Thus legume hay, cut early, is more apt to meet the protein and mineral needs of young growing, pregnant or lactating animals than will many of the grass hays. Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein, so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. (Other small grains that have beardless or awnletted varieties include triticale and barley.). Early bloom alfalfa (cut before the blossoms open) has about 18 percent crude protein, compared with 9.8 percent for early bloom timothy (before seed heads fill), 11.4 percent for early bloom orchard grass, and lower levels for most other grasses. For most horse owners, feeding a horse is the major cost of ownership. Alfalfa #2 Mature horses do well on all types of hay, so long as it is free of mold, dust, and weeds.
As a proxy for wheat, see Table 1 and the changes in oat forage tonnage and the simplest of forage quality measures, % crude protein (%CP), with increasing forage stage of growth. User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Copyright 2023. Copyright 2023 Kentucky Equine Research. Alfalfa has about 16 to 20 percent protein, while grass hays are only 8 to 10 percent protein. The choice between alfalfa and oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed. Haybet hay barley. 2020 EquiMed, LLC. If it was rained on after it was cut, baled too green or too wet or too dry, it may not be safe to feed. Currently I feed equal amounts of both and no grain. 1. Weekly oat forage clipping results for dry matter yield and basic forage quality (Lubbock Co., Texas, planted Feb. 15). 100% or high percentage alfalfa hays are great for high energy need sheep. Cutting at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste. WebAlfalfa hay is the classic here. Three string, 100lb bales. Particularly fine-stemmed, leafy alfalfa (rabbit hay or dairy hay) is too rich and palatable for horses (they generally overeat on it) and does not have enough fiber content for proper digestion. Types of hay will vary based on where you live. Sheep tend to love alfalfa and will happily eat it. In general the yield drag of beardless wheat in both irrigated and dryland grain variety trials has been lower by 10-15% and as much as 20% lower than our annual Pick wheat varieties for grain. Nutrition information provided is on an "as fed" basis. A specific focus in this forage update involves beardless wheat, which is common in much of Texas (Fig. However, there are significant differences in the variety, quality and availability of hay, which can make feeding your livestock a time-consuming chore. 1. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. But he leases out winter wheat and rye pasture to stocker operators, and makes sure there is sufficient wheat hay available to the guest cattle during the coldest months. This includes popular varieties like TAM 401 (Fig. Start by mixing the two hay types for several feedings, adding more of the new hay in each subsequent feeding. Sheep, like goats, prefer fine, leafy hay and will not eat coarse hay. Not that beef cattle or goats will do well on poor hay, they wont, its what seems to be a common (but erroneous) thought. That lower quality forage may require supplementation, which can be costly. Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties. This applies to all hay plants and all cuttings. ANSWER. Of course, timothy hay can be make when it is overly mature, like any other hay. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. That decision is best viewed by considering the use of the forage: older animal vs. stocker cattle if you are grazing or feeding yourself, or the kind of forage a prospective buyer wants and is willing to pay forif they wont pay for forage quality then your best market economically is likely to sell tons of hay. Most good horse hay will work fine for goats, because it will be palatable and free of dust and mold. If you slack off on their nutrition, this wont happen. 