Is Timothy grass good for grazing cattle?

Timothy is a medium-to-late maturing grass with peak periods of production in late spring and fall. Timothy is best managed for livestock grazing when planted in pure stands with redtop or in a mixture with any legume except alfalfa.

Is timothy grass good for grazing?

Timothy has excellent winterhardiness but poor drought and heat tolerance and is not persistent under grazing.

Can you feed cows timothy grass?

Timothy hay is recommended by many experts due to its ease on various animal's digestive system as well as promotion of bowel regularity. Additionally, there have been scientific studies done that show Timothy hay is an ideal feed for pregnant or lactating cows.

Is Timothy Hay good for beef cattle?

For beef cattle, Timothy has been known to enhance beef flavor, and is fed to world popular wagyu and Kobe cattle in Japan. Grass-fed cattle are held to high standards of feed and care, and the meat from these cattle is known to be tender, firm, with good marbling and a unique flavor.

What is the best hay to feed beef cattle?

Most experts recommend mixing alfalfa with grass hay, rather than relying exclusively on alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is often recommended for dairy cattle, but may not be a good fit for beef cattle, since it can lead to bloat. Legume hay is another nutritious option for cattle, since it's high in protein.

Ask the Vet - Benefits and differences between grass hay and alfalfa hay

Is Timothy grass the same as timothy hay?

Timothy Grass has a slightly higher protein and is greener in appearance. Timothy Hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass. Timothy Hay is high in fiber and low in protein which is a combination critical to the health of rabbits and other small animals.

Does timothy grass come back every year?

It is a cool season perennial grass with rapid growth. The plant gets its name from Timothy Hanson, who promoted the grass in the 1700s as a pasture grass. The grass is native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa. The plant is adapted to numerous climates and performs well in even cold, northern regions.

What's better timothy or orchard grass?

Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy grass. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass.

What is timothy grass used for?

Uses. Livestock: Timothy is used mainly for hay, but also for pasture and silage. It is palatable and nutritious. It makes an excellent companion grass for alfalfa, trefoil, or clover since it does not compete with legumes.

What grass makes the best hay for cattle?

Alfalfa- It is probably the best high quality feed for livestock and as a cash crop but it requires deep, well drained soils and high fertility for high yields. While it can be used for grazing, it is best adapted for hay or silage.

What type of grass do cows prefer?

Pastures are typically comprised of grasses like bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue, bermudagrass, foxtail, sorghum. In addition, grass-fed cattle eat other naturally occurring (non-grass) pasture vegetation such as legumes, alfalfa and clover.

What hay can cows not eat?

Sorghum, Sudans, Millets and Corn. Four main categories of sorghum and millets are grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudan-grass hybrids. These all put grazing cattle at risk for prussic acid HCN poisoning.

When Should timothy be cut for hay?

1st cut Timothy is cut in June and July. It has a beautiful green color, has more stem and seed heads than the other cuts. It is high in fiber and is cut early so there is plenty of nutrition in the hay.

How much does a ton of Timothy hay cost?

It is widely available in the United States and is a good choice of feed throughout the year. Depending on the type, quality, place of harvest, and size of hay bales, you should expect to pay something between $30 and $300 per ton of hay.

Is Timothy hay hard to grow?

It is hardy, and when cut for hay has a very low moisture content, making it more resilient to mold and rot when baled or stored. Timothy hay has a pleasing fragrance and good nutritional value. It is commonly mixed with other feedstocks. Growing timothy grass is straightforward and simple.

What grass has the highest protein?

Grass and Hay With the Highest Protein

Bermuda grass, which is also a favorite of homeowners trying to grow a beautiful lawn, is relatively high in grass protein. Its crude protein levels can be as high as 16 percent, and it has a total digestible nutrient content of 55 percent.

What is the difference between timothy hay and alfalfa?

Alfalfa hay is higher in protein and calories, but timothy hay has more fiber and better calcium to phosphorus ratio. If you feed your horse a mixture of these two types of hay, it will get the best combinations possible for optimum nutrition.

Which cutting of hay is best?

Timothy Hay

Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content. The first cutting usually has a higher weed content, and quality decreases after the second cutting, so the second cutting is usually the best to feed.

How long does it take for timothy grass to sprout?

The germination time for timothy seeds is 7 to 14 days. Weedy grasses germinate much more quickly, and even cultivated grasses such as perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) can provide excessive competition for timothy seedlings.

How do I start timothy grass?

Rake to incorporate the planting site of the seeds in the soil. Sow the seeds no more than 1/2 inches deep. Slowly moisten the soil and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. For growing timothy hay, sow seeds in spring or late summer, you can also plant seeds in early fall.

What kills timothy grass?

Apply glyphosate when no rain is expected for at least six hours. Glyphosate kills any grass it contacts.

Why is Timothy grass called Timothy grass?

It is probably named after Timothy Hanson, an American farmer and agriculturalist said to have introduced it from New England to the southern states in the early 18th century. Upon his recommendation it became a major source of hay and cattle fodder to British farmers in the mid-18th century.

How big is a bale of timothy hay?

Two-string hay bales are typically 14” high x 18” wide x 35” long, and three-string bales are 16” high x 22” wide x 44” long. Round bales can come in various diameters depending on what size baler was used to make them. Standard sizes are 5 feet wide and 6 feet in diameter or 4 feet wide and 5 feet in diameter.

What hay has the most protein?

On average, alfalfa hay has much higher levels of protein, ranging from 15% to 21% depending on when the alfalfa was cut. This is much higher than the protein levels of grass hay, which typically contains 10% or less protein.