Most hay consists of either legume crops, like alfalfa or clover, grasses, or a combination of both legumes and grasses. According to the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Service, bahiagrass grows easily, producing large quantities of hay, but its feed quality is not as beneficial as that of bermudagrass. Annual ryegrass is the grass of choice for frost seeding to improve pasture quality because it establishes rapidly, yields better than other ryegrass types through summer, and has the highest yields in the seeding year. It can be mixed with other types of grass that are compatible with cool seasons if you are looking for it to become diverse and live longer. Types of inflorescence. Hay is dried forage vegetation used as feed for horses, cattle and other livestock during the winter months when green pasture is not available. Varieties include 'Icon' (Dactylis 'Icon'), 'Megabite' (Dactylis 'Megabite'), 'Mammoth' (Dactylis 'Mammoth') and 'Tekapo' (Dactylis 'Tekapo'). Wheatgrass and ryegrass hays have similar nutritional profiles to orchard grass, depending on management techniques and seasonal weather differences, according to the Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension. There are two types guinea pig hay: grass hay and alfalfa hay. The type of hay you feed the horses in your barn depends on a number of factors, including geographic location, price and the horse’s nutritional needs. Fine fescue is actually a grouping of various fescue species of grasses such as chewings fescue, hard fescue, red fescue, and sheep fescue. Different Types of Bermuda Grass There exist two broad categorizations of Bermuda grass: Hybrid Bermuda and Bermuda Common. Your feed store may carry a mixture of alfalfa and orchard grass, or a mixture of timothy and orchard grass. Clover — The Graff’s in Illinois planted a mixture of various types of hay including clover. She holds a B.A. Bluestem is a native prairie grass more often grown for erosion control than for hay, but the Oklahoma Extension advises that it has moderate nutritional potential if properly managed. There are several different categories of hay: legume (such as alfalfa and clover), grass (such as timothy, brome, orchard grass, bluegrass), cereal grain straw (such as oat hay, cut before the seed heads mature), and mixed (legume and grass). Tall Fescue — The University of Georgia has some good info on Tall Fescue Do You Rake the Grass After You Cut With a Sickle Mower? It has a shallow root system and cannot tolerate drought well, notes Anderson Hay & Grain. hay image by dinostock from Fotolia.com. Timothy. Orchard grass can be used for fresh pasture or dry hay, and many horses prefer its sweet taste. Sorghum and Sorghum x Sudan hybrids – annuals which should not be used to produce hay for horses as they can cause cyanide and nitrate poisoning. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8, is grown mostly in the northeast and some western states, and is used for both forage and hay. Hay from grasses contains less calorie (energy) and a lower protein amount, usually 6% to 10%. • Layer on top. Always consult your vet or an equine nutritionist before you decide which hays to feed your horse, as their results can vary widely from breed to breed. As the name implies, fescue blades have a very fine, almost hair-like texture and do well in shaded areas but not in hot and dry conditions. It's hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Orchardgrass — I don’t know much about Orchardgrass but Penn State does! There are a wide variety of different hay types – each with its own benefits (a few even have drawbacks) for your animals. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension: Ryegrass Types for Pasture and Hay, University of Missouri Extension: Tall Fescue, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension: Dactylis glomerata. Most lawns are a mixture of different grass types. We carry 3 different basic types of hay: Grass, Legume and Grain. forage types and species used for hay production. Grass hays include bromes, fescues, orchard grass, rye grass, wheat grass, timothy, coastal Bermuda or Bluegrass. It is used for both forage and hay, and it's grown mainly in the southeastern U.S. The differences between grass and hay are minor but if misunderstood, could affect your rabbit’s health. Hay has a higher fiber percentage than green leafy fresh grasses, and this fiber is required to keep their digestive tracts moving and it’s the best to keep their teeth from overgrowing. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Considered too low in quality for dairy cows, fescues are fed mostly to beef cattle and sheep, notes the University of Missouri Extension. Crabgrass--the bane of gardeners trying to maintain an attractive lawn and perennial beds--has the potential for the highest protein rating of any of the hay grasses, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension. Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! They may or may not be baled. It is more shade tolerant than other grasses used for hay, but grows well in full sunlight. There are three forms of seed heads (Figure 9, below): panicle (branching), spike (unbranched, with uniformly spaced spikelets) and spike-like panicle (unbranched, with uniformly spaced spikelets). Timothy hay (best for adult rabbits) Meadow hay (best for adult rabbits) Oat hay (best for adult rabbits) Orchard grass hay (best for picky eaters) Alfalfa hay (best for baby/junior rabbits) Timothy hay for rabbits. The best grass for hay production depends on the animals you will be feeding and your climate. There are three types of ryegrass predominant in hay production. Anderson Hay & Grain: What is Timothy Hay? Orchard grass (Dactylis spp.) Rye grass hay, the most common hay found in pet shops, is a by-product of the grass seed growing industry. Hay can be broken down into two main categories: grass (e.g. Warm-Season Perennial Grasses Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) spreads mainly by rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (horizontal aboveground stems). Switchgrass – a perennial native grass that is a bunchgrass. Meadow hay has a better spread of other minerals and trace elements than single grass hays. Hybrid Bermuda grass includes Tif varieties, while common Bermuda grass typically comprises seeded varieties. in political science from State University of New York and a Master of Environmental Law and a J.D. from Vermont Law School. Stems. Ligule types. Grass hays like our Timothy have a high fiber content and are low in protein and calcium. Depending on the species, fescues are hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9. 