If moldy hay is fed to horses, it can cause gastrointestinal and respiratory problems severe enough to bring about grave illness. Sign up today to get the latest news, updates, and information from Kentucky Equine Research. Possible Link Between Selenium and Cribbing in Horses, Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses. “While an occasional weed is not reason enough to discard an entire bale of hay, a proliferation of weeds offers nothing in the way of nutrition,” said Catherine Whitehouse, M.S., a nutrition advisor for Kentucky Equine Research (KER). Like most grasses and legumes, early-cut timothy hay provides more energy and protein than late-cut hay. 1. Timothy now grows on most continents. It requires lots of chewing, so it’s also a great boredom buster. Some horse owners snub first-cutting hay for horses, regardless of whether it is grass or legume. First-Cutting Hay for Horses: Buy or Bypass? Weather can impact hay quality. It's higher in fiber content … Waste is a consideration as well, as horses are more likely to sift through and refuse weed-ridden hay. First identified in North America in the early to mid-1700s, timothy occurred naturally in England and likely elsewhere well before then, and the plant was often referred to as cat’s tail or meadow cat’s tail. The first cut tends to have a lot of weeds, and cuts after the second cut tend to have fewer nutrients than the first and second cuts. © Copyright 2020 Kentucky Equine Research. Ask a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor today. Timothy hay is a great option for many horses. Timothy for race horses and sport horses Timothy grass, native to Japan’s Hokkaido region, was involuntarily introduced to North America by the first settlers. Timothy Hay Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. Q: Is Timothy hay good for horses? Sign up for free now! © Copyright 2020 Kentucky Equine Research. Therefore, feeding Timothy Grass has a well-established comfort level with horse people. Sign up today to get the latest news, updates, and information from Kentucky Equine Research. Much of this tradition is due to the fact that Timothy was one of the first grasses cultivated for horse hay. All Rights Reserved. In late July or August, weather permitting, this second stand (a/k/a second cut) is harvested, dried and … For timothy, the early-cut stage would be considered the early head stage. Hay and Hay Quality 3. Timothy Grass is als… Second cut alfalfa hay is usually the fastest growing because it is developing during the hottest part of the season, and it usually has more stem in relation to leaf. Horse owners time and again consider timothy the gold standard in grasses for horses, primarily when it is cured and harvested as hay. Why, you ask? Because of the unpredictable weather in spring, hay growers must sometimes postpone the harvest of first-cut hay, and during this delay plants might become overly mature. All Rights Reserved. Find honest and helpful reviews for Kaytee First Cut Timothy Hay Small Animal Food at Chewy.com. A farmer named Timothy Hanson introduced it to the southern United States in the early 18th century and began promoting its cultivation as hay … Hay Delivery. Is it wise to summarily dismiss first-cutting hay? Introduction 2. Grass hays contain 6% to 10% protein. Protein in hay varies depending on the type and maturity level of the hay when it is cut. The first cutting is typically preferred for feeding to horses as it has longer and harder fiber length, as well as longer seed heads. As a pasture grass, timothy produces abundant leaves, particularly in midsummer, so it is useful when other plant species lose growth momentum. It is less apt to contain blister beetles (which are deadly if … A weedy, unkempt hayfield will be just as likely to produce weedy hay in the beginning of the season as in the end unless weed control is implemented between cuttings. Timothy hay is appropriate for all classes of horses, including young, growing horses. Our first cutting grass hay (orchard or timothy) tends to be more mature, coarser and stemmier and contain lots of seed heads, and the 2nd and 3rd and 4th if we have a good year are very soft and fine. According to Whitehouse, mature hay is perfectly acceptable, even preferable, for some horses—easy keepers, certain metabolic horses, and the ilk—so keep this in mind when evaluating first-cutting hay. NJ Timothy Hay . First cut hay is just as it sounds! Grass type horse hays have a lower nutritional value than legumes, but are considered ‘safe’ hays, because it is harder for a horse to over eat or have a reaction to grass hay. Return to our list of hay … Maturity. Reasons abound. Ask a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor today! Horses usually find it delicious, it’s very digestible, and it has a great fiber content to keep their guts working properly. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or … Possible Link Between Selenium and Cribbing in Horses, Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses. Immature hay is both more easily digested by, and more appetizing to, horses. If a thorough examination of multiple bales reveals good-quality hay with few weeds and no dust or mold, then there is likely a place for it in a feeding program,” said Whitehouse. Though timothy is sometimes planted in pure stands, it is often established as part of a mixture, frequently with a legume. The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. What Hay Growers Should Know 4. We are proud growers of premium quality first-cut and second-cut New Jersey Timothy Hay. Very interesting Sara. Some first cutting is also fed to cattle. Timothy Grass is the traditional favorite among horse owners. Timothy is commonly grown for hay for