rye grass hay

[Ibblebibble]

farmer has turned one of his hay fields over completely to rye grass and is getting a good yield off it this year, looking like he'll get a 3rd cut if the weather allows, question is , is rye hay too rich for horses? He thinks it may be as he classes it as fattening feed for his beef cattle

 

[Circe]

I feed it to my tb with no problems. In fact lucerne is too rich for him and oaten hay sends him stupid. Its very hard to get any other hay here. ( australia )
But...
not sure if its the same in the UK, but there can be a problem with rye grass toxicity, or staggers. Maybe google it and see what you reckon.
Kx

 

[Fransurrey]

I'm considering buying some fo the FOURTH cut from the field behind my house, as it's now seeding, so better balanced nutritionally. The first two cuts he used as chopped silage and the third was big bale hay. Don't think I'd consider it normally, but I'm now stocking enough for NEXT winter, as I'm getting sick of the price hikes.

I don't think it's too rich per se (unless you get the first cut and/or he's fertilised), but I think of Rye grass as empty calories, as it's so fast growing. Hence I'm now considering it, as the growth has slowed significantly and it hasn't recently been fertilised.

 

[Ibblebibble]

thanks, some things to think about there