Grass Hay

A Reliable and Nutritious Feed for Your Livestock

Grass hay is one of the most popular and dependable types of hay for feeding livestock. It’s a great source of fibre and is easy on the digestion, making it perfect for a wide range of animals, from cattle and sheep to goats and horses. Whether you're raising livestock on a large farm or in a smaller setup, grass hay offers a simple, cost-effective feeding option that provides the roughage animals need to stay healthy.

What is Grass Hay?

Grass hay is made from various grass species, such as Ryegrass, Meadow grass, and Cocksfoot. It’s harvested before the grasses produce seed heads, meaning it’s softer and more digestible. While it’s not as protein-rich as legume-based hays like Lucerne or Clover, it’s still an important part of an animal’s diet, offering a good mix of fibre, protein, and energy.

This hay is typically grown in a wide range of climates and soil types, making it a reliable option for farmers. It’s easy to grow, and many farmers use it as part of a wider feeding strategy for their livestock.

Nutritional Value of Grass Hay: NDF, CP, ME

1. Crude Protein (CP): Grass hay typically has protein levels ranging from 5% to 12%. While it’s not as high in protein as some other hays, it still provides enough for animals that are not in peak production or growth phases.

1. Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF): Grass hay is high in fibre, with NDF ranging between 50% and 70%. The fibre helps maintain healthy digestion, particularly in ruminants like cattle and sheep.

1. Metabolizable Energy (ME): Grass hay provides moderate energy, typically between 6 and 9 MJ/kg, which helps maintain weight and supports general health.

Visual Quality and Grading

When it comes to grass hay, its appearance plays a big role in its appeal to livestock. High-quality grass hay should:

1. Be green to golden in colour, with minimal yellowing or browning.

1. Have a soft texture with a fresh, pleasant smell - this is what livestock will find most appealing.

1. Be free from foreign materials, such as weeds, sticks, or stubble.

If the hay looks brown, smells musty, or feels too coarse, it may be less palatable and offer less nutritional value. Always check the quality before purchasing to ensure you're getting the best for your animals.

Best Time to Harvest Grass Hay

The best time to harvest grass hay is while the plants are still in their vegetative state, before they begin to flower. This ensures the hay is soft, digestible, and packed with nutrients. If harvested too late, the grass becomes coarser and less digestible, which reduces its nutritional value.

Agricultural and Environmental Benefits

Grass hay isn’t just good for feeding your livestock; it also helps maintain a healthy farm. As a grass species, it helps with soil health by improving soil structure and preventing erosion. Plus, grass hay can be grown as part of crop rotation systems, adding variety to the land and reducing the need for synthetic fertilisers.

Farmers often grow grass hay as a winter forage crop, providing valuable feed during the colder months when other forage options might be limited. It’s also great for grazing part of the year, then being fenced off to regrow and provide hay later on.