horses. First-cutting hays can be superior to later cuttings depending on the various factors involved in harvesting. Hay producers have found that timothy sometimes grows better when planted with a legume, and this could be due to the ability of legume plants to transform atmospheric nitrogen into fixed nitrogen, which then can be used by plants. Excess moisture in the hay at the time of baling might provide an environment ripe for mold growth. The abrasive texture of our Timothy hay helps to grind down the teeth of the horse … Harvesting woes. Timothy hay … This is because it is lower in nonstructural carbohydrates (sugars and starches) and is typically softer, … It is high in fiber, making it the standard mix for the quality nutrition of horses. The first cut of hay is the first hay harvested from a field for that year. I did find someone selling first and second cutting for $7 bale... and it's timothy, which I have also heard is usually lower in sugar than orchard grass. Second-cut hay contains more leaves and fewer seed heads, which is the … If a horse really is sensitive to NSC content, the "safest" hays would be coastal Bermuda or timothy cut early in the day, after a warm night and recent rainfall. Legume hays (alfalfa and clover) contain 12% to 20% protein. Nutritional value can be assessed through inexpensive chemical analysis, which will provide an equine nutritionist with the basic information necessary to create a nutritionally balanced diet for any horse. Weeds. First cut hay is grass heavy and doesn’t have a lot of legumes, such as alfalfa or cover. Weeds can infiltrate any stand of hay if fields are not managed properly. Here is a short checklist for evaluating the quality of hay relative to the horse being fed: Cut, texture and stage of maturity First cuts tend to grow for a longer period of time, so the plants are … “The answer to this question lies primarily in the horses that will eat the hay. Much of Mike De Kok’s first-cut timothy finds its way to Japan, where dairies prefer to feed coarse hay with big, green seed heads. I've always taken that to mean that the 1st cutting … It is the first cut of the season out of the field before it blooms. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay … It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. High quality Timothy Grass contains a moderate amount of protein, usually testing at approximately 8% protein. First, cut hay … First cut hay can be a little less soft, but it is not generally as rich and is more ‘entertaining’ for horses to eat as it takes them more time to eat as it requires more chewing. Like all forages fed to horses, timothy hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds. Sign up for free now! Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Of all cuttings, second cut … Most importantly, not all weeds are harmless, so choosing weed-free hay is as much about safety as economics and nutrition. The stems are thin and flexible, and it has a high fibre content. Once grass is cut and dried for hay… Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. Horse Quality 1st & 2nd Cut … Orchard grass, timothy hay, alfalfa hay,square bales, teff hay, Pennsylvania. Read what other Chewy lovers have to say about our pet products, plus enjoy FREE shipping on orders $49+ … Like all forages fed to horses, timothy hay should be free of mold, dust, … Second cutting is typically fed to cattle, but in some cases is also utilized for horses. … This hay usually has thinner stems but it's more stemy than leafy. Horse Hay for Sale in PA - grass, timothy, alfalfa, orchard & mixed horse hay. A mature horse requires at least 10% protein. Horse hay and hay feeders for your horses. Some horse owners snub first-cutting hay for horses, regardless of whether it is grass or legume. For timothy, the early-cut stage would be considered the early head stage. What the Horse Owner Needs to Know 5. Timothy does not tolerate close grazing well, however, and growth might slow in late summer and autumn. Weeds do tend to appear in first-cut hay. Various cultivars have been recognized by botanists, and if a specific cultivar is moved too far from its comfort zone, in terms of temperature and growing conditions, plants may not realize their full production potential. Like most grasses and legumes, early-cut timothy hay provides more energy and protein than late-cut hay. It has a consistent and balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus and Timothy Grass has a low to moderate calorie content. Need feeding advice? Through consultation with an equine nutritionist, horse owners can determine how best to include timothy into the diets of horses. best hay for horses First Cut Hay. Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. The best cut of timothy hay is typically the second cut. quality horse hay (timothy grass, alfalfa), first/second/third cutting, squares, delivery : N E: MA : Littleton : 978-486-4141 : Clover Hill Farm : 1st,2nd,3rd cut grass/alfalfa mix hay (large/wrapped round, small squares), delivery anywhere : mid: MA : Hardwick : 978-257-2390 : Hubbards Farm : HQ mixed timothy hay, 1st cut… I don't mind paying the extra if it means the hay will be safer for my horses. References (This person has tested her hay in the past and it runs about 10-12% NSC.) An additional benefit to grass hay is that is easier on the kidney's due to it's lower protein content and it tends to have finer stems, making it easier to chew and digest…..nice for senior horses. This is the cut that’s taken before the hay blooms and is a good, solid, hay! In many geographic regions that get only two or three cuttings of alfalfa per season, first-cutting alfalfa might be the preferred hay for horses. 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