Is late cut hay good for horses?

Late-cut hays can provide enough energy and nutrients (i.e., carbohydrate, protein, minerals, vitamins, etc.) for most horses to thrive, even if pregnant, lactating, or exercising. They typically contain fewer weeds than early-cut hay.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ker.com


Which cut of hay is best for horses?

Mid- to late-maturity hays are best for horses with low nutrient requirements, because the horses can eat more to satisfy their appetites without overeating and becoming fat. Horse owners also ask whether first or second-cut hay is better. There is more variation within a cutting than between cuttings.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhorseuniversity.com


Is it ever too late to cut hay?

The answers to these questions are usually something like… "it is fine to harvest through the first week of September", and… "we recommend harvesting at least six weeks before the killing frost." On average, the alfalfa killing frost (24 to 25 degrees F) in northeast Iowa occurs in the third to fourth week of October.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on farmprogress.com


Is last year's hay still good?

Consider these points: If the hay was of good-quality when harvested and stored in a dry place with sufficient airflow, hay is likely suitable for consumption for two to three years. Keep in mind that hay, even premium forage, loses much of its vitamin content in the first few months of storage.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ker.com


Is 3rd cutting hay OK for horses?

Hay of the third cutting is thick, green, and very nutritious, containing more legumes and high protein and fat content. It is also leafy and soft, so the horses will find it appealing.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on conwayfeed.com


When is the best time to cut hay?



Is 4th cutting hay good?

The third cutting is good hay, and the fourth and fifth cuttings begin to have more stems and fewer leaves. As more stems are present, the quality of the hay decreases and palatability declines.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horses.extension.org


Is second or third cut hay better?

To begin with, 1st cutting is the first hay cut from that field for the year. It tends to be more coarse and have more grasses in it. 2nd cutting is usually greener in color and has a sweeter smell. And lastly, 3rd cutting is very thick and rich.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cowgirlmagazine.com


Can old hay make horses sick?

Moldy hay can kill a horse. It's a cause of colic that can be fatal, and some types of mold are toxic to horses. And inhaled mold spores enter horses' respiratory systems when they eat, causing heaves or other chronic respiratory diseases.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horseracingsense.com


Is year old hay OK for horses?

It might actually be completely fine to feed to your horse. You'll have to thoroughly check it over, but it's not as bad as you might think. Surprisingly, old hay can hold onto its value fairly well if stored correctly. It should have been kept dry and out of direct sunlight.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on cowgirlmagazine.com


How old should hay be for horses?

In perfect conditions — where the hay has been baled at less than 12% moisture and is very dry — it is safe to feed straight away, but this isn't often the case, Tim explains: “The main reason for allowing a period of anywhere between two and eight weeks before feeding freshly made hay is to allow for a process called ...
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horseandhound.co.uk


Is it OK to cut hay at night?

Just 40 acres. From a "Drying" aspect - hay has the most respiration (amount of time to loose moisture) the first couple hours after cutting. I would suspect, cutting during the daylight, sun of the day, would give it the most respiration possible. Cutting at night would give less .. . .
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on talk.newagtalk.com


What is the best time to cut hay?

With all of these factors in mind, it is best to cut hay when there is the greatest opportunity for successful drying, or early in the morning after the dew has dried off. As the old saying goes, “make hay while the sun shines!”
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on kingsagriseeds.com


How often should hay be cut?

The first cutting in the spring should be when grass has greened up and reached 12 – 16 inches tall. This should clean up all the old growth of winter weeds and such. Then each subsequent cutting is at 3.5 to 5 week intervals.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on site.extension.uga.edu


What kind of hay is bad for horses?

Clover and grass hay (different types of clovers like red, white, etc.) Prone to fungus. Protein and fiber-rich. However, they are prone to fungus, and red clover can cause excess salivation in horses.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on horseracingsense.com


What is the most nutritious hay for horses?

Legume Hay for Horses

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.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on succeed-equine.com


Is second cut hay better than first?

Hay is often cut three or more times each season. The first cutting in any cut will have thicker stems, perhaps have flowers (usually called tassel), and is the highest in fiber of any cut. The second cutting is softer, greener, has a higher protein but lower fiber than first cutting.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on wagonwheelfarmny.com


How do you know if hay is good for horses?

Good quality hay should be bright green in color with little fading. A bleached, yellow, brown or black color may indicate aged hay, mold or poor storage conditions. Storage condition and age have a significant effect on vitamin content of hays.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on purinamills.com


How long should hay be left before feeding to horses?

“Some traditional horsemen believe that fresh-baled hay should 'sweat' for two to four weeks before feeding. This allows the hay to cure, which might be important if the hay too wet when it was baled.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ker.com


Does old hay lose sugar?

One concern about storing hay for a long time is its nutritional value. The longer it stays in a barn, the more nutrition it loses. In fact, after just a few months, the losses will start, and within a year it could lose 5% of its value. This includes protein, fiber, vitamins, sugars, and minerals.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on conwayfeed.com


Does rain ruin fresh cut hay?

Quality and Quantity

Research at Iowa State University found that fresh-cut hay with less than 1 inch of rain took a few more hours to dry, but didn't suffer much, if any, quality or quantity loss. A light rain on nearly dry hay, though, caused significant losses.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on noble.org


Will horses eat bad hay?

Don't feed moldy hay to horses. Most moldy hay problems are from mold spores, which can produce respiratory disease in horses. Many of the common mold toxins develop in the field during a delayed harvest. If you suspect a mold toxin problem, review your horse's nutrition and health.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on extension.umn.edu


Why is second cut hay more expensive?

Second cut hay has a finer texture and usually, a greener color and heavier leaves. It is more dense, the leaves are more tender and healthier, especially in protein. It is also somewhat more expensive, anywhere between 50 cents and a dollar a bale, depending on where it is grown.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bedlamfarm.com


How long should you soak hay for horses?

Soak hay for 30 to 60 minutes to reduce the sugar it contains. Don't soak the hay longer or you'll risk leaching beneficial nutrients. Soaking hay to remove sugars that can exacerbate metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance takes more time.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on equusmagazine.com


When should you cut timothy hay?

To help establish new stands, Undersander says the grass should be cut at 70 to 80 days after planting with one or two subsequent cuttings during the initial growing season. “Fall-planted timothy will produce seed the following calendar year.”
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myfarmlife.com