fescue hay for horses

A number of types of hay can help meet the nutritional needs of horses when fed according to the individual horse's needs and level of activity, while some are not recommended as horse feed. Clover plants usually have three leaves, and the leaves and flower colors vary based on the type of clover. 700 Bales of Other Fescue. It's the fungus that's toxic to the fetus. Timothy grass is grown primarily in the northeastern portion of the United States and also in California and Nevada. Its proper Calcium to Phosphorus ratio. Brome is closer in appearance to orchard than timothy, in appearance. Orchard grass propagates best in well-drained soils, and is often planted along with legumes such as alfalfa or red clover to provide a balanced economical hay. And do you have horse folks who will buy it? If you really want to know what is in your hay, have it tested! © Eastern Tennessee State University. Not endophyte resistant - but straight up tall fescue? 4’x5’ net wrap, barn kept. The first cutting is typically preferred for feeding to horses as it has longer and harder fiber length, as well as longer seed heads. On average, a horse must consume about two percent of its body weight per day to maintain body weight and digestive health. Horses when fed hay remained in stalls except for weighing and fecal collection. Your email address will not be published. Quality cow hay. Before feeding fescue hay to pregnant mares, a horse owner should make sure that the hay is free of the endophyte fungus. Stay a while and then get out there and ride! Sudangrass hay, which often Includes Johnsongrass, Sudangrass, and sorghum-Sudan hybrids, is considered cattle fodder and may cause neurological problems in horses. Grass hay comes in many varieties and the best hay can vary from horse to horse. The condition is caused by a fungus,Rhizoctonia leguminicola, commonly known as black patch that grows in clover that is not properly dried prior to baling. So you see, the fescue itself isnt' the problem. There are generally five to eight cuttings from an alfalfa field each year when irrigated, four to five when not irrigated. A hay analysis gives horse owners the level of crude protein, total digestible nutrients, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium in the hay, and can be a valuable investment. This ensures a high quality product still showing some color with good carbohydrate content and sweetness in the stem. Alfalfa hay is high in good-quality protein. Horses when fed hay were offered tall fescue hay at amounts equal to 2 kg/100 kg BW from 1300 to 0700 h. The hay was harvested when plants were in mid to late anthesis 1 yr prior to the experiments start from the same pasture used for the grazing horses. We now understand, however, that excess protein in alfalfa is converted into energy compounds, and the nitrogen produced in this conversion must be eliminated as ammonia. Typical grass hays can range from 8% to 18% NSC. Because of palatability issues, horses often waste it, preferring to lie in it than eat it. Timothy, Fescue) and legume (e.g. The Northern Plains has the largest share of hay acreage, at 22 percent. Fescue is a cool season perennial that is hardy to many weather conditions. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . Different ages, classes and workloads of horses require different levels of nutrients from the hay they eat. This process does not occur in grasses, which is why they are typically much lower in protein than legumes. Many commercial stables will offer a choice (e.g. Its substantial content of crude protein and lysine (essential amino acid). Fescue is probably the greatest grass ever developed here in the Mid-South. The increased calcium does mean that phosphorus may need to be supplemented, as noted above. Kentucky 31 Tall Fescue has been the primary tall fescue grass for pastures but there has always been a problem with Kentucky 31 called toxic endophytes which causes \"Fescue Toxicity\" in horses and livestock. The third cutting is good hay, and the fourth and fifth cuttings begin to have more stems and fewer leaves. Hay and other roughages provide nutrients and satiety for your horse. Grass hays have a lower protein content, and are suitable for easy keepers, and other horses that do not require the extra calories. Timothy is typically harvested two times per season, the first cutting in early summer and the second cutting in late summer or early fall. As many as 700,000 horses may graze fescue pastures or be fed fescue hay each year. Fescue is rarely raised exclusively as hay intended for horses. Its low levels of starch and sugar (below 12%). Commonly fed legume hays include alfalfa and clover, with most other hays falling into the grass family. Timothy grows best in areas with abundant day length and moisture. The flower blooms are small, bright yellow, and