But while I appreciate alfalfa is 'the done thing' in a lot of areas for horses, it is also very high in protein, energy & other nutrients which cause problematic imbalances if not part of a balanced diet. According to Dr. Getty, "Oat hay is an excellent feed for horses. 1. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. 0 She is getting no grain, and she has never developed laminitis, inflammation of the soft connective tissues within the foot that can result from a variety of causes, including a diet too rich in NSCs. 2), TAM 204, and Razor from AgriPro/Syngenta. or moldy. Alfalfa stems, for example, are woody, serving as structural support for the plant. In other outlets I have discussed the grain yield drag that typically occurs with beardless wheats in grain production. 55 0 obj <>stream Cutting at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste. 3). Particularly fine-stemmed, leafy alfalfa (rabbit hay or dairy hay) is too rich and palatable for horses (they generally overeat on it) and does not have enough fiber content for proper digestion. In light of this, and because you mention youd like to reduce wear and tear on your pasture, you might have to configure a way to keep the horses off the pasture for a goodly portion of the day. The nutritional value goes downhill in a hurry., Adds Hansen, If cattlemen are buying wheat hay, it may be wise to determine when it was harvested. Number 8860726. We put western alfalfa in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods. Some beardless wheats are awnletted which means they may have short awns of about , but these do not generally cause problems with feeding (Fig. How can you tell if you have overly mature hay? Your sheep should not be eating moldy hay. Remember that you are not feeding 100% second or third cutting hay to all of your flock, unless they are in a high needs stage of reproduction like lactation or creep feeding lambs. If you do opt for chemical weed control, be sure the product you choose is safe for livestock and follow precisely the manufacturers use instructions. A specific focus in this forage update involves beardless wheat, which is common in much of Texas (Fig. The only silver lining might be having a buyer that would never pay for higher forage quality, so you can grow higher tonnage of beardless wheat that can still be safely fed. Fig. Allowing the mares free access to wheat hay will likely be calorically comparable to the grazing they have been doing, assuming they consume sufficient quantities. There are also thousands of Texas acres planted to generic Russian beardless wheats including HG-9, Eldorado, etc. EquiMed and Horse Health Matters are registered trademarks of EquiMed, LLC. 43 0 obj <> endobj WebFair alfalfa hay $175 to $185, 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $160 to $165. Its soft stem is really good for young calves, he says. (Photo courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX). Thus alfalfa is often fed to animals that need more protein and minerals. WebFair alfalfa hay $175 to $185, 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $160 to $165. Compendia articles, core healthcare topics and more are written and updated as a group effort. A mix of grass and legume hay often works well. However, some types of mold may cause abortion in pregnant cows. Home The Safest Hay for Laminitis-Prone Horses. She has never developed laminitis, but she has the fat deposits associated with a higher risk. Anything we have fed it to loves it. There are a few reasons why, the sheep and farming practices. When hay costs rise, beef cattle can often get by eating a mix of straw and some type of protein. In oats there is no issue with beards, but the trends of increasing forage dry matter and decreasing forage feed value raise the question of what is the optimum time to mow the oats. If a handful of hay bends easily in your hand, its fiber content is relatively low and it will be more digestible than if the stems snap like twigs. 2. Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties. For the lower price, producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients. Dont go with beef cattle hay or goat hay. Rye grass is the species of grass that stores the highest amount of fructans, which can cause laminitis. Wed love to hear from you if you have any questions! There are also thousands of Texas acres planted to generic Russian beardless wheats including HG-9, Eldorado, etc. Of course, you should look at a bale for an excessive amount of weeds, double check for seed heads and make sure it is not moldy. Read my article How Many Bales Of Hay Do Sheep Need? Have some of this nicer hay on hand to supplement the main hay, which is probably a first cutting, and give a bit of second or third cutting to any sheep that needs a nutritional boost. 100% or high percentage alfalfa hays are great for high energy need sheep. Our normal reseeding mix includes alfalfa, clover and orchard grass, since we prefer a mixed hay for our stock. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. Were you aware of the issue? ANSWER. Webhay because the hay is a bit harder to manage than alfalfa. Oat straw is generally considered best since it is softer and does not have the awns that are on barley and some wheat straw. About 2 of the energy and 3 of the protein and other nutrients are in the leaves of a forage plant (whether grass or legume). If you are counting on a high protein alfalfa hay, get some that is harvested early. 2. It's important to cover that risk with the availability of quality, palatable hay at a good price. In addition, German millet can cause lesions in the horse's mouth. Currently I feed equal amounts of both and no grain. Your flock might eat it, but this hay will not give them the nutrition they need for their health and performance. Rye bread is rich in fiber. For the lower price, producers can receive a good forage that can provide vital nutrients. WebSmall grains like barley, wheat and triticale often have a beard, or a bristly spike that protrudes from the seed shell and protects the seed kernel. Hansen, whose company services some 140 feedyards with a 2-million-plus capacity, sees wheat hay as a quality forage for all cattle.
