Is oat barley hay good for horses?
Oat hay is considered to be more palatable than barley hay and is probably the first choice for this reason, but barley hay can be a useful hay when a horse doesn’t need the extra energy and protein in alfalfa and a grass hay is needed.
Is wheat and oat hay good for horses?
So, oat hay is useable for horse rations, but not all horse rations. Feeding oat hay should be restricted to mature horses and producers should make sure the hay quality meets nutritional requirements and is not too high in nitrate.
What is barley hay?
Barley hay is made when barley is cut at an early growth stage rather than being harvested for grain. Barley hay is a low-protein, low-starch, high-fibre forage that is suitable for easy keepers.
Does barley make hay?
Barley can be cut and dried to make hay. It is a valuable source of winter forage in various regions, especially in the USA. Barley hay can be an inexpensive available feed source (Llewellyn et al., 2000). It should be cut early (milky stage) to make hay.
Does oat hay make horses fat?
“The higher fiber content reduces the calorie content of the feed which has given the oat the reputation of being a slightly safer feed for horses,” he added. It takes a larger ration of oats than corn for a horse to receive the same number of calories per feeding.
Does barley hay make horses hot?
Many horse owners prefer barley over oats because the former is less likely to trigger “hot” behaviour. It’s considered a good feed for putting condition on a horse, but it’s certainly not the perfect feed.
Can horses founder on oat hay?
You can feed oat hay, but feed it to mature horses and make sure nitrate levels are at acceptable levels. Oat hay is not a commonly fed hay but can be an effective hay for older horses.
Is barley hay good for cows?
When properly processed, mixed and fed, barley is an excellent feed grain. It can be used in growing and finishing diets for feedlot cattle, as supplement in forage rations for replacement heifers, and as an energy and protein source for gestating and lactating beef cows.
What is the best hay to feed horses?
Best Hay Types for Horses
- 1.) Alfalfa. Alfalfa hay is high-protein legume hay from the ‘pea’ family.
- 2.) Clover. Clover hay is the other legume hay suitable for horses but not as popular with horse owners.
- 3.) Timothy Grass.
- 4.) Orchardgrass.
- 5.) Fescue.
- 6.) Reed Canary Grass.
- 7.) Bluegrass.
- 8.) Bromegrass.
Is oat hay better than alfalfa?
When compared to alfalfa cut at the same level of maturity, oat grass hay is lower in crude protein and lower in digestible energy. To improve the protein quality often, oat grass hay is grown with legumes such as alfalfa.
Is oat hay good for cows?
Oat hay is nutritious and high in both protein and energy content. It can be fed to horses and cattle. In addition to straight Oat hay, alfalfa is often planted with oats to allow for better alfalfa stand establishment. This results in a high-quality feed.
What type of hay is best for cattle?
alfalfa
Fine alfalfa or oat straw best is best for cattle. Avoid coarse hay for young calves, sheep, and goats. Give dairy producing cows nutrient-rich hay to aid production.
Does oat hay make horses hot?
There is a misconception among many horse owners that oats shouldn’t be fed to horses because they are likely to make them ‘hot’ and ‘fizzy’. In most cases, this simply isn’t the case, although there are always some exceptions.
What is the best hay mixture for horses?
What is the best hay mixture for horses? Mixed or mixed-grass hay usually means that it has different types of grasses in it. Common mixes are timothy/alfalfa, orchardgrass/ alfalfa, and orchardgrass/clover. The best hay mix for most horses, without any health problems, is one-half Alfalfa and one-half Timothy.
Can horses founder on Oat Hay?