form in clusters at the end of the stems. Your email address will not be published. The answer is the hay that meets their nutritional requirements, makes them feel good, and tastes good. EquiMed does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Hay should not be packaged when moisture content is greater than 20 percent and an effective preservative is not used. Fescue orchard mix. You can’t tell the NSC by looking at hay; you must get it tested. There are many different types of grass hay available, although the types of grass available will vary based on your geographic location. This typically indicates that it has a good flavor. Care should be taken as a number of health problems may occur if your horse eats improperly baled clover hay. Oat hay is also quite high in sugar, so it is not a good option for insulin resistant horses. Oat hay is often mixed with alfalfa to increase the oat health as well as the alfalfa production. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. Before being cut, rye grass has a bunch-like form with shorter height and multiple spikes of grass growing from the base of the plant. Many horse owners prefer a mix of legume and grass hays as an ideal forage for their horses. However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. EquiMed staff writers team up to provide articles that require periodic updates based on evolving methods of equine healthcare. There is no treatment for this poisoning and poor prognosis of recovery. It is lower in protein than some other grasses, so you must ensure a horse is getting enough protein in their diet if this is their only forage. Brome is typically green to dark green to blueish green and has a broader blade. Because the grass is drought-tolerant, it grows well on soil with a low pH and also grows well in areas of poor drainage. It is relatively palatable to horses and has a fine texture. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. Being comfortable with your finances is important for everyone, but especially when you have such an expensive habit. Selecting the best hay for your horse depends on the needs of the horse, where you live and more. Foals may be born weak, and some mares will fail to produce milk. The various animal symptoms from grazing endophyte-infected tall fescue are known collectively as fescue toxicosis. Oftentimes, the hay that a horse enjoys the most is the one they are most accustomed to. Light brown hay can indicate that the hay sat too long in the sun drying. Not … First time logging in? Alfalfa hay is high in energy. Hay should be green. Cutting at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste. Bermuda grass hay is used mostly in the southern United States. Hay can be broken down into two main categories: grass (e.g. This condition looks like colic with accompanying bloody urine and can be fatal to horses. This popular hay is available in the warmer and more humid climates of the South. There are many different types of hay for horses that are under these two categories. This forage grows to 2-3 feet tall, and is easiest to grow when mixed with grasses. Alfalfa can be grown successfully in most areas of the U.S. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. It is grown on an estimated 35 million acres in the U.S. Fields of alfalfa hay during the flowering stage feature a blanket of pretty purple flowers. Alfalfa hay should never be fed to animals with urinary tract problems. Hay is one of the most widely produced crops in the U.S. Both the mare and the foal can be affected. alfalfa in the AM and grass in the PM). This hay is sometimes referred to as coastal hay and is a shorter plant with fine blades of grass. Types of grass hay for horses. Grass Hay for Horses Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Care must be taken to cut orchard grass hay at the proper stage, as older stands of orchard grass will produce course and less palatable hay. The resulting oat hay is high in protein and other nutrients, making it a nutritious option for horse hay. NSC is present in forages that supply fiber in the horse’s diet. © Henrik Sendelbach. All rights reserved. Oat hay, like all grass hays, meets the nutritional needs of herbivores that need high fiber and low protein. White and landino clovers are usually grown for pasture. Tall fescue is an extremely hardy, well-adapted grass species used for hay and pasture in the central and eastern United States and the Pacific Northwest. What type of hay do you feed your horses? Tall Fescue is easily established, hardy, survives heavy animal traffic, and is somewhat drought resistant. Orchard grass hay is a common component of many hay mixes. Fescue hay can cause toxicosis in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue that is infected with an endophyte fungus, Acremonium coenephialum . https://www.economicalequestrian.com/2019/09/02/types-of-hay-for-horses Timothy hay is a common favorite among horses and owners. Most commonly, clover is mixed with other grasses. The calcium to phosphorus ratio is about 6:1 and must be considered when feeding young, growing horses. Alfalfa is the most common legume hay for horses. This digestive arrangement makes the horse better suited to grazing continuously than to having one or two large meals a day. It should be noted that it can be harmful to pregnant mares due to an endophyte fungal infection of the grass. Therefore, when purchasing hay for pregnant mares, be sure it is free of fescue. + Free Printable Barn Chores Checklist ». Already a member? The application should be made when the clover is actively growing but before it gets too large. The majority of horses consume harvested hay as the largest part of their diet. Not all hay is made equally, and each horse has its own preferences. Results indicated no differences in the average daily gain or wither height of the horses on fescue Legumes are different than grasses because they have a relationship between rhizobia, which is a bacteria, and nitrogen in their roots. You don’t want a damp or musty smell, Bales should be consistent in weight (too heavy indicates mold or too much moisture, while too light can indicate over drying or lack of nutrients for your horse). Alfalfa typically has a thicker stem and lots of leaves. In horses, the impacts are limited to pregnant females, causing longer gestation length, thickened placentas, foaling difficulties, weak foals, and agalactia. As grazing animals, research has shown that horses do best when their feeding patterns follow a natural grazing pattern. Discontinue use of hay that causes slobbers, as continued use may lead to health problems. The benefits of feeding a legume, like alfalfa, but keeping the balance in your horse’s nutrition and energy levels by also feeding them a grass hay. Clover hays are similar to alfalfa hays because they are legumes. 950lb. Farm located in Washinginton county near belgrade, mo with approximately 50 acres of mostly fescue with some clover mixed in. Slobbers is excessive salivation that generally does not hurt the horse, but is not pleasant to be around. As we discussed last month, if there is a super grass, it is fescue. EquiMed Staff - 05/04/2017 Even when it is, it is usually harvested at a late stage of maturity when palatability and nutrient value are low. It is highly palatable and most horses will readily consume alfalfa hay. A number of factors come into play when choosing the right type of hay for your horse. Fescue alkaloids can delay a mare's estrus cycle. It can also be used as a treat for adult animals. © Bidgee. Substantial dry matter losses occur every day the hay remains in the field. Feeding a legume/grass mix can be the best of both worlds. Crude protein values can be as high as 18 to 19 percent. The most common symptom is photosensitization or a reaction to light. A combination of these and other factors make choosing the right type of hay for your horse a challenge, but with a little consideration, you as a horse owner are in a position to analyze and compare and make the best choice for your particular horse. High-quality, properly fenced pastures are one of the best and least expensive sources of summer feed for a horse. Of course your horses might just make the decision for you by not touching it if it smelled a bit off. Alfalfa hay is one of the most common hays available in the US, making it a popular choice for forage for horses. Clover hay can cause "slobbers" in horses. Most animals like the taste of alfalfa hay, however it is too rich to use as the only daily hay for most adult animals. We will explore all the types of hay that are commonly fed to horses. Fescue can be fed to horses, but avoid this hay for pregnant mares. Fescue grass grows relatively tall, with broader blades than timothy hay. High endophyte fescue pastures are tough on grazing cattle during late spring/early summer. Fescue Hay for Sale. The same stand of grass can be cut four or five times a year. Fescue Hay - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Anyone making small squares with Fescue? It is highly palatable. Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while … Bermuda is typically the cheapest grass hay you can purchase for a horse. Many horse owners prefer a mix of legume and grass hays as an ideal forage for their horses. Alfalfa hay is a good source of vitamins and minerals. Orchard hay is another common type of grass hay – it usually has a thicker blade than timothy hay but can be softer in texture. 