Does Feeding Alfalfa Hay Cause Urinary Calculi (Kidney Stones) in Goats?

Jardine Meadows Jessie helping herself to some yummy alfalfa

​If I feed my goats alfalfa hay, will it cause Urinary Calculi (kidney stones)?

This is the number one question I get asked by new goat owners. I get this question in one form or another so often that I have been meaning to write a post about it for years, but I kept forgetting. But when two clients recently asked me the same question two days in a row I finally decided I needed to write that post. So here goes!

Most people believe that the answer to the question is yes. Most of them are terrified to feed alfalfa, or at least to feed too much of it. Even veterinarians will often say alfalfa causes Urinary Calculi. But that is one of the biggest urban legends out there about feeding goats, and one that truly drives me crazy!

We go through tons and tons of alfalfa a year. My goats love it, as you can see!

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The simple answer is that feeding alfalfa hay to goats doesn't generally cause Urinary Calculi. Urinary calculi is primarily caused by too much phosphorus in the diet. Grain, grass hay, and forage hay are all high in phosphorus. Feeding grain is the fastest way to cause stones since it is very high in phosphorous. Here at Prancing Pony Farm, we only feed grain to does when milking them. Bucks, dry does, and kids do not get any grain except for an occasional treat or bribe to get them to come into the barn. 

​Alfalfa is really good for goats, especially dairy goats. It's rich in calcium, with a ratio of 4:1 on average. Ideally, you want a balance of at least two parts calcium to one part phosphorus in the diet. Adding alfalfa can supply this needed calcium and help prevent kidney stones from forming. It's high in protein, calories, and other nutrients, eliminating the need for grain to put weight on most goats. Goats love it so they readily eat it. The only problem with feeding too much alfalfa is that some goats will get fat. But that's from overfeeding more than the type of hay used. When my bucks start looking pregnant I know it's time to cut back on the alfalfa! 😂

Feeding goats is hard work!

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Some say that while goats need at least a 2:1 calcium-to-phosphorous ratio, feeding straight alfalfa will cause another type of kidney stone. I don't know if that's true, and I haven't seen it in my herd. People want to focus on one ingredient as the culprit in the diet when it's not that simple. Other mineral imbalances and dehydration can also cause Urinary Calculi. (Just like in humans.) So I recommend people use quality minerals and ensure their goats have fresh, clean water. Balance the grass hay with some alfalfa, and don't feed grain.

An alfalfa/grass mix is ideal for most people, especially for pet goats or males, who don't need excess calories. For my herd, I feed primarily straight alfalfa. That's because it's the most economical and best nutrition for breeding goats. Grass hay is too expensive here, so I don't use that for my goats at all. I was feeding grass hay to my ponies and my donkey for a while, but even they get straight alfalfa now. Occasionally I'll buy a little forage hay for variety, but the goats and horses tend to waste that. I prefer to feed alfalfa and have them eat it all.

Besides milking, this is how we use grain, and it doesn't take much!

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I have been feeding straight alfalfa for seven years and have never had a goat with kidney stones. I heard the same thing about horses long before I had goats. I heard that if you fed horses too much alfalfa, they would get kidney stones. But most of my horses have eaten nothing but alfalfa most of their lives. And most of them have lived into their 30s. None of them have ever had kidney stones, either.

All my goats get alfalfa hay and Craftsmin organic loose minerals from Holistic Livestock Supply. I also add Premier One Supply's vitamin A, D, and E premix, to combat vitamin E deficiency. Because of the California droughts and our general weather patterns (we get rain only a few months of the year), we don't have green forage here most of the year. Even alfalfa can't supply enough vitamin E so adding the premix in helps. If I feed any grain to my milking does, it's usually whole oats, crimped barley, or COB, and used sparingly.

And that's how I feed my herd. Of course, wethers are more at risk for Urinary Calculi than does or bucks. I don't own any wethers so I can't share any experience there. I can only share what I do and how I feed my herd of bucks, does and kids. I urge everyone to research and do what works for them and their goats. ​

Goats will help themselves to yummy alfalfa!