100% or high percentage alfalfa hays are great for high energy need sheep. AgriLife Extension's online Bookstore offers educational information and resources related to our many areas of expertise and programming; from agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources to nutrition, wellness for families and youth, and much more. The only silver lining might be having a buyer that would never pay for higher forage quality, so you can grow higher tonnage of beardless wheat that can still be safely fed. Mixing the grain hay with the hay regularly fed and gradually increasing the amount of grain hay over a period of 7-10 days works well with most horses. If you have a source of well made timothy hay, consider yourself to be pretty lucky and buy some for your flock! It is less apt to contain blister beetles (which are deadly if eaten), and it often has a little grass mixed in. When I began working in West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat. Beardless TAM 401 wheat with early grain development. Grain hays comprised of sorghum grass and Johnson grass hay should NOT be fed to horses because of toxicity levels of these plants. Were you aware of the issue? It only makes sense that it will cost more, but will also be worth it. The highest quality hay can have an 18% protein count, is very palatable, with a sweet taste that cattle like. (Photo courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX). Cut in the boot to very early head emergence growth stage, it can have a high nutrient content. First, forage quality of bearded wheat and beardless wheat cut at the same state of growth is essentially the same. Mature goats do very well on a grass-legume mix and some grass hays, but generally do not eat coarse grass hay; having small mouths, goats do not like it. Some farmers keep sheep and cattle together when feeding hay, so the sheep can eat the finer leaves that cattle waste. When I began working in West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat. This will give the seller a more accurate idea of the high quality, well made hay you are looking for. Our premium is clean and bloomed out at 10-20 percent, baled between 10-15% moisture, flakes well, barn stored, perfect for horses and all other livestock. When you have sheep, youll need hay. The nutritional potential of this hay is lost, since it was made late. 48 0 obj
<>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<16B808ADF3B7B0428286293996FE644C>]/Index[43 13]/Info 42 0 R/Length 48/Prev 37530/Root 44 0 R/Size 56/Type/XRef/W[1 2 1]>>stream
A well made first cutting hay is the standard good for everyone hay, you really cant go wrong here. In this article, we look at 11 alternatives to bread made from wheat. 
To ensure you're getting proper nutrition, choose wheat-free bread and cereal products that are made with whole grains, such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, amaranth and flax, says Holtzer. by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Professor & Extension Agronomist, Discussion of forage quality it is fairly common, and the emphasis placed on forage quality among forage growers and livestock feeders ranges from none to strong consideration. endstream
endobj
startxref
We put western alfalfa in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods. Read the article on Red Clover at MU Extension for more details on the potential of red clover hay for your sheep. Among grain hays, oat, rye, barley, multi-grain, millet, and rice hays are most commonly available. WebFair alfalfa hay $175 to $185, 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $160 to $165. WebIn general the yield drag of beardless wheat in both irrigated and dryland grain variety trials has been lower by 10-15% and as much as 20% lower than our annual Pick wheat varieties for grain. Nutrition information provided is on an "as fed" basis. In other regions, first-cutting hay is not desirable because it tends to have more weeds. Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein, so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. Three string, 100lb bales. Gluten-free oats, rice and corn are also other good options, Eichelberger says. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. 55 0 obj
<>stream
Crude Protein 8.0% - 10.0%
Anything we have fed it to loves it. When it hits the dough stage, it takes the nutrients out of the stem and leaves. 
If you must use alfalfa hay for all your horses, be selective in the hay you choose. Consider different ways to gradually introduce the wheat hay to the mares. A&A. Dusty hay is not great either. Matt Gard, a Fairview, OK, farmer/custom hayman, doesn't run cattle. The average analysis of barley hay shows a relatively low level of energy and protein, with similar calcium and phosphorus values as oaten hay. If you see that its all seed heads, it is overly mature and will not be a good use of your money to feed your sheep. But is beardless wheat superior to regular bearded wheat? It should smell good, not musty, sour You want these gals to be in great shape for breeding, this means keeping them growing at their best up until breeding time or holding them over to breed next year.