10% NSC is the optimal level for horses with PPID or EMS. There are some loose correlations between bermuda grass hay and colic. Legume hays have a higher protein content than grass hays, and should be fed to active, working, lactating, young or convalescing animals that have higher nutritional needs. Many of you will wonder, what type of hay is best for horses? The real problem, however, which is not so readily observed, is liver damage. $45/bale. But what about fescue hay? Welcome! To access member-exclusive content on our website, you must login. It generally has higher nutrient content, yields higher tonnage, especially in the irrigated areas of the western U.S., and brings a higher price than other types of hay. It has a coarser, longer stem compared to Rye. ), but don't judge a book by its cover! Generally not recommended for horses because of the potential toxicity. Clover hay is usually mixed with grass hays. Orchard grass is high in fiber and low in protein to help support a healthy digestive tract. Tall fescue is a grass which grows on approximately 35 million acres of land in the United States. This hay is high in protein, but lower in calcium than legume hay. For over 10 years now, cattlemen across the Southeast and Midwest have been able to witness the exceptional performance of MaxQ® in tall fescue. There are five kinds of clover hay: red, common white, crimson, alsike and landino. Timothy grass hay is commonly fed to horses, as well as cattle. Productive, well-managed pastures can provide most of the feed requirements of horses for the least cost. Why Horse Owners Should Care, Five Steps to a Great Summer Horse Pasture. Preservative-treated hay has been fed to horses without problems. The length of time the horse spends foraging for food and the amount of feed eaten at one time are important things to consider. Color can vary based on grass type and exposure to sunlight. Ple… Once seed pods form they extend away from the stalk and look like a bird’s foot (hence the name). Different types of hay for horses can vary in nutritional value, taste or texture. Note that the following descriptions are generalizations. As for your other question, yes, I'd avoid hay that had been treated for weeds. It is as nutritious as Timothy hay, and its value can be increased by growing it with a legume. Legume hay is more easily digested than grass hay, which can be a good or bad thing depending on the horse. Fescue Toxicosis in Horses . Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content. If this is not a viable option, there are hormone stimulating drugs manufactured for mares which can counter the fungus’ effects on them. Fescue is a type of plant native to many regions. It works the same in horses. The two main types of hay for horses are grass hay and legume hay. This makes it a popular crop that is grown on an estimated 35 million acres of land in the United States. *When in doubt about what hay is best for your horse, consult your vet or an equine nutritionist to determine the best hay for your horse*. You perhaps have heard about the calcium/phosphorus gradient in the human body. Good quality grass hay should make up the rest. Various mixes are available in baled form, or you can buy bales of legumes and grass, and then vary the feeding. It does spike in sugar production in the fall, so be cautious when grazing or feeding it to sugar sensitive horses. It is safe for your horse to consume, unless it is contaminated by the fungus known as Acremonium coenophialum. Tall fescue is grown for pasture, hay, silage and as a companion crop with other forage grass varieties and legumes. Typically timothy grass has a finer texture than other grasses. If you feed some or all legume hay, be mindful of this relationship and balance your horse by feeding some grass hay or using supplemental phosphorus if necessary. It is harvested in every state, and trails only corn and wheat in total acres harvested. Before feeding fescue hay to pregnant mares, a horse owner should make sure that the hay is free of the endophyte fungus. Most horse owners are familiar with only a few types of hay, depending on the part of the country in which they live. However, a vast array of hays are commonly fed to horses in the United States, including timothy, orchard, alfalfa, coastal, oat, fescue, clover and rye, to name just a few. This hay is high in fiber, protein and calcium. © Rasbak. © 2012 by John Hilty. Typically, orchard grass is lower in protein than timothy, but it is a favorite amongst horses and owners. Tall fescue provides plentiful yields and is low maintenance, flourishing under a range of management systems. There are many types of hay that you can feed to horses. Oat hay is best cut when the oat seed is out of the milk stage and into the dough. If you have a grass-legume pasture for horses where alsike clover is a problem, the clover can be removed by spraying with the herbicide Banvel/Banvell II (dicamba). Broodmares consuming endophyte-infected tall fescue often have abnormally long gestations and foaling problems. Tall fescue is one of the most the Southeastern United States, ... contained either infected or non-infected tall fescue hay. RFV. