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Bermuda Grass
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Bluegrass
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Fescue
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| In the export markets, Bermuda Hay is used to feed young cows, as well as dry cows. It is easily fed and, in very hot climates it is favored by the cow over other feeds. Popular in the United States for horses, some dairy, and beef cattle it is slowly being accepted in some of the Asian markets for horses. |
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Kentucky bluegrass straw can be successfully fed to dairy cattle. The high fiber and low protein content of bluegrass straw reduces its feeding value and could reduce milk yield of cows in early lactation, which is why we used cows in the last third of their lactation. |
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Fescue is a lower cost alternative for horses as it is soft, and very green. However, if feeding to brood mares request an endophyte-free fescue. Fescue hay can be used to supplement grazing and also as hay to feed stabled animals. Cattle are also sometimes fed fescue straw (the stalks of harvested fescue). |
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Kleingrass
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Oats
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Orchardgrass
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Kleingrass can grow up to 1 meter tall and is a fine stemmed leafy plant. Kleingrass is palatable and nutritious for cattle. When Kleingrass is grown for hay it is typically harvested at a younger stage of growth. Harvesting at a younger stage helps to produce a fine stem, soft and leafy grass hay that is very palatable and nutritious for many types of animals.
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Oat hay is nutritious enough for dry dairy cows, mature horses, and beef cattle. It can replace some of the lower-quality feeds such as grass hay and higher-priced feed such as alfalfa for dry cows where lower potassium is desired. |
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People who feed horses increasingly are choosing orchardgrass instead of timothy. Nutritionally, timothy and orchardgrass are about equal. Stabled horses call for higher-fiber, lower-energy hay and if harvested just prior to pollen-shed Orchardgrass can provide this.
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Annual Ryegrass
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Perennial Ryegrass
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Sudan
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| Both dairy and livestock operations feed annual ryegrass, usually to dry cows or younger cattle. It is recognized for its very soft texture and palatability to grazing animals. It is growing in popularity within the horse industry. |
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Perennial ryegrass is an important pasture and forage plant, and is used in many pasture seed mixes. In fertile soil it produces a high grass yield. |
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It is more suited to rations for dry cows, replacement heifers over 12 months of age, and beef cows and calves. Sudan is not a feed recommendation for horses. It is a high-quality, long fiber grass hay which can be fed directly to cattle or as part of a mixed ration. An excellent source of dietary fiber that provides active rumen stimulation. |