulin response. Horses with EMS or PPID handle lower NSC better. Read the report on a dry matter basis so you are not misled by moisture. If you need a refresher on nutrients and dry matter, open Basics of Equine Nutrition before you change a ration.
Pasture timing in the real world
Sugar levels are usually lowest near sunrise and highest late afternoon into evening. Aim morning turnout when possible, and use a muzzle or dry lot during higher risk periods. Local weather rules, confirm plans with your veterinarian.
Soaking without surprises
Cool water soaks can pull some sugars from long stem hay when suitable lots are scarce. Soaking also removes minerals and flavor. Plan a mineral balancer and discard soaked hay that sits in warm weather. Soaking pellets is not a reliable NSC fix and raises spoilage risk. Discuss the details with your veterinarian or a qualified nutritionist.
Keep calories in view
Many EMS horses gain weight on high calorie forage even when NSC is acceptable. Control intake toward about 1.5 percent of body weight per day on a dry matter basis if weight loss is needed. Adjust slowly and monitor for changes every two weeks. Sudden restriction is risky for certain horses, so keep your vet in the loop.
Hydration always matters
Consistent salt access supports hydration and gut motility. In heat or during travel, plan water and electrolytes with the Salt & Electrolyte Calculator. If you are unsure a horse is drinking enough, review How to Tell if a Horse is Dehydrated. and contact your veterinarian early.
Quick table to align expectations
Situation | Forage NSC target on DM basis | Primary focus |
EMS or insulin dysregulation | ten to twelve percent or lower as directed | steady weight or slow loss |
PPID without insulin issues | low to mid teens as tolerated | maintain |
Easy keeper without a diagnosis | low teens plus intake control | maintain or slow loss |
Hard keeper with normal labs | low to mid teens with adequate calories | gain |
The table is a conversation starter. Decide on an individual horse with an individual lab report and with your vet guiding the plan.
Pellets and cubes
When dust, teeth, travel, or supply make long stem hay hard, pellets and cubes help you keep fiber steady. This section explains when to sub, how to soak for safety, and how to keep the whole diet balanced. If alfalfa is part of the plan, the Alfalfa Pellet Feeding Planner can help with amounts.
When they make sense
Pellets and cubes are useful when dust, teeth, travel, or supply limit long stem hay. They can supply part of the forage requirement without changing the nutrient story. Choose products that publish typical NSC and protein values and confirm with your vet when a diagnosis is in play.
Reading the bag like a lab
Match the pellet or cube to the hay profile you are replacing. Grass pellets usually mirror timothy or orchard. Alfalfa pellets are higher in protein, calories, and calcium. Read values on a dry matter basis so the math aligns with your hay report. If you need help with overall nutrient balance, bring your veterinarian into the decision.
Soaking for safety and dust control
Horses that bolt feed or have a choke history do better when pellets or cubes are soaked until soft. Warm water shortens the wait. In hot weather, soak only what you will feed right away and discard leftovers. Keep buckets and scoops clean between barns as a basic biosecurity habit.
Keep some long stem in the day
Chewing time and gut motility benefit from long stem fiber. When you replace a portion of hay with pellets or cubes, split intake across the day so the hindgut sees steady fiber. Seniors with poor dentition often need a larger share of soaked pellets or cubes, paired with a veterinarian guided vitamin and mineral plan.
Examples you can scale
A five hundred kilogram horse at maintenance might eat about ten kilograms of dry matter each day. If dust is a problem, you could feed about eight kilograms of dry matter from grass hay and about two kilograms of dry matter from grass pellets, divided into several small meals. A hard keeper with normal labs might swap one to three kilograms of that grass portion for alfalfa pellets to raise calories and protein, then rebalance minerals to keep the whole diet calcium to phosphorus ratio near 1.2 to 1 up to 2:1.
Planning around minerals and tools
Alfalfa pellets raise calcium quickly. When you add fortified feeds around pellets, check the combined calcium to phosphorus ratio and total calories so you do not drift off target. For dose planning with alfalfa based rations, use the Alfalfa Pellet Feeding Planner in our tools area. For hydration on work or travel days, set up salt and electrolytes with the Salt & Electrolyte Calculator and confirm the plan with your vet.
