Horse owners time and again consider timothy the gold standard in grasses for horses, primarily when it is cured and harvested as hay. High quality Timothy Grass contains a moderate amount of protein, usually testing at approximately 8% protein. Each timothy bale of hay for horses are freshly wrapped for convenience and protection whilst in transit. Timothy does not tolerate close grazing well, however, and growth might slow in late summer and autumn. Harvested on our own 300 acre farm. First cut is the roughest and highest in fibre, and slightly lower in nutritional value. Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Timothy hay is a high-fibre and late-maturing bunchgrass with low protein content. Through consultation with an equine … Through consultation with an equine nutritionist, horse owners can determine how best to include timothy into the diets of horses. Possible Link Between Selenium and Cribbing in Horses, Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses. Timothy hay is also excellent for foundered and obese horses and it has been said to help mares foal 40% easier. Alfalfa actually has slightly lower ESC, starch, and sugar than Timothy Hay. In recent years, demand for this palatable forage has grown, especially on the export market, making it … Horse owners consider timothy the gold standard in grasses for horses, primarily when it is harvested and cured as hay. Timothy is a cool-season, perennial bunch-grass that thrives in high altitudes, but is not very drought-tolerant due to its shallow root system. Mould in damp hay can reduce the sugar content, but this type of hay is not suitable for horses, although cattle can tolerate lightly moulded hay. If a horse really is sensitive to NSC content, the "safest" hays would be coastal Bermuda or timothy cut early in the day, after a warm night and recent rainfall. High quality Horse hay. Though timothy is sometimes planted in pure stands, it is often established as part of a mixture, frequently with a legume. Timothy hay is worth more to the horse owner when it is harvested at an immature stage of growth. Normal horses can tolerate NSC levels of 20% or higher. It has a consistent and balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus and Timothy Grass has a low to moderate calorie content. All Rights Reserved. Timothy hay is appropriate for all classes of horses, including young, growing horses. Much of this tradition is due to the fact that Timothy was one of the first grasses cultivated for horse hay. The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. It will have higher levels of crude protein and lower amounts of both NDF and ADF. Timothy hay is one of the most popular hays fed to horses. Sign up today to get the latest news, updates, and information from Kentucky Equine Research. PIONEERING DEPENDABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURE WORLDWIDE. Grass hay is exactly what it sounds like – a short leafy plant – while legumes are members of the pea family. Timothy hay is a common favorite among horses and owners. Timothy must be harvested in the pre- or early-bloom stage to ensure a high nutrient content. It’s a good grass hay for horses that tend to be sensitive and colicky, but there’s always the exception. Like all forages fed to horses, timothy hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds. Hay is harvested and stored in our barns up on pallets. It can grow up to around 1.5m (about five foot tall), and is quite rough and stalky. Timothy Hay For Horses. It is also excellent for colic prone, protein-sensitive, and obese horses. Storage of hay once cured at 10 - 14% moisture does not degrade the fructan or NSC content once the plant is dead. Fibre is essential for the digestive health of rabbits and guinea pigs, providing roughage for a healthy gastrointestinal system. If someone tells you Alfalfa is a problem in Insulin Resistant horses, they do not have the facts. A highly nutritious food, this premium-quality hay … Hay can be broken down into two main categories: grass (e.g. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. Timothy hay’s nutritional values vary depending on the cutting. Horses in this study ate 1.5% to 1.8% of their bodyweight in teff hay, with the lower intakes being on the more mature hay. For racehorses, fiber is a good cornerstone for any feeding program. The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. Timothy is a type of grass hay. Grass Hay for Horses Kentucky bluegrass, orchardgrass and timothy are all examples of common grasses used for hay. Copyright 2011-2019 Anderson Hay & Grain, Co., Inc. All Rights Reserved. Timothy hay is often recommended for horses … Alfalfa hay, sometimes called lucerne hay, is the most popular legume hay fed to horses in the U.S., while timothy and orchard are popular grass hay choices. It most closely mimics the normal day long grazing activity for pasture animals, which is anywhere from 10-15 hours a day. It usually has a higher amount of protein than other grass hays but has a better balance of nutrients such as calcium and fiber. Timothy hay is often recommended for horses in intensive training programs. It is known for being rich in nutrients and high forage quality. Timothy is typically harvested two times per season, the first cutting in early summer and the second cutting in late summer or early fall. The most common sugar and starch measurements available from a laboratory are water-soluble carbohydrates, ethanol-soluble carbohydrates, and starch. Timothy hay is the most digestible of all hays and is one of the most popular hay feeds for horses. Most racehorses require more energy than Timothy hay provides, so diet is supplemented with a percentage of Alfalfa mix. Timothy grass hay is commonly fed to horses, as well as cattle. Ask a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor today! While often pigeonholed as “horse hay” since then, timothy is a naturally sweet, nutritious grass that finds appeal not only in equestrian circles, but also in the dairy industry and the pet trade. Again, this is a good thing as horses on restricted diets are unlikely to eat this hay as fast as more palatable hays like alfalfa, so they … Feeding on Timothy hay can help satisfy your horse's natural urge to chew and graze when they are confined to stalls for long periods of time. Timothy hay is excellent for impaction and colic prone horses and is fed to horses by surgical clinics after impaction surgery in conjunction with alfalfa. Soft and Fragrant with abundant natural flavour, Timothy hay has become the first choice for small animals around the world due to its high fibre and low calcium content. Need feeding advice? Contains 70% Timothy Hay and 30% Rye Grass. Timothy is a cool season grass, and many horse owners feed timothy as it’s easy for horses to digest. 4x4 round bales of Timothy Orchard Grass mixture that weigh 500lbs. When … Timothy hay suppliers have found that this particular hay promotes bowel regularity, proper digestion, shiny coat and a healthy weight. Timothy hay is excellent for foundered and obese horses and it has been said to help mares foal 40% easier. The best timothy hay is excellent for protein-sensitive, colic prone and obese horses. Timothy hay is highly recommended for horses confined to a stable because it offers more chewing time. Fiber from Timothy hay can be fermented in the gut and used as an energy source throughout the day. • Alfalfa Hay can mix with Timothy up to a 50:50 ratio. Timothy Grass is the traditional favorite among horse owners. Like most grasses and legumes, early-cut timothy hay provides more energy and protein than late-cut hay. Peters Timothy Hay is an ideal food for rabbits and guinea pigs due to its high fibre, low protein and low calcium content. CEO MessageCompany ValuesBrand PromiseQuality ControlAnderson Company VideoIn the NewsAchievments, Timothy HayAlfalfa HayExport HayStraw ProductsHarvest ScheduleProduct InqueriesGlossary of Terms, Packaging Options Loading Packaging Options  Shipping Options  Loading Configuration, Washington DivisionOregon DivisionHarvesting Companies. Peters Timothy Hay is a high fibre fragrant grass hay perfect for feeding rabbits and guinea pigs. For bespoke balancing to this hay click the balancing product tab above. Therefore, feeding Timothy Grass has a well-established comfort level with horse people. Peters Timothy Hay is a soft, fragrant grass hay with a sweet flavour that is naturally appealing to small animals. Various cultivars have been recognized by botanists, and if a specific cultivar is moved too far from its comfort zone, in terms of temperature and growing conditions, plants may not realize their full production potential. For timothy, the early-cut stage would be considered the early head stage. This means that good quality shedded grass hay remains a risk. As a pasture grass, timothy produces abundant leaves, particularly in midsummer, so it is useful when other plant species lose growth momentum. The nutritional quality of timothy hay is not related to a particular cutting, but … It is also excellent for colic prone, protein-sensitive, and obese horses. Timothy, Fescue) and legume (e.g. It is relatively high in fiber, especially when cut at a later or more mature stage. Horses in this study ate 1.5% to 1.8% of their bodyweight in teff hay, with the lower intakes being on the more mature hay. Like most grasses and legumes, early-cut timothy hay provides more energy and protein than late-cut hay. It has high fiber and relatively low protein content and is the most digestible of all hays. Timothy hay is highly recommended for horses confined to a stable because it offers more chewing time. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. Timothy Grass is als… It also protects good digestion and keeps prevents conditions like gastric ulcers and colic. It has a naturally sweet taste which appeals to small animals and it's texture promotes dental health while chewing. Different Types of Hay There are quite a few different types of hay that people feed to horses, but hay generally falls into one of two categories – legumes and grasses. That’s because unlike other large animals horses have a relatively small stomach and small intestine, compared to a bigger, large … Whether it’s used for high performance stock at the race track or for the family pony, this premium, long fiber hay is unsurpassed in the diet of all horses. While other feeds such as Alfalfa hay can meet energy requirements of horses in high levels of products, low nutritional concentrations of Timothy hay are ideal for many life stages. Not all hay is made equally, and each horse has its own preferences. Again, this is a good thing as horses on restricted diets are unlikely to eat this hay as fast as more palatable hays like alfalfa, so they … © Copyright 2020 Kentucky Equine Research. This class of carbohydrates includes starch, water-soluble sugar, and fructan. Alfalfa, Clover). Subscribe to Equinews and get the latest equine nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox. The hay is a late-maturing high fiber bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content. First identified in North America in the early to mid-1700s, timothy occurred naturally in England and likely elsewhere well before then, and the plant was often referred to as cat’s tail or meadow cat’s tail. Ruth Bishop, Equine Consultant to Newhay – A quality hay forage is a vital part of any horse’s diet. Timothy now grows on most continents. Like all forages fed to horses, timothy hay should be free of mold, dust, and weeds. Peters Timothy & Rye is grown in Australia from Canadian seed. It can come in three varieties, depending on which cut of the season you buy. Typically timothy grass has a finer texture than other grasses. Horse owners have found that Timothy hay promotes a shiny coat, good digestion, bowel regularity, and a healthy weight. This timothy hay has good protein levels and is particularly suitable for horses, ponies and donkeys prone to laminitis. Timothy hay is a perennial grass that is high in fiber and nutrients. This premium, long fiber hay is a favorite for horses as it aides in their digestion. Hay producers have found that timothy sometimes grows better when planted with a legume, and this could be due to the ability of legume plants to transform atmospheric nitrogen into fixed nitrogen, which then can be used by plants. Horses challenged by metabolic syndrome should be offered hays that are low in non-structural carbohydrates or NSC. Why is Timothy Hay so good for horses? Owned and operated by the same family for 5 generations. • Orchard Grass Hay is very similar to Timothy Grass Hay. It can be quite expensive, depending on whether it has to be shipped long distances. Benefits: Grass hay is lower in protein and energy than legume hay — but it’s also higher in fiber, which can make it a good choice for many horses. ESC is generally 4.2-8.2% and starch is around 0.8-3.2%. Timothy hay is excellent for impaction and colic prone horses and is fed to horses by surgical clinics after impaction surgery in conjunction with alfalfa. Timothy hay is appropriate for all classes of horses, including young, growing horses. All horses need fiber in their diet and some of it must be the form of long hay. For timothy, the early-cut stage would be considered the early head stage. By reviewing these reports, horse owners have an idea if the hay is appropriate for their horses, assuming the sellers have the starch and sugar analyzed. Ask a Kentucky Equine Research (KER) nutrition advisor today. Sign up for free now! Timothy Grass Hay is a premium feed used for thoroughbred horses, pleasure riding horses, and ranch horses. Suitable for horses confined to a 50:50 ratio 's texture promotes dental health while chewing is known being. Selenium and Cribbing in horses is a high-fibre and late-maturing bunchgrass with a relatively low protein content and particularly! 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