Have you ever wondered what’s in your dog’s food? Alfalfa, a nutrient-rich legume, is becoming a more common ingredient in many dog foods. Let’s take a closer look at why.
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About Alfalfa
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), also known as lucerne in some parts of the world, is a legume plant that has been grown for centuries as livestock feed[5].
As is common with legumes, the root nodules of alfalfa can fix nitrogen from the atmosphere. This results in a much higher protein content compared with other crops.
This nutritious crop has been used to feed all kinds of animals, from cows and sheep to pigs and poultry. The name “alfalfa” actually comes from the Old Persian word for “horse food“.
In recent years, alfalfa has also become more popular in dog food due to its many nutritional benefits. It’s a source of plant protein, fiber, trace elements, or vitamins K or E.
Additionally, alfalfa is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and provides lots of natural pigments like xanthophylls.
There are several types of alfalfa ingredients that can be included in dog food recipes such as alfalfa meal, alfalfa sprouts, or alfalfa nutrient concentrate.
These ingredients can add protein, fiber, and micronutrients to your dog’s diet. However, as with any ingredient, it’s important to consider how much alfalfa is in your dog’s food.
While some alfalfa can be a nutritious addition to your dog’s diet, too much alfalfa in dog food can indicate that it’s just a cheap alternative to other protein sources.
And the introduction of genetically engineered glyphosate-resistant alfalfa in the US caused quite some controversy in the agricultural industry[5].
Alfalfa Meal in Dog Food
For farm animals, alfalfa plants get dried and used as hay.
But to produce alfalfa meal for dog food, the plants are first sun-dried or heat-dried. The hay is then ground into a fine powder.
Dehydrated alfalfa meal in dog food is a type of alfalfa flour made from artificially heat-dried and ground alfalfa plants.
Sun-cured alfalfa meal in dog food is ground from alfalfa plants that have been dried by exposure to air and sunlight.
Low-heat methods are usually better at preserving the nutritional content of foods. But in this case, the specifications for artificially dehydrated and sun-cured alfalfa in dog food seem very similar[1].
That’s because alfalfa meal production is optimized to produce standardized pellets with a pre-defined protein content[5].
Both ingredients provide about 13-22% protein and 20-30% insoluble fiber. They are a good source of vitamins A, K and E as well as trace elements.
Alfalfa leaves and sprouts are also packed with phytonutrients such as xanthophylls, beta-carotene, chlorophyll, saponins, estrogenic isoflavonoids, and the amino acid L-canavanine[4,5].
Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate in Dog Food
This ingredient is made from ground fresh alfalfa plants.
During processing, fresh alfalfa gets mechanically pressed into a green juice. This juice is then heat treated to coagulate protein, which can be extracted and dried into a concentrated powder.
Alfalfa nutrient concentrate mainly provides protein and xanthophylls, natural yellow plant pigments.
Alfalfa nutrient concentrate provides protein and a variety of essential nutrients, it can also be used as a color additive.
Alfalfa Sprouts in Dog Food
Alfalfa sprouts are immature shoots of the alfalfa plant that are harvested when they are only a few inches tall.
Alfalfa sprouts for dogs are a nutritious food that can provide a range of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are a good source of essential micronutrients like vitamin K.
While alfalfa sprouts can be a healthy addition to a dog’s diet, poorly sourced material can be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
To be fair, dogs don’t use them raw as salad toppers. So in most commercial dog foods, the sprouts are abundantly heat-processed.
Benefits of Alfalfa in Dog Food
Alfalfa meal for dogs is a concentrated source of protein, fiber, and other essential nutrients. It’s a common crop and generally recognized as safe.
It’s overall low in fat and high in micronutrients. Alfalfa leaves are considered a great source of natural vitamin K.
And alfalfa phytonutrients have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties.
Alfalfa is nutrient-dense and often praised as a superfood for dogs.
But let’s be real for a moment…
Alfalfa is basically a common hay crop and one of the highest-yielding forage legumes. Its protein content even outperforms that of soy and US farmers call it the “queen of forages”[5].
Alfalfa made its way from the agricultural industry into the pet food industry because it’s cheap, nutritious, and readily available.
Some dog lovers strongly believe alfalfa has superpowers, describing various benefits ranging from arthritis pain relief all the way to cancer prevention…
But there is no research backing up any claims made for alfalfa in dog food. So all of these health benefits attributed to alfalfa haven’t been based on any scientific evidence[2].
And although manufacturers like to highlight the many nutrients found in alfalfa, it’s mostly used as a protein and fiber supplement. Or to add some flavor, texture, or color.
Alfalfa may be treated with chemical preservatives like ethoxyquin to protect its natural carotene and vitamin E content[3].
Still, in the end, alfalfa is a safe and nutritious ingredient that can be used in dog food. But the overall nutritional value of alfalfa in dog food depends a little on how much of it is used:
As a minor ingredient, it can add nutrients and some fiber for digestive health. But as a major ingredient, I would consider it a cheap substitute for meat protein.
But because alfalfa meal is so very high in fiber only low-quality products use it in their top 5 ingredients anyway.
One last note:
It’s recommended to consult with your veterinarian about switching to an alfalfa-rich recipe when your dog has been diagnosed with renal disease or kidney and bladder stones.
Further Reading
[1] AAFCO Official Publication. Chapter 6. Free Access.
[2] Beynen. Diet and grass eating in dogs. 2020.
[3] CFR 21
§ 582.10 Spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings.
§ 573.400 Ethoxyquin in certain dehydrated forage crops.
[4] Drugs and Lactation Database. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Alfalfa. 2006.
[5] Feedipedia: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). 2016