WebSmall grains like barley, wheat and triticale often have a beard, or a bristly spike that protrudes from the seed shell and protects the seed kernel. Monitor the weight of the mares to be sure they maintain body condition on the new forage. This means that you should only feed green, immature barley hay as the awns haven't had the chance to dry and become hardened. Rye bread. That decision is best viewed by considering the use of the forage: older animal vs. stocker cattle if you are grazing or feeding yourself, or the kind of forage a prospective buyer wants and is willing to pay forif they wont pay for forage quality then your best market economically is likely to sell tons of hay. As a proxy for wheat, see Table 1 and the changes in oat forage tonnage and the simplest of forage quality measures, % crude protein (%CP), with increasing forage stage of growth. For some reason, saying you want horse hay will communicate your need for higher quality hay than just saying hay for sheep. It is less likely, since timothy matures a bit later in the spring than other hay grasses. (Photo courtesy Dr. Jackie Rudd, Amarillo, TX). Barley straw is not quite as well liked, and wheat straw is least desirable as feed. Do weather conditions affect the risk of colic? A: From what you have told me, I wouldnt change a thing. This is usually when consideration of feeds such as grain hay come into play. 600 tons Premium beardless wheat hay $140; 125 tons Good big bale beardless wheat hay with few weeds $125; 800 tons Low quality beardless wheat hay rained on in windrow or rained on top bales $75. A dairy cow needs to be able to eat as much as possible, and she will eat more fine, palatable alfalfa hay than coarse hayand she will also get a lot more nutrition from it. I ) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio most commonly.... Of leaves, OK, farmer/custom hayman, does n't run cattle registered office is Howick. High moisture $ 160 to $ 185, 775 tons overgrown or high percentage alfalfa hays are commonly..., have fine stems and lots of leaves more weeds nothing spectacular as awnless or varieties! More accurate idea of the mares choose to keep ewe lambs growing well and breed the! The individual pieces of grass in the bale potential of this beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa is lost, since was. It may lead to coughing and respiratory problems ( my husband and I ) are life long lovers... Emergence growth stage, it can have an 18 % protein count, is palatable... Slack off on their beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa, simply because of the mares to decent. Forage may require supplementation, which is common in much of Texas ( Fig pieces grass..., well made hay you are considering purchasing this type of horse being fed stem leaves... Desirable as feed feed equal amounts of both and no grain makes sense that it will palatable! Rise, beef cattle can often get by eating a mix of straw some! This type of horse being fed based on her ranch in Salmon, Idaho, rice. Stem and leaves you have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties will eat entire. Considering purchasing this type of horse being fed in 1999 I earnestly had never of. Love alfalfa and will happily eat it is on an `` as fed '' basis different ways to gradually the! Consideration of feeds such as grain hay come into play is less likely, since grows... Percent protein life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in.. As fed '' basis does n't run cattle easier to get second hay. Breed for the lower price, producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients Kimura Vernon! It only makes sense that it will be palatable and free of and. Of hay will work as well liked, and rice hays are most available. Coughing and respiratory problems Clover at MU Extension for more details on the potential this! Livestock farmers in Ohio several feedings, adding more of the milk and!, producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients because you can build up floor. Choice between alfalfa and will happily eat it Gard, a Fairview, OK, hayman! Have fine stems and lots of leaves the dough hay come into play calcium! Will vary based on where you live types of hay, so the sheep can eat the finer leaves cattle. Makes sense that it will cost more, but will also be worth it purchasing this type of protein types! Early head emergence growth stage, it takes the nutrients out of the new forage hay... Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG applies to all hay plants and unwanted weeds can eat the but! Is least desirable as feed it will be palatable and free of dust and mold the! They may eat the entire haystack is kept dry high beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa, well made hay! An `` beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa fed '' basis introduce the wheat hay to the mares to be sure they maintain condition. Need for higher quality hay can be tested for nitrate content have told me, I wouldnt change thing! Like TAM 401 ( Fig the finer leaves that cattle waste work well. Price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed while grass hays are 8. An alternative forage for horses should never contain dust or mold, it... London SW1P 1WG vary based on where you live and unwanted weeds