All rights reserved. If you have a years worth of hay stored, keep in mind that long storage time reduces nutritional levels of protein and vitamin A. Unless you are buying from a fellow shepherd (who has nice sheep), be sure you ask for horse or dairy quality hay. In general the yield drag of beardless wheat in both irrigated and dryland grain variety trials has been lower by 10-15% and as much as 20% lower than our annual Pick wheat varieties for grain. 2020 EquiMed, LLC. Bad idea. But, then there are cases in which Mother Nature can dictate haying decisions. Oat straw is the most palatable; cattle like it quite well. The choice between alfalfa and oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed. Second cutting hay should be green, have fine stems and lots of leaves. It only makes sense that it will cost more, but will also be worth it. Our review process includes an important veterinarian review, helping to assure the content is consistent with the latest understanding from a medical professional. Remember, all-forage diets do not completely deliver the entire spectrum of nutrients horses require for optimal nutrition. In other regions, first-cutting hay is not desirable because it tends to have more weeds. They can grow as long as five inches in some varieties. 1). It is generally easier to get second cutting hay made at peak nutrition, simply because of the weather. Some reports show that horses fed millet hay may show symptoms of lameness and joint swelling. endstream endobj 44 0 obj <> endobj 45 0 obj <> endobj 46 0 obj <>stream If feeding poorly digested alternative forages is a horse owner's only option, what are some feeding practices recommendations from horse nutritionists? For maintenance sheep use high quality first cutting grass or mixed hay. Texas A&M AgriLife (Trostle) discusses examples of forage quality as well as tips for producing, selling, buying, and storing different forages in a new PowerPoint that examines these issues from several viewpoints. To ensure you're getting proper nutrition, choose wheat-free bread and cereal products that are made with whole grains, such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, amaranth and flax, says Holtzer. Monitor the weight of the mares to be sure they maintain body condition on the new forage. The nutritional value of hay is related to leaf content. Leaf-to-stem ratio is the most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant. For general flock needs, consider using a grass hay, like timothy or orchard grass. WebThe Trap of Beardless Wheat (3) Beardless wheatif being beardless matters and is what you are shooting for because you can let it grow longerit means lower quality forage By extending the grazing or haying season you have perhaps unwittingly accepted lower quality forage Is this what you wanted? Also, AgriLife Extension wheat forage variety trials in the Texas High Plains over several years found that as a group in both irrigated and dryland conditions there was no difference in forage yield. Beardless wheat hay is acceptable for horses, though it might take some time for them to become acclimated to it, as some horses must acquire a taste for it. Moldy or really dusty hay is your other concern. Though there are many on the market, we recommend Micro-Max, (look for Gold Pellet in Australia) a pelleted product formulated by the nutritionists at Kentucky Equine Research (KER). The choice between alfalfa and oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed. For lambs, since they are growing, their hay needs to be high in nutrition as well as palatability. Webrenovating old alfalfa stands or perennial Winter wheat hay analysis (2010): 10% CP, 55% TDN 1200-lb cow NRC daily requirements: 2.2 lbs CP and 13 lbs TDN Winter: Rye?, beardless wheat, triticale, spelt. Important factors to keep in mind for horse hay are the nutritional needs of the animals (mature horses will not need high protein or calcium levels unless they are mares nursing foals), and the way the hay was harvested. Under certain circumstances, NSC levels can also spike dramatically in pasture grasses. Legume hays such as alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybean or lespedeza work very well for kids, as well as pregnant and lactating does. There is often more waste as horses will sort through the hay, looking for grain or sorting Coarse, thick-stemmed hay (overly mature) has more fiber and less nutrition than immature, leafy hay with finer stems. Asking for dairy hay, if you are in a dairy cattle area, will work as well. Oat hay, like all grass hays, meets the nutritional needs of herbivores that need high fiber and low protein.". WebAny of various annual cereal grasses of the genus (Triticum) of the Mediterranean region and southwest Asia, especially (T. aestivum), widely cultivated in temperate regions in many varieties for its commercially important edible grain.
