What Are The Types Of Hay?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Timothy Hay. Timothy is a type of grass hay, mainly for the horse market. …
  • Orchardgrass. Orchardgrass is slowly becoming a class favorite for the hay to feed your horses. …
  • Oat Hay. Oat hay is full of benefits for a majority of livestock for several reasons. …
  • Triticale. …
  • Alfalfa.

What type of hay is good for horses?

Oaten hay is the most common cereal hay fed.

Barley or wheaten hay

can also be fed to horses and if well-made can have a similar value to oaten hay. Disadvantages – Due to the high sugar content, cereal hays are NOT suitable for IR/laminitis prone horses.

Are there different types of hay?

We carry 3 different basic types of hay:

Grass, Legume and Grain

. Grass hays like our Timothy have a high fiber content and are low in protein and calcium. It is one of the most common hays fed to horses.

What is the most expensive type of hay?


Dairy hay

is the most expensive hay. It is bright green and leafy. Its protein levels range anywhere from 22 to 26 percent.

Which cut of hay is best?

The most common choice of hay is

second cutting

, but first cutting is also good for horses, plus it is usually cheaper than the other two. Choose hay that is soft, green, and leafy, with thin stems, so it is easier for horses to eat.

Is hay just tall grass?

Hay is

a grass

or can be a form of grass. When referring to it as a form of grass, it is a cut grass that has been cut then dried for the purpose of becoming an animal feed or food. … Moreover, hay can also refer to a mixture of different species of grasses.

What is green hay called?


Fresh grass hay

, newly baled. Good quality hay is green and not too coarse, and includes plant heads and leaves as well as stems.

What does good hay look like?

Good quality hay should be

bright green in color with little fading

. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays. … In some cases, they can replace hay in the diet entirely.

Is grass hay high in sugar?

Most cool-season grass forage species, commonly found in horse pastures and hay fields around the upper Midwest,

may be high in sugar

. These sugars are in the form of fructans as well as simple sugars like glucose.

How much does a bale of hay cost?

Hay Quality Bale Type Minimum Price Per Ton Grade 1 Small Square $160
Large Square


$85
Large Round $65 Grade 2 Large Square $85

How much is a bale of hay 2020?


Small square bales averaged $4.60 a bale

(range of $2.00 to $6.00). Large square bale straw averaged $64.00 per bale (a range of $40.00 to $90.00). Large round bale straw averaged $58.00 per bale (a range of $40.00 – $85.00). In Nebraska, hay sold steady, demand is light in 2020.

How much is an acre of hay worth?

Equation: Estimated 4 tons per acre yield of 16% moisture hay at $200 per ton =

$800 per acre

value for all three cuttings; minus buyer’s cost of harvest and weather risk at $324 per acre assuming three cuttings (Table 1); equals the buyer’s maximum pay price: $476 per acre for three cuttings ($800 – $324 = $476).

How heavy is a bale of hay?

A standard two-string square hay bale weighs

between 40 and 75 pounds

; a three-string square bale weighs over 100 pounds, and some as much as 140 pounds; the average round hay bale weighs about 1,250 pounds, but their weight varies greatly from 563 to 1,584 pounds.

Is second cut hay better than first?

They are generally given grain as well. First cut hay is grass heavy and doesn’t have a lot of legumes, such as alfalfa or cover. … Second cut hay

has a finer texture

and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein.

Is first or second cutting hay better?

Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. … Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content. The first cutting usually has a higher weed content, and quality decreases after the second cutting, so

the second cutting is usually the best to feed

.

Is second cut hay high in sugar?

Second cutting will be leafy but

doesn’t have the higher sugar content

. But second cutting “looks” better. Most of the time, grass founder is caused by over-feeding, under-utilizing the horse–they just don’t burn up the calories! IMO, most horses do better on lesser quality feed, but more of it.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.