Alfalfa Based Pellets

[Pemblebee]

So I am a little confused. I see lots of info saying alfalfa should be avoided over 6mths old. Including alfalfa based pellets. The reason seems to be due to the calcium content.
However with pellets most seem to be about 0.8 calcium, alfalfa and timothy based alike. In which case why do we need to avoid alfalfa based pellets if the calcium levels are the same as a timothy based pellet? Is there another reason to avoid alfalfa pellets.

 

[piggieminder]

Really good question. I think it's because alfalfa is also high in protein which is good for growing babies but not adult pigs who are fully grown. Grainless pellets are now thought to be better for piggys I have switched to JR Farm recently. Also there are different types of calcium, I understand carbonate being the worst type for stone formation. So disappointed in Science Selective, their new grainless pellets contain this.

 

[acapae]

I think it's because alfalfa is also high in protein which is good for growing babies but not adult pigs who are fully grown. Grainless pellets are now thought to be better for piggys

Just to point out, but alfalfa is a legume (like beans, and lentils and clover) rather than a grain. So a food could be grainless but still viably contain alfalfa (sometimes written as lucerne on food labels) - you need to independently check for both

 

[piggieminder]

Thank you, I worded that badly, I didn't mean to suggest because they were grainless they didn't contain alfalfa, just that grainless was thought to be better. I didn't realise clover was a legume. The whole ingredient thing seems to be a minefield, far to complicated for unscientific people like me.

 

[rome_italy]

it is not for the calcium itself, but for the wrong ratio Calcium: Phosphorus (too much calcium compared with a too low phosphorus) and a high quantity of proteins. Clover is a legume, too, and for the same reason it is not recommended.
Guinea Lynx :: Hay Chart
if you see the chart you read that alfalfa has 16-20% of proteins (good when a body is growing up) and a ratio 5,5:1 which is excessive but can be good when the skeleton is growing fast. The good ratio for guinea pigs is 1.5:1 (about).
Clover has 16-18% proteins and 6:1 ratio Ca/P
Timothy has different and better values...
about the ratio what counts is the sum of the vegs,grass,hay, pellets eaten during the day. But usually grass, hay and good pellets have a good ratio. The problem is with certain vegs which are not balanced.
Pellets should be given in very limited quantity (or nothing at all), not more than a little spoon a day.
Alfalfa pellets can be useful if the piggies don't eat, is ill, is losing weight, but too many proteins are bad for the liver, the kidneys and cause obesity. I still have half bag of alfalfa pellets used in limited quantity after the adoption of my 2 months old and underweight piggie, but the vet suggested me to cut off the pellet letting her eat in a most natural way (huge amount of fresh grass and hay/vegs). And the pellets are still here... She is normalweight now and grew up amazingly developing a strong health (so far).
Now I am using as a treat a grainless pellet.
Let's say that grains, wheat and cereals are bad for all the piggies.
Legumes (clover, alfalafa, etc) are not good for the adults.

 

[Pemblebee]

@piggieminder I have bought some of the JR farms and the cavia legera something I saw recommended. I bought a bag of science selective first thinking it was a good make and then saw they are alfalfa based.
I don't have any guineas yet so trying to get the food sorted before I do.

 

[piggieminder]

Well done for doing your research first. I find the whole food ratio stuff far too confusing, it makes me want to give up. I guess if you use the Science Selective ones will depend on the age of the piggys you get and what they are used to. It is best to feed what they have been having while they settle in with you, then change to your preference gradually. I'm not too worried about my older pair (3) they only get 6 of the large pellets a day anyway. The younger ones (10 months) don't eat many of the JR ones as they either don't like them or they are finding them too big to cope with. I'm more worried about their vit C than anything as they won't eat the good veg that contains it so I'm thinking of giving them a few of the Burgess with mint they used to like until they have finished growing.