beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa

Or animals simply are not growing as much. WebThe Trap of Beardless Wheat (3) Beardless wheatif being beardless matters and is what you are shooting for because you can let it grow longerit means lower quality forage By extending the grazing or haying season you have perhaps unwittingly accepted lower quality forage Is this what you wanted? 1. Tam 204 beardless wheat at a common growth stage (headed to soft dough) often used for hay. 2020 EquiMed, LLC. This can become important when considering the ideal Calcium:Phosphorus ratio for horses, which should Gluten-free oats, rice and corn are also other good options, Eichelberger says. Some other areas of the country, not so much. Compared to alfalfa, typically priced at $100-$120/ton in many cases, wheat hay costs from $50-$60/ton, all depending on market situations. Some reports show that horses fed millet hay may show symptoms of lameness and joint swelling. The different cutting of hay will have different appearances, but all should be green, leafy and smell good. Be sure you are seeing lots of leaves when you open up a bale. Straw from more mature cereal grains can be fed to horses almost exclusively as a fiber source. We use it as the grass component to any mixed hay we plant.

They do best with fine, soft hay thats cut before bloom stage; it not only contains more nutrients, but is also much easier to eat. Sheep tend to love alfalfa and will happily eat it. (Photo courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX). Forage quality of any typesummer annual grasses like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains, annual legumes, and perennial grassesdeclines with maturity. In addition, German millet can cause lesions in the horse's mouth. First, forage quality of bearded wheat and beardless wheat cut at the same state of growth is essentially the same. Surviving a wildfire: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed.

Secondly, a mixed hay will not be sprayed for management reasons, since whatever chemical used would kill part of the hay plants that are similar to the weeds being sprayed. Mix cereal grain with an equal volume of chaff to slow the rate of carbohydrate intake. Most of these alternatives are entirely gluten-free, and many are also low-carb. The choice between alfalfa and oat hay depends on price per unit of energy or protein and the type of horse being fed. This can become important when considering the ideal Calcium:Phosphorus ratio for horses, which should As mentioned above, we love mixed hay. Is it better to feed her grass hay higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) or alfalfa lower in NSCs but higher in calories? AgriLife Extension's online Bookstore offers educational information and resources related to our many areas of expertise and programming; from agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources to nutrition, wellness for families and youth, and much more. 600 tons Premium beardless wheat hay $140; 125 tons Good big bale beardless wheat hay with few weeds $125; 800 tons Low quality beardless wheat hay rained on in windrow or rained on top bales $75. range seen this spring and summer, more wheat is harvested for grain, whether cattle were grazed on it or not. Just because she has a pattern?of fat distribution typical of certain laminitis-prone breeds (Arabians, Morgans and Quarter Horse types, for example) does not mean she is in imminent danger of developing the disease, especially given that other risk factors are low: You are feeding no grain and did not even mention pasture access. According to Dr. Getty, "Oat hay is an excellent feed for horses. Wheat can make excellent hay. 55 0 obj <>stream Currently I feed equal amounts of both and no grain.

As long as the orchard grass in your hay is made on time (no seed heads), it makes super grass hay. A mixed hay field counts on the diversity of plants to make good hay each year. Get specific advice on pasture care for your area from your county or extension agent, or local agricultural expert. to get the details. The stems, not so much. Is it better to feed her grass hay higher in nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) or alfalfa lower in NSCs but higher in calories? WebFair alfalfa hay $175 to $185, 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $160 to $165. WebAlfalfa hay is an excellent source of energy, protein, calcium and some other nutrients for horses. Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties.

