Sage-Tips

How can you tell the difference between hay and alfalfa?

Starts here4:50Alfalfa Hay vs. Timothy Hay How to tell the difference – YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clip37 second suggested clipYou have this is a timothy grass. And it just makes good hay grows up big as a nice head on it itMoreYou have this is a timothy grass. And it just makes good hay grows up big as a nice head on it it makes a lot of fiber. It’s a good fiber portion.

What is the most nutritious hay?

Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.

Should I feed my horse grass hay or alfalfa?

Alfalfa is a very common choice for horse owners to feed. It contains more nutrients than grass hay including protein, calcium, and energy. The calcium may be higher in Alfalfa, but the Phosphorus is about the same as grass. This could lead to an imbalance in their diet.

Is alfalfa better than grass hay?

Alfalfa has 3 times more calcium then grass hay. The Phosphorus (essential mineral for horses) ratio should be 2:1. The calcium may be higher in Alfalfa, but the Phosphorus is about the same as grass. With higher protein and energy amounts, Alfalfa is an ideal choice for a working ranch horse or performance horse.

What is the best grass to mix with alfalfa?

Tall fescue, meadow fescue, meadow brome, orchardgrass, and festulolium give a more uniform balance through the growing season. Variety selection also is important, especially if hay harvests are planned. Late maturing grass varieties usually match up best with alfalfa.

Can a horse have too much alfalfa?

Horses provided too much alfalfa often will eat more than they need nutritionally to satisfy their need to fill their gut, which can result in obesity. Switching abruptly from a mature-grass hay to an alfalfa hay diet can, however, cause colic in horses if they aren’t given time to adjust.

Can a horse eat too much alfalfa hay?

They may get “hot”, anxious or agitated, or show signs of liver or kidney stress. In fact, some horses are so sensitive to alfalfa they cannot tolerate even small amounts. Too much alfalfa requires a lot of calcium to buffer the acidic metabolites from protein metabolism.

Can cattle graze on alfalfa?

High Quality Grazing: Alfalfa and alfalfa-grass pastures are high quality when grazed at the proper stage of maturity and can support excellent performance. They can be used for grazing higher performance cattle, such as stockers, grass-finished cattle, lactating dairy cows, or as a creep for beef calves.

Which is one alfalfa or grass hay?

Even though there are many different types of hay, they all break down into two categories: legumes or grasses. Legume hays include Alfalfa, white clover, and red clover, while grass hays consist mainly of Timothy, bermudagrass, and orchard. The key difference between these two types is that legume hays have higher protein levels than grass hays.

What is the difference between Alfalfa and hay?

Another major difference between alfalfa and grass hay is the mineral profile. Alfalfa hay typically has higher levels of calcium when compared to the amount of calcium in grass hay. The phosphorus content, however, usually is not that different between the two hays.

What does RFV of grass hay really mean?

Relative feed value (RFV) has been used for years to compare the quality of legume and legume/grass hays and silages. Having one index to price hay and predict animal performance has been very useful for livestock producers and hay farmers. Relative Feed Value (RFV) The Relative Feed Value index estimates digestible

What are the types of grass hay?

Different types of hay. There are several categories of hay including legume, grass, mixed (legume and grass), and cereal grain straw (i.e. oat hay). The more common varieties of grass hay include brome, timothy, bluegrass, and orchardgrass.