Alfalfa hay offers the same fiber contents as high as that timothy hay offers, but with higher levels of energy, protein, and calcium. It has the same long-strand fiber found in grass hays, only it has more protein, energy and calcium. That’s where we come in. document.write(theYear); Alfalfa is the most common legume hay for horses. Alfalfa’s high protein content makes it ideal for milk-producing livestock and animals with high energy requirements. Alfalfa hay is much higher in protein and calcium than Timothy hay, which is why it’s often given to baby buns to help them grow big and strong. But this doesn’t mean that alfalfa is a bad hay. | Alfalfa contains higher concentrations of protein and calcium compared to timothy hay … The Timothy hay contains a balance of fiber, protein, calcium, and other nutrients which is suitable for the daily diet of all guinea pigs. While Timothy hay is the classic choice, but alfalfa hay for rabbits is also a healthy choice. pellets. Good quality, hand-selected hay is the goal, whether it’s Timothy, orchard, or alfalfa hay for rabbits. We know… it can get confusing. If, for some reason, your little fuzzy refuses to eat Timothy, you could try orchard or oat hay. Grass hay is more common to feed bunnies than alfalfa hay for rabbits because it has: Examples of grass hay are: Timothy, orchard and oat. Timothy is a great everyday hay for adult buns, while alfalfa hay should only be fed as a treat hay because of its high levels of calcium and fat. Our blend of timothy alfalfa hay is easy to digest thanks to the highly digestible nature of timothy and the ulcer buffering property of alfalfa. Hay can come in concentrate form, i.e. All Rights Reserved. Alfalfa typically has a thicker stem and lots of leaves. Grass … Teff is a great interim hay crop between alfalfa rotations. Buy on Amazon. First-cut alfalfa can be stemmy, but only if it is too mature when harvested. The difference between alfalfa hay and Timothy hay is one that often confuses many rabbit owners, especially first-time owners. However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. Privacy & Terms Alfalfa, clover, and peanut are legume hays, while timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard are examples of grass hays. The higher calcium levels in alfalfa hay, though, can actually be dangerous for an adult bun if they’re fed too much. Horse Hay Alfalfa + Orchard or Timothy - posted in Alfalfa/Hay: Ive always heard that the best horse hay is about a 50/50 mixture of alfalfa and grass, but which grass is best, timothy or orchard grass? Yes, legumes are a super source of protein and fiber, but they pack calories and we wouldn’t want to eat them for every meal. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Isn’t all hay the same?” Nope. Sometimes, whether due to health issues or just a picky bun, alfalfa hay is better for rabbits. Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa Hay is a high-fiber legume hay. Alfalfa is a mixed blessing with horses. Oats can be grown for hay or oats and straw. Alfalfa hay … One of the reasons why alfalfa hay is so much richer and higher in calcium than Timothy hay is because it’s a legume hay and Timothy belongs to the grass family. When looking at which type of hay to feed a rabbit or guinea pig, Timothy hay … It is lower in protein and calcium than alfalfa hay, so it makes a better staple for adult … Forage for horses can be divided into two categories—grasses and legumes. That means these pets should eat a portion of hay the same size of their own body every day! With so many selections, you’re sure to find one your rabbit loves. The three cuttings of Timothy hay are 1st cutting, 2nd cutting, and 3rd cutting: Good Timothy hay can make a world of difference for your bunny’s health. Second-cut alfalfa … Some manufacturers produce pellets well suited to small goat … As i looked for straw on craigslist i found a guy who has old alfalfa hay. 3. posted 5 years ago. If you’re sitting there thinking that you’ve seen oat straw before, you may have! It comes in three different cuttings and each one has their benefits. Id like to hear the pros and cons for each choice. Location: Chcago IL. Alfalfa hay is rather different again from Timothy and Orchard and Coastal, as all three of those are grasses. For all small herbivores – that’s rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus – hay should make up around 80% of the diet. We’ll help you understand the differences between these two hays, along with other popular picks, and then we’ll explain which hay is best for your rabbit. Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. Kaytee Alfalfa Mini Bale Treat. Hay … The high levels of calcium, protein, fat, and fiber in alfalfa make it a great choice for these hungry little babies. theYear=now.getYear(); Legume hay, like alfalfa hay, is super rich because it is: You can also think of legume hay as being similar to the legumes we eat as humans, like beans and lentils. Nutritionally speaking, however, they are very different. If you see purple flowers on alfalfa hay or large, coarse seed heads on grass or oat, the hay … | I planted my field in straight alfalfa … The alfalfa hay contains high fiber and calcium, which is suitable for … Even the pickiest buns will be interested in eating if a little alfalfa is sprinkled in from time to time. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is a legume. © However, weeds tend to appear in first-cut alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay should be fed to bunnies less than a year old who are growing like crazy and have extra nutritional needs. High-quality hay has lots of fiber to keep your bun’s digestive system going and is fantastically yummy (to say the least). #2 Alfalfa hay for chinchilla. Feeding Alfalfa as a hay is very different from it being used as an ingredient in a nutritionally balanced pet food. Most rabbit owners feed their bunnies Timothy hay because it’s considered the “gold standard” of nutrition. Hay is usually classified in two basic categories, grass or legume. The sun-cured Kaytee alfalfa mini bale is an excellent alternative to … Profitable rotation crop for Alfalfa Growers for the premium horse hay market. This is the problem to consider. There’s no denying that hay is a super important part of any rabbit’s diet. One of our nutrition experts may be able to help. Timothy is a good all-around hay for the general dietary needs of bunnies. The most popular choices for grasses to be utilized as horse hay are Timothy Grass and Orchard Grass making them the big two forage grasses. You can buy from Small Pet Select anywhere in the world! Small Pet Select Timothy Hay is a premium-quality timothy hay prepared in small batches by fellow animal… There are actually many differences between the two and these differences are what make feeding alfalfa hay for rabbits such a hot topic. Hay is high in fiber so it will help keep your bunny’s digestive system moving and it will keep their teeth in shape. Hans Harker. Alfalfa hay is high in energy. To get the best service, choose the store closest to you: hay is a super important part of any rabbit’s diet. Timothy is a meadow grass that is both nutritious and flavorful, and it is highly recommended by veterinarians. