The most popular choices for grasses to be utilized as horse hay are Timothy Grass and Orchard Grass making them the big two forage grasses. In conclusion, horse owners and hay producers should learn how to tell the difference between foxtail and timothy grasses. “Maturity is judged by the number and age of the seed heads, ratio of leaves and stalks, color, and texture. If it is bright green, then I know the hay was likely cut at an appropriate time, that it was probably not rained on after cutting, and that it dried quickly and was baled in a timely manner. The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. Anyway, I previously was able to buy in bulk and therefore I could go directly to a trusted grower, look at his fields and know his quality and also know that he would harvest keenly, and I never had to worry about the quality of the hay. Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Certain horse owners associate clover with excessive salivation. For some horse owners, the gold standard among grass hays is timothy due largely to its extreme palatability. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Because the outside of a bale can be misleading, especially if it was situated on the edge of a stack with exposure to the sun or other elements, appraisal necessitates breaking open several bales. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. While alfalfa is the most well-known legume hay, clover hays are appropriate for horses, even if they are not as popular with horse owners as alfalfa. 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. 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. The opposite is often true with legumes, and these hays sometimes have an abundance of stems and few leaves. View our privacy policy. Each meadow hay bale for horses are freshly wrapped for convenience and protection whilst in transit. If the infestation is widespread and there isn't much desirable grass left in the pasture, you may want to plow everything under and reestablish the field. Foxtail does not have corms. Photo: Ohio State University. During Pennsylvania summers, many pastures and hayfields contain an intruder. Timothy hay is a common favorite among horses and owners. The other advantage involves palatability, as adding a legume to a grass can increase sweetness and consumption. Getting clover to dry quickly in the field is challenging for growers, and premature baling of damp hay is the primary reason clover hay is sometimes moldy. You have 3 options: If the foxtail infestation is minor, you can overseed with desirable cool-season grasses in the late summer (mid-August to mid-September in Pennsylvania) so that by springtime, the new grass can shade out the foxtail seedlings. However there are some important cons to consider. Fescue has gained much attention over the last couple decades for its sometimes detrimental effects on pregnant mares when it is infected with an endophyte fungus. Pull a leaf away from the stem and examine the area where they meet (this is called the collar region). Pure legumes are rarely roundbaled, but if faced with tightly wound round bales that cannot be opened, an instrument designed to remove core samples from the inside of hay bales, called a hay probe, can be used. It is known for being rich in nutrients and high forage quality. Bagged Meadow Hay. They mistakenly believe that it is the clover plant that causes horses to slobber, but the causative agent is actually a mycotoxin produced by a fungus that grows on clover. Right image: Green foxtail seed head. You will need to be able to identify the grasses without the seed head present! Timothy is typically harvested two times per season, the first cutting in early summer and the second cutting in late summer or early fall. It is also effective on other summer annual grasses like crabgrass and some broadleaf weeds. Whilst haylage is more expensive to buy than hay it can be better value, as less concentrate food needs to be fed because of its higher energy level. Forage (hay/pasture) makes up 60-100% of the diet for horses, depending on their function and activity. 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