All this talk about HAY - What Southern HAY is good for horses ?

[chickenzoo]

So many different types of Hay rolls are sold here in Florida - Bahia, Bermuda, Coastal, Alfalfa, Alicia, Oat, Peanut, Tifton, Timothy and a mix of many etc.... My Quarb can't handle Alfalfa or Timothy and they don't like Alicia, so for horses that mainly are pets with the occasional trail ride, and are fed grain aswell.... what types would be best on a budget. Mostly people feed Coastal, but other types can be found cheaper... I've tried Tifton, and liked it but the price is up on that too now and it's a farther drive to get it. I've been afraid to try others as I'm not experienced with it.... so what do you horse people feed?

 

[Karrie13]

When I lived down in Alabama I fed my horses Bermuda and they did very well on it.

 

[Akane]

All grass hays should be fine. They'll probably like some more than others. Bermuda tends to be slightly higher fiber and turns brown easier but they'll still eat it if that's what they've got. Grain hays are sometimes ok. They have to be cut very early before the grain heads really form or you have straw not hay and all the nutritional value is lost. I'm not sure about peanut. Didn't know you could make hay from that. Legume hays like alfalfa are really desired here but they actually aren't that healthy for horses. They have an overdose of nutrients putting a lot of strain on the horses body to dispose of the excess and leading to fat horses. Supplementing a good grass hay is easier than trying to balance out alfalfa, clover, etc....

 

[TerriLaChicks]

All the years we had horses, always fed Bermuda. All did just fine.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I've always fed Bermuda or Coastal (which is a Bermuda) or Bahia. As long as it is fertilized, they are all great, nutritious hays.

Coastal tends to be finer, so if your animal has any tendency towards impaction or choke, it will need to be fed with a bit more care. Otherwise, all are good hays.

HTH


Rusty

 

[michickenwrangler]

Most Midwestern hay tends to be a timothy mix. Several farmers by us sell their hay in Arizona and New mexico but also in some areas in FL where grass doesn't grow well. Michigan hay is prized for being high in iron and calcium but it is very low in selenium and copper. Might want to ask your USDA extension about local mineral contents.

 

[featherfooted]

We have always fed Coastal Bermuda hay. Tifton 44 is a type of coastal hay that is very good hay. It was developed as a hay grass. I've never had any trouble feeding coastal. Even the pastures are coastal bermuda grass. Alicia is also a bermuda grass, but it is not as good for horses as it is for cows.