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. For more information about Alfalfa hay versus Timothy hay… Non-structural carbohydrate levels also decrease. In the wild, your bunny would eat a bunch of different hays as they’re exploring around, so we hoomans need to mix up their diet to keep things interesting. Alfalfa hay is one of the most … Alfalfa hay has about 1.2% calcium, while Timothy hay only has 0.4%. | This is softer than Timothy hay, and may include some edible plants such as dandelions. theYear=theYear+1900; Grasses you’re likely familiar with include orchardgrass, timothy, and bermudagrass … Feeding alfalfa hay for rabbits is one delicious way to do that. This hay is high in fiber, protein and calcium. Alfalfa is a legume hay and is generally more nutrient rich than grass hays like orchard or timothy. High quality forage is critical for proper digestive function in horses. It can also be fed to baby buns less than a year old and used to entice even the pickiest little bunny to eat their greens. The most important part of your rabbits diet is hay. Timothy and Alfalfa Hay Blog. It is popular belief that Timothy hay is the better and … You can also feed alfalfa hay to pregnant or nursing bunnies to give them the extra good stuff they need to raise their little ones. Because it contains a variety of plants, it can also be a bit more variable in contents than Timothy. Our alfalfa hay … But, each type of hay suits different types of bunnies. The difference between Alfalfa and Timothy hay is one that often confuses many rabbit and guinea pig owners, especially first-timers! Bunnies metabolize calcium and get rid of the excess in their urine, but this can cause urinary stones if they’re getting more than they need. Also, you can feed more grass hay to bunnies without worrying as much if they will be eating too many calories or gaining too much weight. Posts: 115. Timothy Plus Alfalfa is one of our ideal performance horse blends. But this doesn’t mean that alfalfa is a bad hay. Its rich, decadent flavor makes it nearly irresistible and it’ll be gobbled up in no time. Timothy hay is a go-to staple in any happy bunny’s diet. Alfalfa Goes Way Back. Posted on May 5, 2016 Tweet; High-quality forages are essential for livestock, as premium products provide the optimal … An ideal hay for easy keepers will be in the higher end of these ranges. In general alfalfa has 120% more energy than oat hay. It’s really rich and high in all those goodies, which makes it the perfect treat hay to mix into your rabbit’s food here and there. Forage (hay/pasture) makes up 60-100% of the diet for horses, depending on their function and activity. Do Not Sell My Personal Information It’s not. Made of a 70/30 blend of timothy alfalfa hay, this blend supplies muscles with slow release energy during exercise and competitions. now = new Date; But, there are many other types of hay for rabbits. Ohio House Rabbit Rescue feeds our bunnies Oxbow Timothy Hay, but you can also use orchard grass and/or oat hay … CA Supply Chain Act. The higher calcium levels in alfalfa hay … It’s really rich and high in all those goodies, which makes it the perfect … Alfalfa hay has about 1.2% calcium, while Timothy hay only has 0.4%. Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. if (theYear < 1900); Hay pellets also make a great base for supplements and are an easy way to introduce a controlled amount of forage in to a ration when you want to feed less than a flake. For horses that are stalled, or for horses that do not have abundant pasture, stored forage in the form of hay is the primary source of forage. Legume hays (alfalfa … It has balanced levels of protein, fat, and fiber and will help keep your bunny happy and healthy. When used as part of the pet food recipe, Alfalfa offers higher nutrition and therefore makes for healthier and happier bunnies! Please spread the love and share this with your friends!Every little bit helps. Alfalfa hay has about 1.2% calcium, while Timothy hay only has 0.4%. Suitable for double cropping Good hay or pasture crop when late … Many bunny parents ask themselves: “Which is better, Timothy hay or alfalfa hay for rabbits?” Now, you can see the difference between these two common types. How will you ever choose between the many different types of hay? Tagged with: nutrition. Alfalfa pellets are commonly available, as are timothy pellets, orchard grass pellets, etc. Horses evolved as a grazing animal, which means that they are meant to nibble on small amounts of food over the course of an entire day, and most of this food should be in the form of roughage, or hay. By Dorothy H. on February 20, 2019 If the hay has an NDF above 65% and an ADF above 45% it will provide little nutrient value to your horse. Alfalfa is greener, and high in protein and calcium. Legumes include alfalfa hay and clover. Protein in hay varies depending on the type and maturity level of the hay when it is cut. Forage Nutrition 101: Crude Protein. Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is most important. Timothy hay, on the other hand, is a grass hay. To determine maturity, look for leaves and small, tight “buds” on alfalfa, and few or small, soft seed heads on grass or oat hay. But, there are some things to consider. Alfalfa hay also makes a delicious treat for those lucky bunnies. SMS Terms & Conditions Alfalfa hay as mulch? But you should stop feeding alfalfa hay after about a year because of the considerations mentioned above. It's not that far away and i could borrow a … The rich nutrition facts of alfalfa hay give these little ones everything they need to grow into healthy, happy bunnies. 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