Travel days are where pellets shine. Pre weighed bags keep intake predictable and reduce contamination in busy barns. Keep nets, tubs, and scoops clean between barns. That is basic biosecurity and it protects horses that are already managing EMS or PPID.
Weekly menus you can scale
Table Summary
Start with the short table below. Amounts are shown per day with dry matter listed first, and as fed calculated assuming hay or pellets at about ninety percent dry matter. Split the total into several feedings and fine tune with your veterinarian based on the actual hay report.
Body weight | Goal | Dry matter total per day | As fed total per day | Example split by forage type | Feedings per day | Notes |
900 lb about 410 kg | Maintenance or easy keeper | about 6.9 kg DM | about 7.7 kg as fed | Grass hay that meets your NSC target at one hundred percent of forage | 3 | Use slow feed nets for more chew time. Track body condition with the Weight and BCS Calculator. |
900 lb about 410 kg | Light work or ulcer comfort | about 8.2 kg DM | about 9.1 kg as fed | Grass hay about 7.2 kg DM plus alfalfa hay or pellets about 1.0 kg DM | 3 to 4 | Alfalfa raises protein and calcium with often low NSC. Balance minerals. If using pellets, see the Alfalfa Pellet Feeding Planner. |
1100 lb about 500 kg | Maintenance | about 10.0 kg DM | about 11.1 kg as fed | Grass hay that fits your NSC goal at one hundred percent of forage | 3 | Heat and work increase water and sodium needs. Use the Salt & Electrolyte Calculator when sweat loss is obvious. Review How to Tell if a Horse is Dehydrated.if intake drops. |
1100 lb about 500 kg | Hard keeper in regular work | about 11.5 kg DM | about 12.8 kg as fed | Grass hay about 8.5 kg DM plus alfalfa hay or pellets about 3.0 kg DM | 3 to 4 | Raise calories with forage first. Keep whole diet calcium to phosphorus near one point two to one up to two to one. |
1300 lb about 590 kg | EMS prone easy keeper | about 8.9 kg DM | about 9.8 kg as fed | Tested low NSC grass hay at one hundred percent of forage | 4 or more | Aim forage NSC at or below ten to twelve percent DM with your vet. Consider a small alfalfa portion only if needed for comfort, then rebalance minerals. |
1300 lb about 590 kg | Senior with dentition issues | about 11.8 kg DM | about 13.1 kg as fed | Soaked grass pellets or cubes about 9.8 kg DM plus alfalfa pellets about 2.0 kg DM. Keep some long stem hay if chewing allows | 4 to 6 | Soak pellets fully for choke control. Discard leftovers in warm weather. Build vitamins and minerals with your veterinarian. |
Tips you can apply today
Small changes add up. Reweigh hay after any lot change. Adjust by no more than about ten percent at a time and check weight and girth every two weeks. Keep equipment clean between barns as a basic biosecurity habit.
900 pounds about 410 kilograms
Maintenance or easy keeper plan
Target intake about 1.7 percent of body weight in dry matter which is about 7 kilograms DM or about 7.8 kilograms as fed
Morning: Grass hay that fits your NSC goal 2.5 kilograms DM about 2.8 kilograms as fedPlain salt available
Midday: Grass hay two kilograms DM about 2.2 kilograms as fedWater check and a small walk
Evening: Grass hay 2.5 kilograms DM about 2.8 kilograms as fed
TipsIf you need more chew time use slow feed nets. If weight is still high step down toward 1.5 percent of body weight DM with your vet guiding the rate of change. Use the Weight and BCS Calculator to log photos and girth.
Light work or ulcer support plan
Target intake about two percent body weight DM which is about 8 kilograms DM or about 8.9 kilograms as fed
Morning: Grass hay 2.5 kilograms DM and alfalfa hay or pellets 0.5 kilograms DM. Soak pellets if choke is a concern
Midday: Grass hay 2 kilograms DM and a small alfalfa top up 0.3 kilograms DM if attitude under saddle suggests it helps
Evening: Grass hay 2.7 kilograms DM and alfalfa 0.2 kilograms DM
Notes
Alfalfa raises protein and calcium and often keeps NSC low. Balance minerals so the whole diet calcium to phosphorus sits near the adult target.
