Leafiness: High-quality hay should have a higher proportion of leaves to stems, as leaves contain the majority of nutrients. Examine the hay for an abundance of leaves and minimal stem presence.

Grass is also an essential source of fiber, promoting proper digestion and preventing issues that may arise from inadequate forage. The traditional popularity of certain hays, such as timothy and orchard grass, is rooted in their ability to provide high quality forage for horses in various stages of life and activity levels. As a horse owner, it's crucial to remember that hay is one of the primary components of a horse's diet, and selecting the right hay has a direct impact on their health and happiness. Good hay should be green, smell sweet not mouldy, and not contain a lot of dust or be damp. The greener hay is, the closer it is nutritionally to grass.Dactylis glomerata subsp. glomerata and subsp. hispanica are tetraploid forms with 28 chromosomes; some of the other subspecies, including subsp. himalayensis and subsp. lobata are diploid, with 2 n = 14. Hexaploid forms with 42 chromosomes are also known, but rare. [3] [11] Tetraploid forms are larger and coarser than diploid forms. [11] Cultivation and uses [ edit ]

It is made from long strands of grass, leaves, flowers, and seed heads from the meadow. Due to the inconsistency of the content, some guinea pigs like the mix, while others do not. Meadow hay may be more suitable for forage usage due to the mixture of flowers and other plants. Like orchard and timothy, if you do end up trying meadow hay, make sure it's green! Both timothy grass and orchard grass are considered high-quality forage options for equines, as they provide a balanced source of nutrients, fiber, and energy to support the horses' overall health and well-being. The suitability of one type of hay over the other depends on the specific needs and dietary requirements. Several varieties of orchardgrass have been tested and were high-yielding in Pennsylvania variety trials. Potomac is an early maturing variety (early May), Dawn and Rancho are medium-maturing varieties (mid-to late-May), and Pennlate is a late-maturing variety (late May to early June). When seeding an orchardgrass-legume mixture, the two should mature at about the same time. This will enable harvesting of both species at proper developmental stages and improve the potential of harvesting top quality forage. Establishment It’s very important that these animals keep a diet that is low in calcium, which Orchard grass hay and Timothy hay both provide. Whether you want to expand your bunnies’ pallets or are allergic to timothy, below are some alternatives and add-ons for your rabbits’ diet. #1: Orchard Grass

Quantity

Alfalfa, clover, and peanut are legume hays, while timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard are examples of grass hays. If you’re sitting there thinking that you’ve seen oat straw before, you may have! Oats can be grown for hay or oats and straw. Hay is basically a grass that is cut green, then dried and baled. When oat seeds are planted, they first grow as a grass. When it looks like grass, it can be cut and baled as hay. Mature Animals: Unlimited amounts of Orchard Grass can be fed free choice to rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, prairie dogs and other herbivores as an alternative to timothy, oat hay, and brome. Because we take the extra care to microfilter out the dust and debris from our hay, we’re able to ensure that the product weight is 100% hay, whereas other products might account for dust in their product weight.

Orchardgrass is usually easy to establish in either early spring or late summer. Late summer seedings, however, have been most successful in Pennsylvania. There is increased risk of winter injury with summer seedings made after mid-August.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Hay & Forage for Horses

Orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) is a cool-season, perennial forage grass native to temperate regions of Eurasia. It is a popular choice among horse owners for its high fiber and nutrient content, along with its soft texture, making it easily digestible for equine digestive systems. Orchard grass contains a balanced ratio of calcium and phosphorus, ensuring proper bone health It is a drought-tolerant species, capable of growing under moderate drought conditions (meaning it can handle dry weather pretty well), and typically yields two to three hay cuttings per year, depending on the specific environment. What is Timothy Grass? Feeding a legume/grass mix can be the best of both worlds. 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. What are legumes? Fibre is the most important factor in a small animal diet plan. A constant supply of hay keeps the GI tract in great shape and helps to prevent bloat, stasis, and dental issues. Sound great? Read more.

Horses with sensitive digestive systems typically benefit from hay with a high fiber content, as fiber plays a vital role in maintaining proper gut function and promoting healthy microbial populations in the hindgut. High-quality hay with a soft texture and adequate fiber levels can help prevent impaction colic and support a healthy GI environment.Performance horses or those engaged in intense work require more energy to fuel their activities. Thus, selecting a hay with a higher calorie content becomes necessary to meet their energy demands without overloading their digestive system. Digestive System Sensitivities This includes roadsides, banks, and dense forests. Although it is not particularly aggressive, it could migrate into higher-grade regions. The pale green to blue-green leaves of orchard grass are distinctive. Treat hays are hay types that are safe for rabbits, but you shouldn’t feed them in unlimited amounts. Add them to your bunnies’ diet in moderation only. Season and weather conditions can also impact hay availability and pricing- in years with favorable growing conditions, hay production can be abundant, leading to lower prices. In contrast, droughts, floods, or other adverse weather conditions can negatively affect hay production, resulting in reduced availability and higher prices. and slightly higher protein (12-14%) than hay - more like fresh grass. That's not a problem, but if your rabbit is particularly senstive to diet