What is the difference between timothy hay and grass 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.

What is the difference between hay and grass?

1. Hay is a specific type of grass or a mixture of different cut grass clumped altogether compared to the basic grass plant, which is a more general term in itself. 2. Hay is basically an ideal plant as food for livestock but not all grasses can become food for these types of animals.

What is the difference between orchard hay 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.

Is timothy hay better?

Rabbits and calcium

Because of this unique metabolic system, rabbits are prone to urinary stones if fed too much calcium. Therefore, when feeding an adult rabbit supplemental hay in addition to a complete diet, it is preferable to provide timothy hay to minimize excess calcium. National Research Council.

Is Timothy grass hay good for horses?

Benefits for Horses

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.

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

What is the healthiest 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.

What is the best hay to feed horses?

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.

Why is it called 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.

What kind of grass is timothy hay?

Timothy hay (phleum pratense) also known as meadow cat's-tail, is a perennial grass hay used as feed for many animals from small pets to Triple Crown-winning racehorses. Native to much of Europe, an American colonial farmer is credited with being the first to cultivate the grass in North America in 1720.

What hay is best for cows?

Fine alfalfa or oat straw best is best for cattle. Avoid coarse hay for young calves, sheep, and goats. Give dairy producing cows nutrient-rich hay to aid production.

What hay is lowest in sugar?

Low sugar hay is extremely important in a horse's diet due to its health properties and the enormous benefits it can offer. While lucerne usually has lower sugar than a lot of grass hays, it more often than not tests HIGHER in sugar, starch & protein compared to our Low Sugar Hay.

Is timothy hay good for cows?

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 hay better than grass?

Nutrients in hay. The nutritional profiles vary greatly between the legumes and the grass hays. Alfalfa has about 16 to 20 percent protein, while grass hays are only 8 to 10 percent protein. Alfalfa has two to three times as much calcium as grass hays.

Is Timothy grass OK for rabbits?

Orchard grass, or other grass hays can be given for variety, but most rabbits prefer timothy hay over other grass hays. Your rabbit should have unlimited amounts of timothy hay.

Is timothy A bunch grass?

Timothy is a cool-season bunchgrass that is best suited for hay production due to being a bunchgrass, and leaves open areas at ground level. Timothy is well suited for wildlife plantings. However, Timothy is not recommended for erosion control because of the shallow root system.

Is orchard grass or timothy hay better for horses?

Orchardgrass and timothy hay are both excellent, but orchard grass gets the nod as the best of the two. It has a higher protein and calorie content and balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus.

Is timothy hay the same as lucerne?

The primary reasons are that timothy hay is lower in protein and calcium and higher in fibre than most lucerne hay. High dietary calcium has been associated with urine crystal or bladder stone formation. Therefore, feeding timothy hay over lucerne hay can potentially prevent this problem.

Can a rabbit eat too much timothy hay?

Overeating can cause obesity and digestive problems which could lead to death. A rabbit's diet should consist of 85% grass hay, such as meadow, timothy, or orchard hay. The rest of the diet should be fresh vegetables, fruit, and pellets. Rabbits will overeat if given a chance.

Can rabbits eat grass instead of hay?

Rabbits can eat grass instead of hay, however it's not a change that should be made overnight. This kind of major change in a rabbits diet needs to be made in a slow transition over the course of a few weeks.

Is timothy hay the same as straw?

Hay is a crop that is grown and harvested as a feed crop for cattle, horses and other farm animals. Straw on the other hand is a byproduct of a grain crop; in our area it's usually usually wheat straw that we see.

Is grass or hay better for horses?

LEGUME HAY

Legumes tend to be higher in protein, energy, calcium and vitamin A than grass hays. This concentrated source of energy and protein may be an advantage when fed as part of the ration for young and growing horses, lactating mares and performance athletes.

Should horses eat hay off the ground?

If the ground is grassy and relatively dry, consider feeding hay on the ground to mimic the way a horse naturally grazes. However, if your soil is sandy or gravelly, elevate hay off the ground when feeding via a hay net or manger, as horses can ingest sand or gravel which can lead to impaction colic.