Different Types of Hay
*** Disclaimer: We suggest speaking to an expert about the best grass seed for your property. This article is to provide you a concept of the distinct types of forage for your equine.
There are many different types of hay that you could get. If you are uncertain of what hay is, it is the grass that has been mown and dried for use as fodder. Hay is cut and dried to be stored and used to feed animals that graze, such as an equine. Always keep in mind that there is right hay and horrific hay. A few factors are how and where it was planted, the weather season, and how the hay is stored.
There have been case studies within the equine industry to study the nutrient requirements for an equine. To learn more about the equine nutrition and dietary needs of equine animals, I would recommend dedicating time to learning about what is going into your equine's body. There are factors such as the size, age, quantity of exercise, discipline/job, and much much more that go into deciding the high-satisfactory hay.
6 Types of Forage Hay
1. Timothy Hay is a meadow grass. It is a perennial grass that is a member of the Genus Phleum. It is high in nutrients.
2. Bermudagrass Hay is a deep-rooted perennial. It has lower nutritional values but is good for certain types of vitamins, calcium, and phosphorus.
3. Oat Hay is better for mature horses (not recommended for equine). Its energy, calorie, and protein levels are similar to Timothy Hay, around 9% protein.
4. Alfalfa Hay is a perennial flowering plant in the Legume family Fabaceae. The protein content is around 17% for Alfalfa.
5. Clover and Grass Hay are focused on performance. It is higher in calcium and protein and is commonly more calorie-dense than grass hays.
6. Orchard Grass is a cool-season perennial such as spring grass (grows better in spring months). It is a good choice of forage under intensive rotational grazing systems.
When you have to think about storage, you want a dry place that is separate from the barn (highly recommended). Having it separate from the barn will assist in mitigating any potential fire hazards.
3 Different Ways to Buy Hay
1. Baled Hay is tightly compressed and secured with wires or baling twine making it easier for carrying and/or keeping the hay together.
2. Cubed Hay is when hay is chopped up and compressed into bite-size pieces making it high in volume.
3. Hay Pellets go through a process of being grounded, heated, and steamed. They are small in size.
In Conclusion...
There are pros and cons to each of these options. Research and talk to a vet or equine nutritionist that will assist in finding the best options for your equine friend. Creating a list of the pros and cons for your equine is beneficial and checking if your equine has any allergic reactions (one example is hives).
Many factors go into choosing the right food for your equine animals.
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In the comments below, let us know what hay you prefer.