Why feed hay?
““I’m really happy with my hay analysis this time”, said my friend, Bill.
“Your what?” I replied.
“I just got the analysis back, on this stand of hay and it’s the best I’ve ever gotten. The feed value is 98% on my timothy and orchard grasses”.
“I’ve never heard of such a thing! Tell me about this!” I was immediately curious. He began to explain something I’d not thought much about…the nutritional value of hay. I’m sure I’m not the only one who never gave it a lot of thought. Could you explain why it’s important to “feed” hay?”
Forage is made up of dried plants, stems, leaves, seeds, grown for feeding to livestock. Most people think hay is just hay; it’s the same everywhere, right? Not true. All living things, including plants, must have certain nutrients to be healthy. Plants pass on their nutrition to whatever eats them. In Bill’s case it’s horses.
Farmers I know, cut the same fields of hay year after year and rarely, if ever, apply lime (grass likes a neutral pH) or any kind of fertilize (to rebuild what the last crop took). This is fine if all you’re looking for is a gut-filler but it doesn’t give the nutrition the animal needs. It’s like eating a belly full of white bread or potato chips; you feel full but you’re still hungry. Your body knows it didn’t get nourishment. Poor nutrition=poor health. It’s like taking and taking from a bank account without ever depositing anything.
What is good hay? Like most things, you usually can’t go by appearances. A hay analysis will give you a good starting point and let you know where you are compared to where you want to be. The particular analysis Bill used gives the numbers on 21 nutrients, along with the overall feed value of the crop (Bill’s is 98%! Most hay crops are much lower in value). He grows timothy and orchard but there are other good hay grasses, and different foraging critters have different needs. Horses, cows, goats, etc; all have different requirements. Even within a species the needs differ. A “dry” cow won’t need near as much nutrition as a milker or a pregnant cow.
The plants that are cut to make the hay is important. Certain clover can cause delayed ovulation in a heifer. Some weeds can taint milk, and some can poison the forager. Paying attention to what’s growing is good practice.
Even in nature we see nutrition returned to the soil constantly. Soil is a living organism. When we ask for FOOD from it, we need to replenish what was taken. A hayfield is no different. Feed it…it feeds the critters. Feed it well and it will return the nutrition.
If you want to check out Bill’s analysis lab, go to www.equi-analytical.com . Maybe get your own crop checked!
The Tennessee Dirtgirl