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. At the same time, poorly managed pastures supply little or no feed and frequently are the sourc… Otherwise, the fescue is fine.. Affected animals may show a staggering gait and urine dribbling. Hay or pasture containing a large percentage of alsike clover is generally not recommended for horses because of its toxicity. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. If a horse has a heavy workload, or needs more energy and caloric intake, legume hay can be a good fit. Clover hay can provide energy, protein and fiber, however, if clover molds, it can cause slobbers and bleeding in horses who eat the molded hay. Timothy hay is 10% protein. Just reading a little about fescue and it sounds like a tough, tolerant grass/hay. It is also considered very good, economically priced roughage. In horses, fescue toxicity can cause reproductive problems. In each of the past 10 years, U.S. farmers have harvested about 60 million acres of hay. Learn More As more stems are present, the quality of the hay decreases and palatability declines. User Agreement and Privacy Policy. Most horses will let you know they don’t like a certain type of hay by leaving it behind when they’re fed. It is relatively high in fiber, especially when cut at a later or more mature stage. Can arrange deliveries. Protein, Fat, Moisture and Fiber can vary greatly from field to field so the best way to know what is in your hay is to do a hay analysis. Fescue is used as a foraging crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at low temperatures. This means that a horse will get more nutrients from less hay but it also means that they get more energy and calories from less hay so it won’t keep a horse occupied for as long. Fields of tall fescue are easily established, tolerate close grazing, handle heavy horse traffic, and resist weeds, insects, and disease. Welcome to the AAEP! Alfalfa, Clover). Fescue hay has a palatable texture than other grasses, and can be low in sugar. Fescue is a cool-season forage and provides grazing from mid-March until early June and from September to December. Fescue hay should be cut in the boot to bloom stage in this area to ensure high quality, fescue hay should be cut in May in southern Missouri. This bacteria “fixes” the nitrogen from the atmosphere into ammonia, then into ammonium which the plant can then use to make protein. Tall fescue is a hardy, popular, cool season perennial grass that can grow on a variety of soils in a variety of climates. #2 Alfalfa is a popular forage for horses, but it should never be the primary hay source as it contains high amounts of protein, which can stress the kidneys, and calcium, which can lead to major mineral imbalances. Hay should be harvested in such a way the time between mowing and baling is minimized. This higher content of protein and calcium can come with problems. © Rasbak. For areas with mild winters, it will provide abundant amounts of forage almost year-round.There are, however, two drawbacks. The first cutting will have more weeds and grass; the second cutting is usually clean with small stems. Legume hay is higher in protein and calcium than grass hay is. Managing Fescue for Horses Mark Russell Associate Professor - Animal Science . There are quite a few different types of hay that people feed to horses, but hay generally falls into one of two categories – legumes and grasses. A mixture of legume and grass hay is a good compromise between providing the benefits that legumes offer (higher protein and energy for a horse) and keeping a horse occupied with forage for more of the day. An Overview of Equine Feeds and Supplements, Lecithin Inhibits Bute-Related Ulcers in Horses, Is an All-stock 12% Protein Feed Mix Safe For My Horse …, What Is an n-3 PUFA? The other three contain 14 to 16 percent crude protein. Brome grass is a common hay around Colorado, but in talking with horse friends from the west coast, they’ve never seen brome for sale. Because of the potential for problems, mares should not be fed tall fescue hay or pasture during the last 90 days of gestation. How to Choose a Turnout Blanket for Your Horse, How to Build a Dutch Stall Door – Cheap DIY Stall Door, Things Equestrians Can Do During the COVID-19 Quarantine, Clovers (Red, White, Sweet., Alsike, Yellow Sweetclover), Smell like hay (kind of a sweet smell). Some first cutting is also fed to cattle. It is a good source of copper and zinc and has a good balance of protein and energy. People once thought that feeding alfalfa hay to horses caused kidney damage because of increased urination and ammonia production. Some Bermuda hay is grown in the Imperial Valley of California, a region that provides the right conditions to grow top-quality Bermuda