Cavalcade Hay

A Nutritious and Palatable Feed for Livestock

Cavalcade hay is a top choice for farmers looking for high-quality, digestible forage. It’s particularly popular among livestock such as cattle, sheep, and horses, offering a great balance of protein, fibre, and energy. Known for its fine texture, Cavalcade hay is easy for animals to consume and is highly nutritious.

What is Cavalcade Hay?

Cavalcade hay is made from a variety of grasses, usually a blend of perennial and annual types, grown specifically for hay production. It’s typically harvested when the grass is in its prime vegetative stage, before it starts to produce seeds. This ensures that Cavalcade hay is soft, full of nutrients, and highly digestible. While not as common as Lucerne or Clover, it’s becoming more popular, especially as an alternative feed for livestock during tougher seasons.

Nutritional Value of Cavalcade Hay: NDF, CP, ME

1. Crude Protein (CP): Cavalcade hay offers moderate to high protein, usually between 8% and 14%. This makes it a great feed choice for animals in maintenance, growth, or light production.

1. Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF): With an NDF range of 45% to 55%, Cavalcade hay provides the right amount of fibre for healthy digestion while still being soft enough to be palatable.

1. Metabolisable Energy (ME): Typically ranging from 7-9 MJ/kg, Cavalcade hay provides enough energy for your livestock to maintain weight and stay healthy.

Visual Quality and Grading

The look and feel of Cavalcade hay can give you a good idea of its quality. High-quality Cavalcade hay should be:

1. Green to golden in colour, depending on when it’s harvested.

1. Soft and fine in texture, with minimal coarse stems.

1. Sweet-smelling and fresh, with no signs of mould or dust.

If the hay looks brown or smells musty, it may be too old or improperly stored, reducing its nutritional value.

When to Harvest Cavalcade Hay

For the best quality Cavalcade hay for sale, it’s best to cut it when the grass is still in its early vegetative stage, before it starts flowering. This ensures the hay is nutrient-packed and easy for your animals to digest. If you wait too long, the hay can become coarser and less digestible, which can make it harder for livestock to consume.

Agricultural and Environmental Benefits

Cavalcade hay is not only good for your animals but also benefits the environment. It’s often grown as part of crop rotation, which helps improve soil health and reduce erosion. It also contributes to sustainable farming practices by promoting better water retention in the soil and reducing the need for chemical fertilisers.

In addition, Cavalcade hay can provide an excellent alternative feed source in regions where other forages may be limited, ensuring that your livestock always have access to high-quality feed.