Which hay has the most sugar?

Oat hay tends to be higher in nitrates and also high in sugar (NSC), so this hay is not an option for insulin resistant horses. Here's a comparison chart so you can see the differences between alfalfa hay, timothy (grass) hay and oat hay.

What hay has more sugar?

Barley hay can also be classified as the 'candy' of hays. It is high in sugar + starch and is NOT recommended as a safe feed insulin resistant/laminitic prone horses.

Which 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 or orchard grass lower in sugar?

Unfortunately, there is no grass that is consistently low in sugar. Most cool-season grasses, like orchardgrass and fescue, can have high sugar content. Timothy and crested wheatgrass tend to be medium in sugar content, as are most warm season (native) grasses.

Is alfalfa hay high in sugar?

Alfalfa Has Low Starch and Sugar Content

When oil is added as a coating to alfalfa, sugar levels are typically less than 5%. Feeds are rarely (if ever) sugar free, as even straw contains some sugar, but the low-sugar and starch content does highlight the alfalfa health benefits for your horse.

How Much SUGAR is in Different Foods. COMPARISON

What hay is best for laminitic horses?

Generally, a mixture of grass hay and alfalfa is the best hay combination for horses prone to laminitis.

Does timothy hay have a lot of 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.

Is clover hay high in sugar?

Clover can be very high in sugar and starch and is not a good forage for horses with EMS. Thick, properly fertilized grass will keep clover from taking over. Sugar is not green. Even brown hay can be very high in sugar.

Does alfalfa have more sugar than grass hay?

I found this to be very puzzling since alfalfa is low in sugar and starch, even lower than most grass hays. Its high protein content, however, makes it more caloric, which can be a problem for IR horses that need to lose weight.

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.

Is rye grass hay high in sugar?

High sugar perennial ryegrass is an improved forage grass. Its high levels of sugar and superb high digestibility make it a premium forage grass.

Does soaking hay remove sugar?

In addition to removing sugars, soaking also reduces some minerals. Crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium concentrations all decrease with soaking.

What has more sugar hay or grass?

Although alfalfa hay is higher in total energy content than grass hays, most of the energy is from protein and fiber. Grasses growing in cooler weather in general accumulate more sugars because they respire less.

Is lucerne hay low in sugar?

Lucerne is relatively low in sugar and starch, containing about half the amount of cereal hay (oaten, barley and wheaten) so it doesn't cause large insulin spikes and blood sugar level fluctuations and is very useful as a component of feed for horses with laminitis or metabolic issues such as insulin resistance.

Is lucerne hay OK for laminitic horses?

Never starve a laminitic horse

For a laminitic prone horse/pony, low sugar roughage sources may include Teff hay, Rhodes grass hay, lucerne hay, beet pulp or soaked grass hay.

What is the best hay for horses to eat?

Does alfalfa or timothy have more sugar?

Alfalfa has more sugar and starch than most grass hays which is a problem for horses at risk of laminitis; so if your horse falls in this category, make sure you talk to your vet before starting them on Alfalfa.

Is alfalfa hay good for Laminitic horses?

Feeds with a combined sugar and starch content of less than 10% should be fed to horses with laminitis. If horses are underweight and need to gain condition, consider adding alfalfa-based forages as they contain more calories per pound, but are low in sugars and starches.

Is timothy or alfalfa better for horses?

Alfalfa has more nutrients than the Timothy hay. With Timothy, your animal's gut will be in a good state. Even lesser number of nutrients, the Timothy hay is more costly than Alfalfa. Remember, what you'll choose will depend on your horse's needs.

What horse feeds are high in sugar?

Grasses planted primarily to fatten livestock and promote milk production are 'high sugar' grasses. Hay made from wheat, barley, rye-grass or oats is high in sugar especially if it has been made prior to seed formation.

Are Timothy pellets low in sugar?

The Timothy range has high fibre and is highly palatable, but naturally low in sugar, protein and starch.

Is teff hay high in sugar?

"Since teff hay is that low in sugar it makes good hay for horses with Cushing's or who are laminitic, or easy keepers, etc., but if it is not grown and managed for low sugar levels it can be as high as 22% sugar.

Is there a 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.

Is orchard grass vs timothy hay better for rabbits?

Orchard grass is more heat and drought tolerant than timothy grass. Orchard grass grows rapidly at cool temperatures, is very productive in early spring and recovers quickly af ter cutting. Orchard grass, in our experience, usually runs a bit higher on the protein scale than timothy.

Is alfalfa hay the same as timothy hay?

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).