Hay quality is important since it makes up a large percentage of the diet in many domesticated livestock species, including cattle, goats, sheep and rabbits. Large farming outfits often keep hay fields that they harvest for their own animals, saving money by recycling the manure from those animals back into fertilizing the fields. In this way, they keep nutritional levels in the vegetation high and costs down. For the small homesteader, this is often impractical though, and buying hay from nearby farms is more common.

As fertilizer grows more expensive, trusting in providers to keep their hay at top-quality may become harder in certain areas. In areas already prone to poor soil, animals can literally starve to death with full bellies if fed hay that lacks the nutritional make up they need.

What should you look for in a hay provider, and how can you tell if your animals are getting the nutrients they need?

Types of Hay

The first step to getting livestock adequate nutrition is to make certain to buy the correct type of hay for their needs. While it is common to see all dried grasses referred to as hay, there are several varieties, depending on their makeup. Alfalfa, clover, timothy, orchard grass and other labels can make a difference in the nutrients, and how they may affect the diet of your animals.

For instance, most rabbit dietary information will call for rabbits to be fed pellets and a generous amount of “Timothy hay.” This is a type of hay high in fiber and tends to be tougher to chew, which helps to prevent dental issues.

However, if you are feeding them the standard, baled hay from a farm, you may very well be giving them meadow hay. Meadow hay is designed for larger ruminants, softer in texture and with a more varied nutritional content. This is fine as long as you provide the rabbits with wooden toys to chew and adapt their pellet intake.

Alfalfa, however, is a high-nutrient hay and should not be fed to rabbits alongside pellets. Doing so can cause obesity, difficulties with breeding and other health concerns.

Hay Quality

Goats have a reputation for being able to eat anything and they also have a reputation for being wasteful eaters. The reason for this discrepancy is that goats require highly nutritious vegetation and excel at judging and discarding anything that doesn’t meet their needs with just a taste. Trying to save money by feeding them low-quality cheap hay will result in a lot of wasted money on the floor of their stall. The same is true of sheep and other ruminants. A good rule of thumb is that the coarse the hay, the less likely animals are to enjoy it.

Finding high-quality hay can result in healthier animals and less waste. While not all animals will require alfalfa or ultra-fine hays, all livestock still require a certain nutritional quality in their feed. If your hay supplier has their bales tested for nutrient levels, ask if you can have a copy of the results.

Be careful if you don’t have a relationship with the hay supplier though – some can get defensive about these types of questions! However, if they do, this also suggests that perhaps looking elsewhere is best.

Testing Your Hay Quality

If you already have the hay in your barn, you can have it tested as well. While not ideal – since a supplier is unlikely to take low-quality hay back – at least you will know whether you should supplement your animals with other minerals or feed over the winter. Testing can be done with the help of your local feed store, or by yourself.

Developing a solid relationship with your local feed store is good for multiple reasons. In this case, the benefit is that they may have the resources to help you get your hay tested. If so, the representative will make an appointment to come out, take several core samples and you will receive results once they’ve been completed.

If you have access to a core sampler you can also take your own samples. Your local extension office can help you find a lab to have the testing done. The lab will give you directions on how to take the samples, package them, when to expect results and where to mail them. There will be a fee, and you may still need someone to help you understand the results when you get them.

The Importance of Good Hay Quality

Good nutrition is a core part of keeping livestock healthy. Especially in areas of the country where hay nutrition may be poor, suppliers should be expected to provide high-quality hay. Regular testing is the best way to keep these nutritional standards high.

This article about the importance of hay quality was written for Hobby Farms magazine. Click here to subscribe.