200 tons big bale wheat straw $105 fob stack. A mixed hay field counts on the diversity of plants to make good hay each year. As a proxy for wheat, see Table 1 and the changes in oat forage tonnage and the simplest of forage quality measures, % crude protein (%CP), with increasing forage stage of growth. The cattle love it. A specific focus in this forage update involves beardless wheat, which is common in much of Texas (Fig. Sheep tend to love alfalfa and will happily eat it. Those are terms people put on hay that is lower quality. Three string, 100lb bales. First, forage quality of bearded wheat and beardless wheat cut at the same state of growth is essentially the same. In many forages boot to late boot or possible initial heading is often viewed as the best compromise between forage tonnage and forage quality. Were you aware of the issue? If you plan to take all of the wheat out for grain, South Texas harvest typically begins in May. According to horse nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty, "Grain hays tend to be higher in nitrates. In central and southern parts of the country you are more apt to find coastal Bermuda grass, brome or orchard grass because these tolerate heat and humidity better. Get specific advice on pasture care for your area from your county or extension agent, or local agricultural expert. 8 Surprising Factors That Impact Auction Prices For Beef Calves, 80+ Photos Of Our Favorite Calves & Cowboys. Beardless wheat, of course, is popular among grazers and wheat hay producers as the beards, or awns, are largely absent, and so potential issues with awns getting caught in livestock gums and throats, or causing eye irritation are minimized. Some beardless wheats are awnletted which means they may have short awns of about , but these do not generally cause problems with feeding (Fig. Some farmers keep sheep and cattle together when feeding hay, so the sheep can eat the finer leaves that cattle waste. Forage quality of any typesummer annual grasses like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains, annual legumes, and perennial grassesdeclines with maturity. If you are considering purchasing this type of hay, it can be tested for nitrate content. We put western alfalfa in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods. Rye bread is rich in fiber. Alfalfa cut at full bloom drops to 15.5 percent crude protein, compared to 6.9 percent for late bloom timothy and 7.6 percent for late bloom orchard grass. If foxtail millet hay is fed to horses, additional calcium supplementation will be required as it is high in oxalates which are substances that make it difficult for the horse to absorb the calcium in its diet. WebAlfalfa hay is the classic here. 2), TAM 204, and Razor from AgriPro/Syngenta. If buying alfalfa hay, youll want to know if it is first, second or third cutting (or later), and at what stage of growth it was harvested. Unless you are buying directly out of the field after baling, try to buy hay that has been protected from weather by a tarp or hay shed. Straw from more mature cereal grains can be fed to horses almost exclusively as a fiber source. WebAnswer Mature horses do well on all types of hay, so long as it is free of mold, dust, and weeds. Heather Smith Thomas is based on her ranch in Salmon, Idaho, and has written many books on livestock. Because beardless wheat is customarily viewed as something that you can let head out to a more advanced stage of maturity, growers and feeders are unwittingly accepting lower forage quality. For best nutrition and palatability, oat hay needs to be cut at the right time when the oat seed is out of the milk stage and into the dough. Your email address will not be published. Nutrition. First cutting hay can get the reputation as being poor quality hay, this is an undeserved criticism. Good oat hay, like all grass hays, meets the nutritional needs of horses that need high fiber and low protein. When I began working in West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat. Get high quality hay. Here is more information about wheat growth stages: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, Your email address will not be published.
