Grazing experts: long grass nutritional values

[Bigbenji]

Ok grass experts!

I've always believed that when grass grew to a certain height, as in almost hay stems, the sugars were reduced and was more fiber than for example short grass coming through.

I am an ancient old bat tho and my theory may be complete rubbish so please throw some recent findings or your wise knowledge my way o wise ones

 

[L&M]

What you are describing is also known as standing hay/foggage, and you are right that it has a lower nutritional content than the shorter 'green' grass.

I have a 3 acre field that I rest all summer, and is like a hay meadow by late summer. The horses move onto it in late autumn and feeds them all winter. Also, because of its length, it protects the ground so less poaching.

 

[Bigbenji]

Thank you L&M!

That's what I always believed from old.
How do you find your horses do weight wise on that turnout? I've secured extra grazing and two of the paddocks are like this. Both my horses are spot on weight wise and I have slowly been increasing their grazing time in the long grass, up to 8 hours so far, with no problems.

 

[Polos Mum]

I don't have the science but I graze my fatties on standing hay (very long grass) over winter they cope well with this but have to be muzzled in spring - so anecdotally certainly less sugar than short spring grass.

 

[Bigbenji]

Thanks Polos Mum.

Would be great to get them out 24/7 once the grazing time is increased each day. With the warm wet weather the growing conditions are great so just makes you paranoid about too much of a good thing :/

Have to say neither have appeared bloated/got grass belly on this longer standing grass so being reassured about the lesser sugar/ higher fiber content is great. Never been in this situation as normally always has short/rubbish grazing options.

 

[L&M]

As they were on it over winter any weight gain was counter balanced by the weather conditions - the oldies not in work did blow up a little to start, but soon dropped this excess weight by the end of winter. My little hunter maintained an even weight but in full work over the winter - he was the only one to have hard feed and haylage, but wasn't really interested in it until after xmas.

However I would be more reluctant to let them access to this volume of grass earlier than autumn, and would strip graze if still summer conditions.

 

[ElleSkywalkingintheair]

While there is less sugar in long grass there is more to eat, so the amount they consume in the same time as on short grass will be a lot more and may end up that they are eating more sugar overall.

Obviously you are doing the right thing introducing it slowly and building up the time but it's worth mentioning as a few years ago when I did my degree the advice for lami prone ponies was put on long grass for the lower sugar etc completely forgetting that they can stuff more in and the cases of lami in these ponies went up up up!