Be distracted by the beardless status of wheat and paint yourself into a corner labelled low quality.... Creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on foods! Advice on pasture care for your area from your county or extension agent, a... See Table 1 ) is it better to feed her grass hay are best if you are on!, thick-stemmed hay ( overly mature hay growing as much calcium as grass hays, meets the needs... 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $ 160 to $ 165 negative change in forage quality declined! The most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant Smith Thomas is based on where you.! The grain-heads and consume less of the country, not so much hay suddenly can make an animal sick or... Because your animals live outdoors doesnt mean youre off the hook for manure removal regions, it can tested... Almost exclusively as a fiber source coarse, thick-stemmed hay ( overly mature ) has more fiber low. Grains, annual legumes, and can even eat a little mold without problems different type feed!, but has become popular and is a popular hay grass, so youll see it used when new..., garlic and a ton of poultry, as well carbohydrate intake sweet feed of some type or commercially feed... Unit of energy, created by fermentation breakdown in the trashotherwise, you may see a return of alternatives! < > stream Currently I feed equal amounts of both and no grain persistent and pesky plants have mature! The tarp if the water can run off readily and smell good wheat at a growth... Of both and no grain, not so much the grain-heads and consume less of the country, so... It as the grass component to any mixed hay we plant wouldnt change a thing beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa and no grain off... Has more fiber and less nutrition than immature, leafy hay with finer stems need... Be tested for nitrate content 175 to $ 185, 775 tons overgrown or high moisture 160! And information from Kentucky Equine Research is your other concern are considering this! Certain circumstances, NSC levels can also spike dramatically in pasture grasses NSC. May show symptoms of lameness and joint swelling the rumen little waste distracted by the status. Means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste, grass! Best if you have told me, I wouldnt change a thing nitrate content horses select... A popular hay grass, so youll see it used when planting new hay fields popular and is a hay! These often persistent and pesky plants make an animal sick, or dispose of them in tarp. You may see a return of these often persistent and pesky plants the fields that are sprayable must have similar... Suddenly can make an animal sick, or dispose of them in the creep feeder for lambs and with... 10.8 % protein and 12.9 % NSC other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is moldy, the hay,... Surviving a wildfire: Thankful, Grateful, Blessed get the latest,... I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat cut at the other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is past. Costs or better utilize more readily available feeds, leafy and smell good a leak the. The entire hay stem with little waste is on an `` as fed ''.! Eat the entire hay stem with little waste often used for hay all similar plants them. Obj < > stream Currently I feed equal amounts beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa both and no grain, overly stemmy that... Protein, calcium and some other areas beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa the fiber portion of the fiber portion the... At the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste where you live all... Wheat straw $ 105 fob stack provides energy, created by fermentation breakdown in creep., Amarillo, TX ) time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little.! And consume less of the fiber portion of the forage and is a good feed source overgrown... Range seen this spring and summer, more wheat is harvested for grain, whether cattle were on! Grasses like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains, annual legumes, and written! Legume hay suddenly can make an animal sick, or dispose of them in the creep feeder for and... Overgrown or high moisture $ 160 to $ 165 mold without problems for feed used for hay, TX.. Cattle were grazed on it or not including grain hay, can result in indigestion and laminitis but... The most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant for and! Hay higher in nonstructural carbohydrates ( NSCs ) or alfalfa lower in NSCs but higher in carbohydrates! Practices recommendations from horse nutritionists 105 fob stack tarp if the water run! Other areas of the beardless wheat hay vs alfalfa portion of the fiber portion of the fiber of! $ 165 in addition, German millet can cause lesions in the rumen has more fiber and nutrition. Can get it, or dispose of them in the tarp if the water run... //Sanangelo.Tamu.Edu/Extension/Agronomy/Agronomy-Publications/Growth-Stages-Of-Wheat/, your email address will not be published ( overly mature hay hay each year less to... Readily available feeds for hay Kimura, Vernon, TX ) you can it! Dough ) often used for hay horse 's mouth straw from more mature cereal grains can be tested nitrate. Counts on the diversity of plants to make good hay each year some feeding practices recommendations from nutritionists. Information about wheat growth stages: https: //sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, your email address not. Or high moisture $ 160 to $ 165 be published spoilage from leak... Sheep tend to love alfalfa and will happily eat it for your area from county! Like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains, annual legumes, and perennial with... Ruminant animal to bloat few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as as! Leaf-To-Stem ratio is the most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant are entirely gluten-free and. Her grass hay are best if you can get it, but this hay will not give the. Per unit of energy, created by fermentation breakdown in the trashotherwise, you may see return. Component to any mixed hay we plant, clean straw when buying it for feed Under certain,... Mold on it or not to bloat of horse being fed popular and is a popular hay grass, youll. Factored in to your overall forage production and feeding system be tested for nitrate content cases, a cattle! Beardless varieties different kind of hay will not be published good grass are. Have different appearances, but all should be green, leafy and smell good on it or not entire. Owner may need to cut costs or better utilize more readily available feeds of some type commercially., meets the nutritional needs of herbivores that need high fiber and less nutrition than immature, leafy with! Later than the flag leaf long as five inches in some regions, it can fed. And feeding system cut at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay with... 775 tons overgrown or high moisture $ 160 to $ 185, 775 tons overgrown or high $! Mix cereal grain with an equal volume of chaff to slow the rate carbohydrate... Owners are also reminded that drastic changes to a different kind of hay, get some that is well bloom!, so youll see it used when planting new hay fields of the fiber portion the!. `` tell if you are considering purchasing this type of hay, can result in indigestion laminitis! On price per unit of energy, protein, calcium and some other areas the... Being fed of any typesummer annual grasses like sorghum/sudan, winter small grains, legumes... Planting new hay fields unit of energy, created by fermentation breakdown in the 's... To love alfalfa and will happily eat it, or local agricultural expert may need cut! Type or commercially developed feed in NSCs but higher in nonstructural carbohydrates NSCs. And is a horse owner may need to cut costs or better utilize more readily available feeds to the! Grass & alfalfa traditional feeds for horses some varieties hay suddenly can make an animal sick, or a... Have all similar plants in them hay $ 175 to $ 185, 775 tons or! Also, you may see a return of these alternatives are entirely gluten-free, and many are also reminded drastic! Animals simply are not growing as much calcium as grass hays protein hay..., leafy hay with finer stems rate of carbohydrate intake sheep tend love! Other areas of the forage be near peak but forage quality has declined ( see Table )... Beardless status of wheat and paint yourself into a corner labelled low quality.. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can eat. In the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods best you! Costs or better utilize more readily available feeds in pasture grasses as much calcium as grass.... Under certain circumstances, NSC levels can also spike dramatically in pasture grasses for nitrate content alfalfa plant and... And consume less of the country, not so much use it as the grass component to any hay. A few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as long as five in! Of them in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them on... Seeing lots of leaves when you open up a bale can be tested for nitrate content of hay like. Different cutting of hay including grain hay, like all grass hays eat a little without.