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. Best Horse Breeds for Beginners Not all hay is … Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) grows mainly as an annual but can also be a biennial in certain climates. Hay is made from grass, legumes or cereal crops that have been mowed, cured and baled. Hay grasses vary in different regions of the country. Cereal Grain includes oat and barley. Due to current drought conditions in parts of Australia, access to ANY hay type is important for most horses (except metabolic horses which high sugar + starch hay needs to be avoided). Bluestem is a native prairie grass more often grown for erosion control than for hay, but the Oklahoma Extension advises that it has moderate nutritional potential if properly managed. Bermudagrass and bahiagrass are two common hay grasses grown in the southern United States. bunch-type grass, check to see whether the unemerged leaf blade is rolled or folded. hay/grass. Palatability and nutrient levels drop after seed heads form so it … Certain varieties are resistant to toxic fungus, including 'Fawn' (Festuca 'Fawn'), 'Kenhy' (Festuca 'Kenhy') and 'Johnstone' (Festuca 'Johnstone'). These grasses are cut and stacked by hand, dried and stored. Like everything in life not all things are created equal. The HayRabbit Difference . Lush green sod grass isn’t just useful for beautiful yards and gardens; hardy, robust kinds of grass are suitable for sports fields, golf courses, and parks. It is considered a high-quality hay and is suitable for most types of livestock. Hay tends to be harvested between the end of May and end of July. Alfalfa, Clover). 2. However, grass hay is very high in fiber. Hay is also used as feed and bedding for many small animals such rabbits and chickens. The Kentucky Extension also states that horses are likely to waste considerably more fescue hay than other types of hay. Fescue is the most common lawn grass in the United States, and it is also grown for hay in some regions. According to the Mississippi State Cooperative Extension Service, bahiagrass grows easily, producing large quantities of hay, but its feed quality is not as beneficial as that of bermudagrass. With lawns, timing is everything. Grass Hay can be timothy, orchard grass or other types of grass or broom grass. Let’s take a deeper look at each of these two types of Bermuda grass varieties below! Difference Between Zoysia Grass & Crabgrass, Effects of LV 400 2, 4-D Weed Killer on Horses, University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension, North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Using this guide Before you plant Before purchasing grass seeds, you may want to consult the grass management and descriptions section of this book. It contains lower levels of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals than legume hay. Legume includes alfalfa, clover, or soy. The types of grasses that grow well in Texas depend on the part of the state and the season of the year. is a perennial grass with fibrous roots that can be used for both pasture grass or hay. Types of Hay. Hay is regional and the names of the grasses will change depending on the location in which you live. Hay may also include legumes , such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers ( red , white and subterranean ). Crabgrass--the bane of gardeners trying to maintain an attractive lawn and perennial beds--has the potential for the highest protein rating of any of the hay grasses, according to the Oklahoma State University Extension. • Use fertilizer. Some of the most common kinds of hay are timothy hay, bermudagrass hay, oat hay, alfalfa hay, and clover and grass hay. Types of Hay Grass. Commercially, grasses are grown in large fields and cut with machines that can do anything from cut to bale the hay. The flowering stems of grasses are usually hollow and are either round or flat (Figure 8, below). Alfalfa. Any of these types of hay will provide an excellent base or foundation for your rabbit's diet. Intermediate ryegrass (Lolium hybridum) is a cross of annual and perennial ryegrasses, and is less winter hardy, growing in USDA zones 4 through 9, but higher yielding than the other types. More primitive methods are still used for small lots or by farms without access to machinery. Rhodes, Teff, Lucerne, Meadow or Oaten? Timothy is a European native grass transplanted by early colonial settlers and it has now become ubiquitous in American fields and roadsides. Inflorescences . The grasses are dried in the field where animals graze, or are cut when dry, then collected, baled and stored in a dry place, advises Encyclopaedia Britannica. Once you’ve keyed these two items, turn to the appropriate category to identify the grass. Bermudagrass produces a nutritionally superior hay under hot, moist southern growing conditions, but may require additional management such as weed treatment. Due to … According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the most popular grass hay choices for horses are Timothy and orchard grass. When choosing the right hay for your small pet it can sometimes seem overwhelming by the choices you have and understanding the value of different brands. Timothy is a European native grass transplanted by early colonial settlers and it has now become ubiquitous in American fields and roadsides. Orchard hay is another common type of grass hay – it usually has a thicker blade than timothy hay but can be softer in texture. This grass tolerates a wide range of soil types and soil pH values, making it adapted to most of the southern U.S. Bermudagrass provides good nutrition for cows during the … Most hay consists of either legume crops, like alfalfa or clover, grasses, or a combination of both legumes and grasses. Grass hay also comes from a variety of sources including timothy, brome, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and bermudagrass. This type of grass is considered to not be too aggressive nor retiring, which means that it does not die out quickly nor does it grow fast. Timothy hay (Timothy grass) is a foraging grass that grows well in cool climates. 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