Best Grass For Hay For Cattle

It can be confusing because there are six different types of major summer annual forage grasses sudangrass sorghum sudan hybrids forage sorghum which we often call cane or sorgo foxtail millet pearl millet and teff.

Best grass for hay for cattle.

It can be made from a wide variety of legumes including clover vetch sainfoin birdsfoot trefoil and of course the queen of the forages alfalfa. Hay for sheep and cattle the best mixtures for hay are usually longer term ones such as early bite sheep and hay ley and milk meat cut or graze which contain perennial and hybrid ryegrasses. For best quality hay should be cut just as. Bermuda grass is common in the south and university of florida foraging expert glen burton consider it an excellent crop for achieving high yields especially in dairy operations.

However when it becomes mature palatability rapidly declines. Lucerne or alfalfa is another very good option for high quality horse hay. Legume hay is known for its high protein and calcium levels as well being rich in vitamins and minerals. As grain prices continue to be high the better our forage stands yield high quality forage the more we can reduce our need for expensive grain.

As a general rule of thumb grass hay is best for horses alfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. Each one has its own strengths and weaknesses. Sort by default order show 25 products. Double barrel brome grass and double barrel orchardgrass both are cool season grasses suitable for making hay.

Brome grass does well in arid climates and marginal soil conditions. Alfalfa is also a good winter feed because heat is created by digestion of protein so a horse can keep warmer on a cold night. Orchardgrass this grass is good for pasture hay and silage. Shutterstock hay for cattle.

So base your choice primarily on how you plan to use it. It grows in usda zones 5 through 8. Legume hay is a popular choice for most livestock. Research has shown that stand of 2 3 alfalfa and 1 3 grass can out yield a pure stand of either grass or alfalfa by as much as 40 50.

Bermuda grass is also made easily into hay for winter grazing making it a popular crop for year round production. Orchard grass dactylis spp is a perennial grass with fibrous roots that can be used for both pasture grass or hay.