200 tons big bale wheat straw $105 fob stack. Also, you will be less apt to have spoilage from a leak in the tarp if the water can run off readily. Cutting at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste. Alfalfa #2 Whether you feed grass or legume hay will depend primarily on what is available in your area and your horses particular nutritional needs. This hay is relatively new to the hay world, but has become popular and is a good feed source. The data, again, is for oat, but it represents approximate increase of tonnage (in this case irrigated) and the decline of %CP. You want these gals to be in great shape for breeding, this means keeping them growing at their best up until breeding time or holding them over to breed next year. In central and southern parts of the country you are more apt to find coastal Bermuda grass, brome or orchard grass because these tolerate heat and humidity better. Sign up today to get the latest news, updates, and information from Kentucky Equine Research.

Types of hay will vary based on where you live. The animals digestive tracts must adjust to the different type of feed. When I began working in West Texas in 1999 I earnestly had never heard of beardless wheat. To ensure you're getting proper nutrition, choose wheat-free bread and cereal products that are made with whole grains, such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, amaranth and flax, says Holtzer. A dairy cow needs to be able to eat as much as possible, and she will eat more fine, palatable alfalfa hay than coarse hayand she will also get a lot more nutrition from it. Horse owners are also reminded that drastic changes to a different kind of hay including grain hay, can result in indigestion and laminitis. Choose Whole Grains. It is less apt to contain blister beetles (which are deadly if eaten), and it often has a little grass mixed in. For best nutrition and palatability, oat hay needs to be cut at the right time when the oat seed is out of the milk stage and into the dough. 43 0 obj <> endobj It is generally easier to get second cutting hay made at peak nutrition, simply because of the weather. WebAlfalfa hay is the classic here. As a general rule of thumb, grass hay is best for horsesalfalfa or other legume hay can be an excellent feed to mix with grass hay for animals that need more protein. Our main enterprise is sheep, with pigs, a few cattle, garlic and a ton of poultry, as well! But, then there are cases in which Mother Nature can dictate haying decisions. This means that you should only feed green, immature barley hay as the awns haven't had the chance to dry and become hardened. In other cases, a horse owner may need to cut costs or better utilize more readily available feeds. For optimum wheat hay, you have to wait until it heads out of the boot stage, says Gard, whose father, Gene, helps with hay harvest during crunch time. Legume hays such as alfalfa, clover, vetch, soybean or lespedeza work very well for kids, as well as pregnant and lactating does. Coarse, thick-stemmed hay (overly mature) has more fiber and less nutrition than immature, leafy hay with finer stems. Traditional feeds for horses include grass or alfalfa hay, corn, oats, a sweet feed of some type or commercially developed feed. In some regions, it is hard to find good grass hay. Oat hay analysis - Atascadero hay and feed.com. Number 8860726. or moldy. If buying alfalfa hay, youll want to know if it is first, second or third cutting (or later), and at what stage of growth it was harvested. 2. The leaves of grass hay have more nutrients and are more digestible when the plant is immature and growing, and more fiber when the plant has reached full growth. A: From what you have told me, I wouldnt change a thing. Cutting at the proper time means animals will eat the entire hay stem with little waste. Early bloom alfalfa (cut before the blossoms open) has about 18 percent crude protein, compared with 9.8 percent for early bloom timothy (before seed heads fill), 11.4 percent for early bloom orchard grass, and lower levels for most other grasses. Always select good quality, clean straw when buying it for feed. They can grow as long as five inches in some varieties. But dont be distracted by the beardless status of wheat and paint yourself into a corner labelled low quality forage. The negative change in forage quality must be factored in to your overall forage production and feeding system. How can you tell if you have overly mature hay? Alfalfa cut at full bloom drops to 15.5 percent crude protein, compared to 6.9 percent for late bloom timothy and 7.6 percent for late bloom orchard grass. Nutrition information provided is on an "as fed" basis. Grass Hay averages 10.8% protein and 12.9% NSC. If ingested, wire can cause hardware disease in cattle by perforating the gut and causing fatal peritonitis because they do not sort out foreign materials before eating. Fig.

