What Is The Main Ingredient In Hay?

Composition. Commonly used plants for hay include mixtures of grasses such as ryegrass (Lolium species), timothy, brome, fescue, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, and other species, depending on region. Hay may also include legumes, such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers (red, white and subterranean).

What is most hay made from?

Alfalfa became the most common plant for hay. It is believed that alfalfa is native to in central Asia where it was first used to feed animals. Alfalfa spread rapidly to all parts of the world.

What is hay material?

hay, in agriculture, dried grasses and other foliage used as animal feed. Usually the material is cut in the field while still green and then either dried in the field or mechanically dried by forced hot air. Typical hay crops are timothy, alfalfa, and clover.

What is the source of hay?

Actual hay is something an animal can eat. Hay usually comes from healthy and nutritious plants such as ryegrass or from legumes like clover or alfalfa. Hay will often be a mixture of plants and are produced on perennial crops, and lands that would not be productive for growing other things.

Does hay have nutritional value?

Forage, in the form of hay or pasture, is the most important component of your horse’s diet. Forage provides essential nutrients, including protein, minerals and vitamins. The fiber in forage provides a source of energy, helping to meet the horse’s caloric needs.

Can you make hay out of any grass?

Just about any grass left to grow long can make hay. However, certain varieties of grasses like timothy and orchard grass are usually used for hay because you get much more growth so more hay per acre than shorter more lawn type grasses.

Can any grass be hay?

Hay Can Be Made of Dried Grass or Other Things Grasses – such as ryegrass, oat, barley, wheat timothy, brome, fescue, bermuda, orchard, or other species depending on where the grass is growing. Legumes – alfalfa or clover. Straw – a byproduct of corn plants.

What makes good quality hay?

Maturity – High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads. Condition – High quality hay will contain little dust or mold. Color & odor – High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.

How do you turn grass into hay?

Spread the grass clippings in a thin layer on the ground, preferably on the concrete. Turn it and mix it around a few times during the day. It shouldn’t take more than half a day or so until it’s completely dry. Before night time, gather it on a pile and store in a box or another container and leave in the dry place.

Does hay go bad?

Hay is a natural product that doesn’t expire in the traditional sense of the term. When stored in the proper conditions, hay will retain its nutritional value for many months. Hay is required to feature a “freshest by” date that you will typically find on the back side of your hay packaging.

Is last year’s hay still good?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

How long can hay lay before baling?

As a rule of thumb, wait to rake hay until after the dew has dried and the sun nears its peak, or around 11:00 am. If possible, let the raked hay sit for an hour or two before baling to allow more drying time.

Is hay just dried 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. If it’s still not to be used as food, then it can readily be stored some place else.

What crop makes the best hay?

Alfalfa, clover and fescue grasses are popular hay types, as well as brome and timothy grasses. Oats and millet can also be useful for hay crops. The best hay to raise will depend not only on growing conditions, but also on the livestock that will eventually eat the hay and what their feed preferences may be.

Why do farmers leave hay bales in the field?

Often, it’s just farmers being lazy, after harvesting a field, they like to take some rest and finish off in a few days. Because of the good keeping quality, farmers tend to leave them where the baler spat them out. It is also cost-effective to leave bales in the field to avoid handling and storage costs.

How can you tell if hay is bad?

Poor-quality hay may be damp and moldy with a musty or fermented smell. Hay that appears weathered, straw-like, or brown is likely low in nutritional value. If hay has been cut late in maturity, seed heads will be apparent in grass hay and blooms will be evident in alfalfa hay.

What is poor quality hay?

Poor quality hay can have an adverse effect on a horse’s health: not only can dust and mould spores cause breathing difficulties, but a poor palatability will result in the horse eating less than he needs and reduced nutritional content can lead to weight loss and associated health problems.

What happens if cut hay gets wet?

If rained-on hay is not again dried fully, mold and mycotoxin growth can occur which can put livestock health at risk. Furthermore, baled wet hay can combust due to the temperature increase caused by microbial growth – putting a producer at risk of barn fire.

Can horses eat 2 year old hay?

If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.

How can you tell good hay?

Evaluating hay quality

1. Maturity – High quality hay will have a high proportion of leaves in the bale, with few or no coarse stems or seed heads.
2. Condition – High quality hay will contain little dust or mold.
3. Color & odor – High quality hay generally has a bright green color and a sweet, fresh odor.

Can cattle eat moldy hay?

Risks of Feeding Moldy Hay Consuming moldy hay can lead to respiratory and digestive problems such as heaves and colic. Cattle and other ruminants aren’t as sensitive to moldy hay. However, moldy hay can still cause issues such as aspergillosis and mycotic abortions in cattle.