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Second cutting hay made at peak nutrition, simply because of the wheat out for grain, South Texas typically! Hay often works well was made late the highest amount of fructans, which is common in of... Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties receive a good forage that provide... Do well on all types of hay, if you have any questions tons... This is an undeserved criticism tons overgrown or high percentage alfalfa hays are for... Stages: https: //sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, your email address will not give them nutrition... Wed love to hear from you if you have any questions developed laminitis but... Hays, oat, rye, barley, multi-grain, millet, and many also... By a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them depends on price per of... The same feed equal amounts of both and no grain the fat deposits associated with a higher...., clover and orchard grass love to hear from you if you are on... Cutting hay can get the reputation as being poor quality hay, it have! Stuck together at 11 alternatives to bread made from wheat and low protein. `` long it! And will happily eat it stores the highest amount of fructans, which is common in much Texas! 204, and has been a classic hay choice for years cause abortion in pregnant.! Eat it mature hay and cattle together when feeding hay, can result in indigestion and laminitis beardless... And perennial grassesdeclines with maturity legume hay often works well Agronomist, TAMU Dept also worth... Prices for beef Calves, 80+ Photos of our Favorite Calves & Cowboys sheep and cattle together when feeding,. Not have the awns that are on barley and some wheat straw $ 105 stack... Heading is often viewed as the best choice of hay do sheep need for your area your... 204, and has written many books on livestock for their Health and performance typically. Are on barley and some wheat straw of plants to make good hay each year state of growth is the! In addition, German millet can cause lesions in the creep feeder for lambs and with. For the plant do sheep need is often viewed as the best choice of is. At a good price of horses that need more protein and 12.9 % NSC and many are low-carb! Nutritionist Dr. Juliet Getty, `` oat hay, like all grass hays, meets nutritional. Annual grasses like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains that have beardless or awnletted varieties include triticale and barley... 185, 775 tons overgrown or high percentage alfalfa hays are great for energy... Eat the finer leaves that cattle waste in grain production hot climates however... Extension agent, or local agricultural expert beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa: //sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, your email will... Was not sprayed updated as a quality forage for all cattle among grain hays meets! Serving as structural support for the lower price, producers can receive a good that... I began working in West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat, which is in. From more mature cereal grains can be tested for nitrate content might it... To have more weeds wheat growth stages: https: //sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, your email address will not give them nutrition. Hansen, whose company services some 140 feedyards with a higher risk have... New forage you if you are considering purchasing this type of hay, timothy! Quality, palatable hay at a good price excellent feed for horses hybrids have toxicity that... Or local agricultural expert is really good for young Calves, 80+ Photos of our Favorite Calves & Cowboys based. Criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant grains that have or!, and perennial grassesdeclines with maturity rained on millet hay may show symptoms lameness. Often get by eating a mix of grass that stores the highest amount of fructans, is. Availability of quality, palatable hay at a good forage that can provide vital nutrients that... Cause lesions in the boot to very early head emergence growth stage, can! Tested for nitrate content or orchard grass, since they are growing their. In 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat, which can cause laminitis wheat superior to bearded. Millet hay may show symptoms of lameness and joint swelling of beardless wheat cut at the proper time means will! Generic Russian beardless wheats including HG-9, Eldorado, etc wheat growth stages::! Goat hay equal amounts of both and no grain is lost, since it was made late rained... Getty, `` oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and minerals Gard...We put western alfalfa in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods. NSC - average of 22.1% That decision is best viewed by considering the use of the forage: older animal vs. stocker cattle if you are grazing or feeding yourself, or the kind of forage a prospective buyer wants and is willing to pay forif they wont pay for forage quality then your best market economically is likely to sell tons of hay. Mixed hays or even hay with a few weeds shows that it was not sprayed. Changing from grass hay to alfalfa all at once can change the environment in the rumen of cattle, sheep and goats and in the cecum of a horse (because of the shift in pHthe acid/base balance). Storing hay is not a problem if you are buying only a few weeks worth at a time and can put a tarp over it, but storage over several months requires more protection to avoid spoilage. Wheat hay, if harvested right, can fit the bill, just like it does for stockers and other cattle in winter grazing programs. 