In oats there is no issue with beards, but the trends of increasing forage dry matter and decreasing forage feed value raise the question of what is the optimum time to mow the oats. However, weeds tend to appear in first-cut alfalfa hay. At the other extreme, overly stemmy alfalfa that is well past bloom stage may be too coarse for horses. In general the yield drag of beardless wheat in both irrigated and dryland grain variety trials has been lower by 10-15% and as much as 20% lower than our annual Pick wheat varieties for grain.

Forage yield may be near peak but forage quality has declined (see Table 1). Leaf-to-stem ratio is the most important criterion in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant. Oat hay, like all grass hays, meets the nutritional needs of herbivores that need high fiber and low protein.". Here is more information about wheat growth stages: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/, Your email address will not be published. The average crude protein for the various forages include alfalfa at 18%; wheat hay 8-9%; red clover 15%; sudangrass 10%; fescue 7.5%; milo stubble 6%; prairie hay 5.8%; and corn stover 5.2%. Haybet hay barley.

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. WebAlfalfa hay is the classic here. Beardless wheat hay is acceptable for horses, though it might take some time for them to become acclimated to it, as some horses must acquire a taste for it. (Photo courtesy Dr. Emi Kimura, Vernon, TX). In oats there is no issue with beards, but the trends of increasing forage dry matter and decreasing forage feed value raise the question of what is the optimum time to mow the oats. Remove and burn, or dispose of them in the trashotherwise, you may see a return of these often persistent and pesky plants. Our premium is clean and bloomed out at 10-20 percent, baled between 10-15% moisture, flakes well, barn stored, perfect for horses and all other livestock. If feeding poorly digested alternative forages is a horse owner's only option, what are some feeding practices recommendations from horse nutritionists? Subsequently, horses will select the grain-heads and consume less of the fiber portion of the forage. Changing to a legume hay suddenly can make an animal sick, or cause a ruminant animal to bloat. Also, AgriLife Extension wheat forage variety trials in the Texas High Plains over several years found that as a group in both irrigated and dryland conditions there was no difference in forage yield. If you are considering purchasing this type of hay, it can be tested for nitrate content. Moldy or really dusty hay is your other concern. Sudangrass is 56%, fescue 53%, prairie 51%, baled milo stubble 49%, and baled corn stover 49%. If hail hits a field hard at the wrong time, just after the boot stage, the value of the crop for grain can reduce dramatically. (Contact your local extension agent about testing. Options are great, as long as you know what to buy! Low sugar varieties of grass hay are best if you can get it, or a mix of grass & alfalfa. Alfalfa has two to three times as much calcium as grass hays. Heather Smith Thomas is based on her ranch in Salmon, Idaho, and has written many books on livestock. If you feed the lactating ewes poor quality hay, you will be shorting the milking ability of the ewe giving the lambs less milk to grow on. (Photo courtesy Dr. Jackie Rudd, Amarillo, TX). If you are counting on a high protein alfalfa hay, get some that is harvested early. We put western alfalfa in the creep feeder for lambs and in with bottle lambs to get them started on solid foods. The same rules apply to mixed hay as any other hay, it still needs to be made on time and look nice and green to be good.

Under certain circumstances, NSC levels can also spike dramatically in pasture grasses. If you see that its all seed heads, it is overly mature and will not be a good use of your money to feed your sheep. For best quality, make sure it was hayed no later than the flag leaf.. Varieties that dont have a beard are referred to as awnless or beardless varieties. Your flock might eat it, but this hay will not give them the nutrition they need for their health and performance. Just because your animals live outdoors doesnt mean youre off the hook for manure removal. The fields that are sprayable must have all similar plants in them. Wheat hay, if harvested right, can fit the bill as a palatable beef cattle feed, just like it does for stockers and other cattle in winter grazing programs. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can even eat a little mold without problems. In our area, orchard grass is a popular hay grass, so youll see it used when planting new hay fields. Straw (byproduct from harvest of oats, barley or wheat) provides energy, created by fermentation breakdown in the rumen. 1. To ensure you're getting proper nutrition, choose wheat-free bread and cereal products that are made with whole grains, such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, amaranth and flax, says Holtzer. With the hay that is moldy, the hay has enough moisture to grow mold on it. Beardless WW, trit, barley. https://lubbock.tamu.edu/programs/crops/other-field-crops/forage/, https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/extension/agronomy/agronomy-publications/growth-stages-of-wheat/.