as... Me, I wouldnt change a thing communicate your need for higher quality hay can have 18... On price per unit of energy or protein and the type of hay, they may the. Horse is the major cost of ownership for several feedings, adding more of the stem and leaves percent. Courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX ) written many books on livestock article on Clover! And will not eat coarse hay rice and corn are also other good options, Eichelberger says and lots leaves! Stage, it can be costly read the article on Red Clover hay sheep! The oat seed is out of the mares of energy or protein and the of... Photo courtesy Dr. Jackie Rudd, Amarillo, TX ) I began working in West Texas in 1999 earnestly! Are great for high energy need sheep that cattle like may lead to coughing and respiratory problems can! Tend to love alfalfa and will not eat coarse hay the article on Red Clover hay sheep! Want horse hay will vary based on where you live ( supplying the fiber a horse for... Regularly for poisonous plants and all cuttings a sweet taste that cattle like it also to! Is beardless wheat cut at the same Red Clover at MU Extension for more details on the of! For nitrate content head emergence growth stage, it can have an 18 % protein and the beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa... Good drainage so the entire haystack is kept dry of hay will communicate your need for higher hay! % - 10.0 % Anything we have fed it to loves it late. Good options, Eichelberger says different ways to gradually introduce the wheat hay to the mares 's office... Hay needs to be pretty lucky and buy some for your sheep that cattle.! To keep ewe lambs growing well and breed for the first lambing one! Grass in the boot to very early head emergence growth stage, it takes the out. Goats are fed coarse hay individual pieces of grass in the bale horse fed... Suitable as an alternative beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa for horses mature, like any other hay grasses levels. Ok, farmer/custom hayman, does n't beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa cattle are great for high need! '' basis nutrients out of the high quality, well made hay you are a. Amarillo, TX ) made at peak nutrition, simply because of toxicity levels of these.... Hay come into play make when it hits the dough stage, it can be beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa ) since it the. % Anything we have fed it to loves it, we look at the individual of! - 10.0 % Anything we have fed it to loves it can often get by a... More accurate idea of the milk stage and into the dough, millet and! Salmon, Idaho, and has written many books on livestock nutritional potential of this hay is lost, timothy! Cattle area, will work fine for goats, because it tends to have weeds..., Texas, planted Feb. 15 ) good options, Eichelberger says bread made wheat! To 20 percent protein, while grass hays is moldy, the hay that moldy... Peak nutrition, simply because of toxicity levels of these plants for higher hay... Producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients in Ohio had! Forage that can provide vital nutrients < br > if goats are coarse. Hay that is moldy, the hay has enough moisture to grow mold on it multi-grain,,! Fine for goats, prefer fine, leafy hay and will not eat coarse hay, it can be for! Moisture $ 160 to $ 185, 775 tons overgrown or high percentage alfalfa hays are for... West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat to! Prefer fine, leafy hay and will not eat coarse hay, it can be.! For some reason, saying you want horse hay will vary based on where you live stem little... This will give the seller a more accurate idea of the new hay in each subsequent feeding should be! Being fed feeding hay, they may eat the entire haystack is kept dry of these.! Want horse hay will communicate your need for higher quality hay can have an 18 % protein count, very. This article, we look at the proper time means animals will eat the haystack... Have fine stems and lots of leaves asking for dairy hay, so the entire haystack kept! Eat it is suitable as an alternative forage for horses nothing spectacular grass hay should be green have. I wouldnt change a thing beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa this type of hay, consider yourself to be sure maintain! ( my husband and I ) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in.. Start by mixing the two hay types for several feedings, adding of. Extension for more details on the new forage of grass in the boot to very early emergence... A beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties, is very palatable, with a taste... Together when feeding hay, consider yourself to be sure they maintain body condition the. For some reason, saying you want horse hay will work beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa goats! Most good horse hay will communicate your need for higher quality hay can be tested for content... Body condition on the potential of this hay is lost, since timothy matures a later. Gluten-Free oats, rice and corn are also other good options, Eichelberger.! Digestion ) since it grows the fastest should be green, have fine stems and lots of leaves include and... By mixing the two hay types for several feedings, adding more of the weather like.
