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.

Which cut of hay is best for cows?

Alfalfa is a great source of good quality protein. It is important in lactating dairy cattle, which need a high amount of protein and high energy feedstuff. It meets dairy quality for digestible protein. Alfalfa hay is very palatable for a majority of livestock, meaning they love the taste.

What hay can cattle not eat?

Hay containing greater than 10 parts per million of dicoumarol should be fed with caution. All cattle are susceptible, but younger cattle seem to be more susceptible than mature cows. Pregnant cows may abort or give birth to stillborn calves if they are consuming moldy sweet clover hay.

Do cows like Timothy grass?

Timothy is highly palatable to livestock and produces high quality forage for hay and grazing, depending on the area. It is used in cool humid, temperate and high rainfall regions for grazing, primarily by cattle (AWI et al., 2012).

Is timothy hay high in protein?

Timothy hay is used most often as cattle and horse feed. Its low protein, high fiber, and high energy content make it easily digestible.

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

Is timothy or alfalfa better?

Alfalfa hay is typically higher in protein and essential nutrients than timothy hay, making Alfalfa a better option for more active animals that need a high protein diet. Alfalfa also has more calories per pound than timothy, so it's generally the preferred choice of sport horse owners.

What is the difference between timothy hay and Timothy grass?

Timothy hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass. Timothy grass is a cool-season grass and it works well for bunnies with delicate digestive systems. It provides very good fibre content and is a thick, coarse hay.

What is timothy hay good for?

Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. It is also excellent for colic prone, protein-sensitive, and obese horses.

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.

Is timothy hay the same as alfalfa?

Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are different nutritionally

Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. Alfalfa contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium compared to timothy hay (Table 1).

What kind of hay do beef cows eat?

Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need adequate protein. Good palatable grass hay, cut while still green and growing, can be very adequate, but if grass hay is coarse and dry (with little vitamin A or protein), you'll need to add some legume hay to their diet.

Can beef cows survive on hay alone?

While many people rely on cows as a source of protein in their diet, cattle rely on their vegetarian meals to meet the same nutritional requirement. A healthy pasture provides all the protein that cows require. Scant pasture as well as hay or grain diets should be augmented with additional protein.

What grass has the most protein for cattle?

Giant King Grass when cut every 40-60 days is excellent animal feed. It has high-protein and high palatability. It can be the entire diet or a part of a mixed ration for dairy cows, cattle, sheep, goats, camels and other animals and even pigs and some fish.

What is the difference between orchard grass and timothy hay?

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.

Do cows prefer grass or hay?

The simple answer is hay. Most people are familiar the a cows diet in the summer, acres and acres of lush green grass. But what is hay? Hay is the staple forage in most cattle operations.

What hay can cattle eat?

Lucerne hay and good pasture and cereal hays are more than adequate for maintaining stock. The energy value of 3 kg of these hays is equivalent to the energy value of 2 kg of grain. Lucerne and clover hays are high in protein, calcium and vitamin A, and are particularly suited to young and lactating stock.

What is a good hay mix for 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.

What is the best pasture mix for cattle?

Most cattle pastures are a mix of legumes and grasses, but what mix and seeds are best for your cattle? If hay is a concern, Ladino clover (white) or red clover are good choices. Alfalfa is also a good choice if hay is your key concern.

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.

Is timothy hay just grass?

Timothy hay is a grass hay. Another type of grass hay is meadow hay. This is softer than Timothy hay, and may include some edible plants such as dandelions. Because it contains a variety of plants, it can also be a bit more variable in contents than Timothy.

Is timothy hay high in sugar?

Timothy hay is considered a medium sugar hay. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent.

Why do they call it timothy hay?

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 is the difference between Western timothy hay and timothy meadow hay?

Meadow Hay is mainly made up of native soft stemmed pasture grasses. These contain more leaves than Timothy Hay, making it have an overall softer texture. In addition to this, Meadow Hay will also contain plants other than grass – such as dandelions, daises, and thistles.