Is Rye Grass Hay Safe For Horses?

Hoffman said there are a few grasses to avoid in hay or forage if you are feeding horses. They include: Perennial ryegrass and rye. This quick-growing grass is popular in dairy pastures.

Can horses eat rye?

Rye grain is similar in energy, fiber, and feeding value to corn, but is higher in protein. Rye can be fed to horses but should be mixed with other grain and not over one-third of the grain mix should be rye because of its low palatability. Rye should be closely inspected for ergot that is highly toxic to horses.

What type of grass hay is best for horses?

Grass Hay for Horses
Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses.

Are rye and clover good for horses?

CLOVER is unsuitable forage for horses and although rye-grass is OK in SMALL quantities, the fact it is low-endophyte or endophyte free (which produce myco-toxins) does not render it suitable for horses..

How does rye grass affect horses?

Symptoms of ryegrass staggers include: Trembling, unsteadiness and poor muscle co-ordination. In severe cases they will stagger and can fall over. Lack of control is often worst at the horse’s rear end.

What hay is not good for horses?

Bahiagrass: This grass hails from the southern coastal plains. It’s typically found in pastures, so the stuff they make into hay is not that great for horses. Overly mature Bahiagrass hay can cause ergot poisoning, so buyer beware.

Which grass hay is not recommended for horses?

Hoffman said there are a few grasses to avoid in hay or forage if you are feeding horses. They include: Perennial ryegrass and rye.

What kind of hay can horses not eat?

Oat hay has thick tougher stalks that some horses will not eat. Oat hay tends to be higher in nitrates and also high in sugar (NSC), so this hay is not an option for insulin resistant horses. Here’s a comparison chart so you can see the differences between alfalfa hay, timothy (grass) hay and oat hay.

What is the preferred grass hay of most horse owners?

Although the most popular legume used among horse owners is alfalfa, other legumes such as red or crimson clover, lespedeza, birdsfoot trefoil, and peanut hay are often fed, and these provide horses with high-quality nutrients. Evaluating hay requires a thorough visual appraisal.

What is rye grass hay good for?

It is one of the highest quality forage grasses. The primary use of perennial ryegrass is for pasturing cattle and sheep cows. Perennial ryegrass is more persistent than annual ryegrass but less persistent in the Midwest than other cool season grass species.

Is winter rye hay good for horses?

Ryegrass provides high quality forage from late November through late May. It is self fed, convenient, and provides excellent nutrition and exercise for horses that do not have to be kept in a stall. However, it can be expensive to fertilize if it is not managed for maximum grazing.

Is winter ryegrass good for horses?

Ryegrass is highly preferred by horses and also tolerates grazing better than some of the other annual options. For those concerned about non-structural carbohydrates, however, annual ryegrass may have the potential to accumulate more stored sugars than other annual forage species.

What are the disadvantages of ryegrass?

Ryegrass Cons

• High Maintenance. Ryegrass requires frequent mowing, scheduled watering, and consistent fertilization in order to keep the clean and crisp appearance everyone loves.
• Invasive Species.
• Susceptible to Diseases.
• It Doesn’t Do Well in Winter Weather.
• It Needs a Lot of Fertilizer.
• Requires Regular Mowing.

How long before you can graze ryegrass?

4 to 6 weeks
Rye’s rapid growth makes it the most productive small grain for pasture and it can be grazed as quickly as 4 to 6 weeks after planting.

Can horses get rye grass staggers?

Ryegrass staggers is a neurological condition that can be seen in most domestic grazing species, including horses. It occurs most commonly in late spring to early autumn and always in animals grazing perennial ryegrass pastures.

What is the most digestible hay for horses?

Timothy hay is a popular choice because of its easy digestibility and may be more suitable for certain life stages. However, alfalfa hay has a higher calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, which makes it unsuitable for younger horses. Timothy hay has a balanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

What is the best quality hay for horses?

Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content.

What hay is best for older horses?

Alfalfa hay and good quality grass hays are preferable to stemmy and mature hays that have tougher fiber to ferment. The small intestine loses some function – Older horses find it harder to digest protein in the small intestine.

What is the nutritional value of rye grass hay?

Rye grass hay

What hay is best for insulin resistant horses?

Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those that are insulin resistant (IR). I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horse’s muscle tone, immune system and overall health.

What hay is lowest in sugar?

What is this? In addition Timothy hay is higher in fiber and lower in sugar and calories than most other types of horse hay, making it a great choice for overweight horses. Timothy hay is also higher in calcium, which is essential for horse health.