What Should I Plant For Horse Hay?

The three most popular hay types for horses are Alfalfa, Timothy, and Bermudagrass.

What crop of hay is best for horses?

The compromise for most U.S. horses is a good quality grass-alfalfa mix hay. An inexpensive hay analysis will tell you the level of crude protein, total digestible nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium in the hay.

What crop makes the best hay?

Legume hay is a popular choice for most livestock. It can be made from a wide variety of legumes including clover, vetch, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil and of course the “queen of the forages” – alfalfa. Legume hay is known for its high protein and calcium levels, as well being rich in vitamins and minerals.

What is the best seed to plant for hay?

Alfalfa- It is probably the best high quality feed for livestock and as a cash crop but it requires deep, well drained soils and high fertility for high yields. While it can be used for grazing, it is best adapted for hay or silage.

What is the best hay to plant?

Beginners are well-advised to stick with the forage species that have worked well in their geographic area.

• Alfalfa. Alfalfa is a good choice when very high quality hay is needed.
• Red clover. Red clover is another dependable forage.
• White and ladino clovers.
• Alsike clover.
• Birdsfoot trefoil.

What is the easiest hay to grow?

Depending on your needs, plant grass, alfalfa, or a mixture of the 2 for use as hay after growing. Grass hay is generally more nutritious than alfalfa hay for livestock, but alfalfa has more fiber. If you choose grass hay, timothy grass is ideal for growing and harvesting hay.

What is the fastest growing grass for hay?

Teff grass originates from Ethiopia. It is a warm-season annual grass that can be used for hay, silage, or pasture. It is fast growing, high yielding, and a forage of excellent quality. It can be fed to horses, sheep, dairy and beef cattle.

Is it cheaper to grow your own hay?

Cost savings: Overall, growing your own hay is theoretically less expensive than paying someone else.

What is the most popular 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 has the most protein?

alfalfa hay
Higher Protein Content
On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.

What makes a good hay field?

Soil pH should be in the 6.5 to 7 range for vigorous alfalfa growth, Anderson says. Ideally, you’d choose a field that you already know hasn’t struggled with weed issues in the past. If you must use a weed-prone site, you’ll need to consider different alfalfa varieties and herbicide options.

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.

When should I reseed hay field?

The best times for planting are late April to early May and mid- August to early September. Spring seedings are best if field conditions allow you to bring equipment on the field, but late summer seedings are better if the field is too wet to work in spring.

What grass produces the most hay?

Hybrid and improved vegetative bermudagrasses will produce a large quantity of high quality hay, but it usually requires more management than do other summer grasses. Horse owners usually prefer a weed free, high quality bermudagrass hay, whereas cattlemen may settle for less at a lower price.

How much hay can 1 acre produce a year?

Even an average rule of thumb can vary widely by region, soil, and type of hay. For us here in the Midwest, a mixed grass/legume hay can yield anywhere from one to five tons per acre for a full season.

How many times a year can you grow hay?

How many times a year can you harvest hay? In most areas of the country, grass hay can be cut twice, sometimes three times, per year. The first cutting generally has the largest yield.

What is hay worth per acre?

Here’s one example for pricing a field of standing alfalfa (or grass hay) in 2020. uncertain dairy/livestock markets due to the ongoing pandemic. to environmental conditions and harvest management practices. In this example, the sale or purchase price for all cuttings the entire year would range from $435 to $700/acre.

Can hay be too rich for horses?

Providing grain and supplements (e.g. a supplement for hoof, or generally vitamin and mineral supplements) can make up the rest. Richer hay can provide more nutrients; however, you have to be careful not to provide hay that is too rich or “hot” for your horse, donkey or mule.

How many bales of hay does a horse need?

A horse can eat anywhere from 15-25 pounds of hay a day, which generally equates to a half of a 45/50-pound square bale of hay per day (~15-30 bales per month).

Can you feed a horse just alfalfa pellets?

You should include alfalfa pellets in your horse’s diet for many reasons. However, you should not use them to replace hay. Why is that? These pellets do not have particles big enough to stimulate the horse’s digestive tract.

Is grass hay or alfalfa better for horses?

Grass hay typically has lower nutritional values than alfalfa hay, and is also lower in calcium, making it closer to a more desirable Ca:P. ratio (between 3:1 to 1:1). Also, grass hay is often less dusty than alfalfa hay, so it a good choice for horses that have respiratory issues.