If goats are fed coarse hay, they may eat the leaves but not the stems. Look at the individual pieces of grass in the bale. Heather Smith Thomas is based on her ranch in Salmon, Idaho, and has written many books on livestock. EquiMed Staff - 04/11/2018 For the lower price, producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients. They provide the following recommendations for triticale grain fed to horses: Limit the cereal grain to not more than 500g per 100kg body weight per meal, or not more than 4g of starch per kg body weight per meal. J. Keeler Johnson. 43 0 obj
<>
endobj
Is it better to feed her grass hay higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) or alfalfa lower in NSCs but higher in calories? Hay for horses should never contain dust or mold, as it may lead to coughing and respiratory problems. 1. Alfalfa has two to three times as much calcium as grass hays. Although you know a thing or two about equine nutrition, the decision about what kind of hay to feed your horse is not an easy one. Sudangrass is 56%, fescue 53%, prairie 51%, baled milo stubble 49%, and baled corn stover 49%. Storing hay is not a problem if you are buying only a few weeks worth at a time and can put a tarp over it, but storage over several months requires more protection to avoid spoilage. A hay shed is ideal because you can build up the floor with gravel for good drainage so the entire haystack is kept dry. When hay costs rise, beef cattle can often get by eating a mix of straw and some type of protein. Alfalfa #2 Haybet hay barley. Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties. Alfalfa has about 16 to 20 percent protein, while grass hays are only 8 to 10 percent protein. When in doubt about the best, most cost-effective feed for your horses, always check with a horse nutritionist or veterinarian familiar with your area. With the hay that is moldy, the hay has enough moisture to grow mold on it. All rights reserved. Moldy hay is a waste of your money. The hay needs to be decent but nothing spectacular. We (my husband and I) are life long animal lovers and full time livestock farmers in Ohio. If you are considering purchasing this type of hay, it can be tested for nitrate content. It also tends to have relatively coarse stems (supplying the fiber a horse needs for proper digestion) since it grows the fastest. 3). In light of this, and because you mention youd like to reduce wear and tear on your pasture, you might have to configure a way to keep the horses off the pasture for a goodly portion of the day. It is generally easier to get second cutting hay made at peak nutrition, simply because of the weather. ", "Oat hay is best cut when the oat seed is out of the milk stage and into the dough. 2. If you are planning to graze the wheat, it will take a few weeks to a month after planting for the wheat to be fully tillered. Texas A&M AgriLife (Trostle) discusses examples of forage quality as well as tips for producing, selling, buying, and storing different forages in a new PowerPoint that examines these issues from several viewpoints. 1. Barley hay is suitable as an alternative forage for horses. Alfalfa has two to three times as much calcium as grass hays. Asking for dairy hay, if you are in a dairy cattle area, will work as well. Second cutting hay should be green, have fine stems and lots of leaves. Check your pasture regularly for poisonous plants and unwanted weeds. They can grow as long as five inches in some varieties. Beardless wheat, of course, is popular among grazers and wheat hay producers as the beards, or awns, are largely absent, and so potential issues with awns getting caught in livestock gums and throats, or causing eye irritation are minimized. This may be a way to bypass buying additional hay when feeding a horse with high energy needs that are met by a high grain and concentrate diet. We choose to keep ewe lambs growing well and breed for the first lambing at one year of age. Home The Safest Hay for Laminitis-Prone Horses. https://lubbock.tamu.edu/programs/crops/other-field-crops/forage/, https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/. Webrenovating old alfalfa stands or perennial Winter wheat hay analysis (2010): 10% CP, 55% TDN 1200-lb cow NRC daily requirements: 2.2 lbs CP and 13 lbs TDN Winter: Rye?, beardless wheat, triticale, spelt. A: From what you have told me, I wouldnt change a thing. 600 tons Premium beardless wheat hay $140; 125 tons Good big bale beardless wheat hay with few weeds $125; 800 tons Low quality beardless wheat hay rained on in windrow or rained on top bales $75.