Timothy grass hay is commonly fed to horses, as well as cattle. Feeding horses is never an easy topic to simplify since every horse is different. and Orchard Grass making them the big two forage grasses. Is there a particular type of grass hay that is better than others for maintenance diet for a laminitic horse? in the form of hay is the primary source of forage. If you have additional questions, or want to discuss a feeding program tailored to your horse, contact your veterinarian. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Many people feel like it. This helps ensure your horses always have Roughage is one of the most important parts of a horses’ diet, and a good source of roughage can provide almost all of a horses nutritional needs, outside of water. Most nuts also have a high fat content although most of the fat is polyunsaturated. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. There are many, many myths out there, but here is the Truth about Grass Hay versus Alfalfa Hay. Timothy Timothy grass. And in fact, it is usually a lower carbohydrate feed than most grass hays, making alfalfa ideal for feeding to horses with special needs like insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, laminitis, or even PSSM. Contains perennial rye grass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Timothy, orchard grass, and white clover. You can supply protein and energy in the … • Alfalfa Hay can mix with Timothy up to a 50:50 ratio. Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass. In some parts of the country fescue, reed canary grass, ryegrass and Sudan grass are common. Like most grasses and legumes, early-cut timothy hay provides more energy and protein than late-cut hay. In some parts of the country fescue, reed canary grass, ryegrass and Sudan grass … ESC is generally 4.2-8.2% and starch is around 0.8-3.2%. C3 grasses include timothy, orchard grass, tall fescue, brome, and rye grass. While the lower relative nutrition level of grass hay makes it a good filler, it does have relatively more carbohydrates. Opinions as to which should be fed, when, and what is the right mixture of the two if they are combined. They get alfalafa as a treat but no horse in our barn is fed 100% alfalfa after the vet said that was bad for them. It starts growing fairly quickly making it excellent for establishing and replenishing a pasture. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent. Like all forages fed to horses, timothy hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds. Stuff that will kill timothy will only thin the o-grass stand. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. Others worry about the Calcium to Phosphorus ratio being too high. This is counter intuitive for most horse people, but is certainly something to keep in mind in regards to your horse. Orchardgrass hay is known for being easy to cut in almost any season. Compared to Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass grows better in moderate drought conditions and provides Horses evolved as a grazing animal, which means that they are meant to nibble on small amounts of food over the course of an entire day, and most of this food should be in the form of roughage, or hay. Teff, a new type of grass hay, is touted to be an ideal choice for many horses (see sidebar at right). Nutritional values of grass hays vary greatly depending on harvest conditions. Timothy and other grass hays tend to be lower in energy and protein and higher in sugars than alfalfa and other legumes, but the only way to know the nutrient value of hay is to test it. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. Because it matures early in the growing season when the weather is wet, it can be susceptible to mold. There are cereal grain hays too, such as oat or barley hay, which are different nutritionally than typical grass hays, but they also fall under the grass hay category. Orchard Grass is a highly palatable grass with a high nutrient content. This quality pasture seed mix has a good profile. I think the biggest con about grass hay is its lack of nutrients. Orchard Grass is the emerging super star of the horse hay world. as Timothy grass. Timothy Grass contains a moderate amount of protein, usually testing at approximately 8% protein. You might choose to mix in a legume hay for extra protein, or you might pick a less nutrient-rich grass hay for a super easy-keeper. Much easier to spray for weeds when there is o-grass vs timothy. The two most common are Timothy and Orchard grass. Communities Served (exceptions apply) – Arvada, Aspen Park, Broomfield, South Boulder, Conifer, Evergreen, Gilpin County, Golden, Idaho Springs, Lakewood, Morrison, Pine, Shaffer’s Crossing, Wheat Ridge. Timothy Grass is the traditional favorite among horse owners. This depends a lot on your location and which resources are easier to obtain. O-grass is more persistant, has much better regrowth, and is heartier than timothy. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass. Photo Courtesy Public Domain Photos via Flickr. We're not around right now. While it is important to source low WSC hay for the horse with chronic diarrhea, some very sensitive horses will get chronic diarrhea even on a low sugar hay, or one with WSC less than 10 percent on a dry matter basis. Alfalfa hay is a very popular feed. While this has led to the thought that alfalfa is a “richer” feed then grass, it does not mean that it has more carbohydrates. Timothy Grass is also a rich source of fiber. With three cuttings instead of two cuttings, Orchard Grass produces consistent soft texture hay Mixed grass hays usually include a medley of grasses, some grown specifically for hay intended for horses and others not, while common grass/legume mixes include timothy/alfalfa, orchardgrass/ alfalfa, and orchardgrass/clover. It is known for being rich in nutrients and high forage quality. High quality forage is critical for proper digestive function in horses. Cool season grasses, Timothy Hay Vs Orchard Grass For Horses. The most popular choices for grasses to be utilized as horse hay are Timothy Grass If someone tells you Alfalfa is a problem in Insulin Resistant horses, they do not have the facts. Less digestible components are present in the stem. Timothy is typically harvested two times per season, the first cutting in early summer and the second cutting in late summer or early fall. Since it's more of a bunch grass it takes grazing well as long as it's managed well. Hay for the Laminitic Horse. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. However timothy has a shallow root system and will be damaged much more than the root system of late maturing orchardgrass. Legume hays, like Alfalfa , have a higher protein content than grass hays, and should be feed to active, working, lactating, young or convalescing animals that have higher nutritional needs. Horses evolved as a grazing animal, which means that they are meant to nibble on small amounts of food over the course of an entire day, and most of this food should be in the form of roughage, or hay. This is because Alfalfa Hay meets most protein and nutrition needs with a smaller quantity than most Grass Hays do. that horses readily consume with minimal or no waste. Teff, a new type of grass hay, is touted to be an ideal choice for many horses (see sidebar at right). Some common forage species fed as hay to horses include the following: Timothy Hay The compromise for many U.S. horses is a good quality grass-alfalfa mix hay. And it is here that we enter into contentious territory. ESC is generally 4.2-8.2% and starch is around 0.8-3.2%. The best hay for horses depends entirely on the horse. Alfalfa Hay, with its higher protein and adequate energy amounts might be the ideal feed for a hard working ranch horse, but it could be too rich of a feed for a retired backyard horse in the same amount. If in doubt or dealing with a very sensitive horse, get the hay tested before feeding it. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. There are many different kinds of roughage that a horse owner can use to feed horses. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap. It is endophyte free … Forage (hay/pasture) makes up 60-100% of the diet for horses, Orchard grass is similar in starch levels to Timothy hay but can be significantly higher in ethanol soluble carbohydrate, measuring up to 20 percent. Timothy hay is considered a medium sugar hay. Copyright All Rights Reserved Mobile Veterinary Services, LLC © 2018. • Alfalfa Hay can mix with Timothy up to a 50:50 ratio. Small nut trees in the Home Fruit and Nut Garden. We just stayed with the good quality local grass hay. Orchard Grass is the emerging super star of the horse hay world. The horses’ age, activity level, breed, and stage of life can all have a tremendous affect on the amount of feed that they require. There are cereal grain hays too, such as oat or barley hay, which are different nutritionally than typical grass hays, but they also fall under the grass hay … The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. Neither does Bermudagrass hay or Teff hay. a high quality grass forage option to utilize. depending on their function and activity. Timothy, Orchard, Alfalfa, Fescue. It’s also a much maligned feed. Here, orchard grass performs well under grazing. Orchard Grass forage is typically slightly higher in protein and calories compared to Timothy and can be moderate to high in sugar content. 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