1100 pounds about 500 kilograms
Maintenance plan
Target intake about 2 percent body weight DM which is about ten kilograms DM or about 11.1 kilograms as fed
Morning: Grass hay 3.5 kilograms DM
Midday: Grass hay 3 kilograms DM
Evening: Grass hay 3.5 kilograms DM
Add ons
Work and heat increase water and sodium needs. Use the Salt and Electrolyte Calculator when sweat loss is obvious. Review How to Tell if a Horse is Dehydrated if intake wobbles on show days.
Hard keeper in regular work
Target intake about 2.3% body weight DM which is about 11.5 kilograms DM or about 12.8 kilograms as fed
Morning: Grass hay 3.5 kilograms DM and alfalfa 1 kilogram DM
Midday: Grass hay 3 kilograms DM and alfalfa 0.5 kilograms DM
Evening: Grass hay 3.5 kilograms DM and alfalfa 1 kilogram DM
Coaching
Watch manure quality and ride feel. If top line still lags after protein is adequate, recheck calories and overall training load. Basics of Equine Nutrition has a quick refresher on energy and protein so your adjustments stay focused.
1300 pounds about 590 kilograms
EMS prone easy keeper
Target intake about 1.5 % body weight DM which is about 8.9 kilograms DM or about 9.9 kilograms as fed
Feed a tested low NSC grass hay split into at least four servings
Consider a small single flake of alfalfa only if needed for ulcer comfort and balance minerals around it
Reweigh every two weeks and adjust by no more than ten percent at a time with your veterinarian supervising
Senior with dentition issues
Target intake about 2 percent body weight DM which is about 10.7 kilograms DM or about 11.9 kilograms as fed
Build the ration around soaked grass pellets and cubes divided into four to six small meals
Add 1 to 2 kilograms DM of alfalfa pellets if calories and comfort are needed
Keep some long stem hay if chewing allows to support motility
Ration balancer or mineral mix may be required to keep calcium to phosphorus near the adult target
FAQs: Orchard vs Timothy vs Alfalfa
Is orchard always lower NSC than timothy
No. Orchard often trends a bit richer than timothy, yet harvest timing and field conditions can flip that story. Choose the lot that tests in your target rather than the plant name.
Can I mix two hays to land the numbers I want
Yes. Many barns blend a lean grass lot with a richer lot to hit NSC and calories. Weigh the portions, retest when lots change, and log body condition every two weeks.
Are pellets or cubes complete replacements for hay
They can supply the entire forage requirement when teeth or dust require it. Soak for choke control when appropriate. Keep intake spread through the day so the hindgut sees steady fiber. Seniors often do very well on soaked pellets plus a veterinarian guided vitamin and mineral plan.
Do I need to soak hay for a metabolic horse
Prefer a tested low NSC hay first. If supply is limited, discuss cool water soaking with your veterinarian. Soaking can lower sugars in long stem hay but also removes minerals and flavor. It is not a reliable fix for pellets and it increases spoilage risk in warm weather.
How do I handle Ca to P when I add alfalfa
Alfalfa raises calcium quickly. Balance the rest of the diet with grass hay and an appropriate balancer so the whole diet lands near 1.2 to one up to 2:1. If you are unsure, bring the lab and the ration to your veterinarian for a quick check.
How often should I test hay
Test each new lot. Store by lot number, for example Orchard field north second cut, and keep notes on body condition and ride feel. When a lot works for a specific horse, buy enough to reduce mid season swings.
What about pasture vs hay for NSC
Pasture sugars change quickly with weather. Cool nights and bright sun raise sugars, which puts some horses at risk. Time turnout to gentler windows when possible, use muzzles or dry lots as needed, and involve your veterinarian when EMS or PPID is on the table. If hydration flags on pasture days, review How to Tell if a Horse is Dehydrated.
Gentle reminder
None of the answers above are treatment instructions. Use them to ask better questions with your veterinarian.
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