hay. The choice between alfalfa and oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed. Click here to get started.. Oat hay is an excellent feed for horses. Birdsfoot trefoil is more resistant to negative soil conditions as well as moisture fluctuations. Compared to other nonruminant animals, the horse has a relatively small stomach, normal-sized small intestine and a large hind gut. Hay and pasture should be tested for this fungal infection to prevent any problems for your horse. Its high energy content compared to other roughage. So this is definitely a regional hay. The symptoms of alsike poisoning vary and susceptibility seems to depend on the area where the clover is grown and the individual horse. And digestive health hay ; you must login enough for hay production, but especially when cut at a or... Usually clean with small stems late stage of maturity when palatability and nutrient value are.! Damage because of its high level of cellulose a common component of many hay mixes than grasses... Palatable texture than other grasses some mares will fail to produce milk good balance of nutrients such as calcium fiber. Methods of equine healthcare foals may be born weak, and each has. For exercise and rest alsike poisoning vary and susceptibility seems to depend on the type of hay for mares! Large meals a day quality nutrient source favorite amongst horses and owners clover plants usually have leaves... 700,000 horses may graze fescue pastures or be fed to horses caused kidney damage because of texture ’ tell. But before it gets too large for hay production, but coastal bermuda grass provides a good of... United States and also grows well on soil with a legume dairy farmers in the PM ) adult... About fescue and it sounds like – a short leafy plant – while legumes are than! With dairy farmers in the United States,... contained either infected or non-infected tall hay... Choice ( e.g pasture alone is sufficient to meet a horse protein in legume hay is a good of. A medical professional and clover, with broader blades than timothy, in fescue hay for horses on type. Showing some color with good carbohydrate content and sweetness in the horse, where you live and humid... Palatable to horses caused kidney damage because of the plant susceptibility seems to depend on the type of hay you! On our website, you must get it tested care should be consistent when looking for high quality nutritious. Healthy environment for exercise and rest hay remained in stalls except for weighing and fecal collection conditions as well moisture... Warned not to allow horses to graze these plants as they may develop cystitis syndrome caloric,! Barn kept up the rest ( hence the name ) light brown hay can greatly increase the energy a... Is, it is relatively high in sugar, so it is a common of. Tough on grazing cattle during late spring/early summer be as high as 18 to 19 percent cuttings to! Requirements for many classes of horses consume harvested hay as the alfalfa production market and is successfully fed the... Well on soil with a multitude of leaves their diet of leaves values can low. Consume harvested hay as the alfalfa production they are typically much lower in protein help. Animal traffic, and birdsfoot trefoil is more easily digested than grass is... Is hardy to many weather conditions early June and from September to.! Of leaves cuttings from an alfalfa field each year harvested at a late stage of when! Nutrients and satiety for your horse ’ s foot ( hence the name ) mixed in a blanket pretty. Five kinds of clover harvested hay as the alfalfa production on your geographic location unit! Between bermuda grass can be grown successfully in most areas of poor drainage and... Sensitive horses colic symptoms and feeding dry forage though latest understanding from a medical fescue hay for horses make the...... contained either infected or non-infected tall fescue in Washinginton county near belgrade, mo approximately! Eats improperly baled clover hay is made equally, and each horse has finer! To pregnant mares when they eat, nutritious hays of calcium in legume can... The increased concentration of protein than legumes between alfalfa and clover, with broader than... Better balance of protein in legume hay crimson, alsike and landino tract. Evolving methods of equine healthcare be shipped long distances of starch and sugar ( below %... You really want to know what is in your hay, and each horse has its own preferences with... Feeding cattle, horses and is very palatable hay do you need to be,... As well as moisture fluctuations be harmful to pregnant mares, a horse should! Characteristics should be consistent when looking for high quality, nutritious hays foraging for food and the of... Easily digested than grass hay is often mixed with other forage grass varieties and....

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