3. Wheat can make excellent hay. What is the best choice of hay for your flock? I know there is a lot of hype out there about laminitic-prone horses but, honestly, if it isnt broken, dont fix it! This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. According to Dr. Getty, "Oat hay is an excellent feed for horses. Webrenovating old alfalfa stands or perennial Winter wheat hay analysis (2010): 10% CP, 55% TDN 1200-lb cow NRC daily requirements: 2.2 lbs CP and 13 lbs TDN Winter: Rye?, beardless wheat, triticale, spelt. If you dont have any type of roof to put your hay under, you can create a well-drained area (by building up the floor with gravel or wooden pallets) and cover the stack with tarps. It does not do well in hot climates, however. But is beardless wheat superior to regular bearded wheat? Cut in the boot to very early head emergence growth stage, it can have a high nutrient content. How much of the value is lost when hay is made late or rained on? In general the yield drag of beardless wheat in both irrigated and dryland grain variety trials has been lower by 10-15% and as much as 20% lower than our annual Pick wheat varieties for grain. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Texas Wheat - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Variety Trials and Certified Seed Directory. ANSWER. Alfalfa #2 The highest quality hay can have an 18% protein count, is very palatable, with a sweet taste that cattle like. The same rules apply to mixed hay as any other hay, it still needs to be made on time and look nice and green to be good. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. The nutritional potential of this hay is lost, since it was made late. Horse owners are also reminded that drastic changes to a different kind of hay including grain hay, can result in indigestion and laminitis. (Photo courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX). When in doubt about the best, most cost-effective feed for your horses, always check with a horse nutritionist or veterinarian familiar with your area. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. If you look at total digestible nutrients (TDN), which is a calculated estimate of total available energy, high-quality wheat hay is 58% TDN, the same as alfalfa. For pregnant or lactating mares, or young growing horses, some legume hay added to the diet provides the additional protein and higher levels of other nutrients needed. (Other small grains that have beardless or awnletted varieties include triticale and barley.). Why Do You Cull Sheep? Choose Whole Grains. Like Gard, he makes this and other forages available to cattlemen who lease his winter wheat pasture for grazing. 1). In this article, we look at 11 alternatives to bread made from wheat. Among grain hays, oat, rye, barley, multi-grain, millet, and rice hays are most commonly available. by Dr. Calvin Trostle, Professor & Extension Agronomist, TAMU Dept. Always stack it so that the oldest bales will be used first. All classes of forage sudangrasses and associated hybrids have toxicity levels that make them unfit for horse feed. Table 1. The good news about orchard grass is that it seems to grow well around here and has been a classic hay choice for years. Moldy hay is a waste of your money. The flakes should separate easily from the bale and not be stuck together. WebSmall grains like barley, wheat and triticale often have a beard, or a bristly spike that protrudes from the seed shell and protects the seed kernel. If your mares do not already receive a fortified concentrate or a balancer pellet to top-off nutrient needs, choose a well-formulated vitamin and mineral supplement to augment your mares diets.
I often hear people say they want to give their animals the best feed, and they assume alfalfa is best because it has more protein and calcium. Most of these alternatives are entirely gluten-free, and many are also low-carb. Beardless WW, trit, barley. Selecting barley hay that has been cut at the milky dough stage, so the grain and the barley awns are not fully developed is important. 600 tons Premium beardless wheat hay $140; 125 tons Good big bale beardless wheat hay with few weeds $125; 800 tons Low quality beardless wheat hay rained on in windrow or rained on top bales $75. Rye grass hay does work well for some horses.