Tall fescue and orchard grass are by far the main grasses generally used in Tennessee for hay production. Each year approximately 3.5 million acres are planted in tall fescue with 1,885,000 acres during 2005 placed in hay production.
Can you grow timothy hay in Tennessee?
Tall fescue and orchardgrass are the primary grasses used for pastures and hay, although some producers use timothy either alone or in mixtures with the other two grasses. All three of these grass species can be used successfully in Tennessee.
Will alfalfa grow in Tennessee?
one of the most well known and widely used forage crops in the world. Its high yield and quality allow it to be used in feeding programs for many different types of livestock. In Tennessee, alfalfa is used primarily as a feed for horses and dairy cattle.
What type of grass is grown for hay?
Composition. Commonly used plants for hay include mixtures of grasses such as ryegrass (Lolium species), timothy, brome, fescue, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, and other species, depending on region. Hay may also include legumes, such as alfalfa (lucerne) and clovers (red, white and subterranean).
What is the best hay to plant?
Legume hay is a popular choice for most livestock. It can be made from a wide variety of legumes including clover, vetch, sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil and of course the “queen of the forages” – alfalfa. Legume hay is known for its high protein and calcium levels, as well being rich in vitamins and minerals.
Is Timothy hay and Timothy grass the same thing?
Timothy Grass has a slightly higher protein and is greener in appearance. Timothy Hay is a mix of leaves and stems from Timothy grass, which is a perennial bunch grass. Timothy Hay is high in fiber and low in protein which is a combination critical to the health of rabbits and other small animals.
Can I grow my own Timothy hay?
Rake to incorporate the planting site of the seeds in the soil. Sow the seeds no more than 1/2 inches deep. Slowly moisten the soil and keep it moist until the seeds germinate. For growing timothy hay, sow seeds in spring or late summer, you can also plant seeds in early fall.
Do deer like alfalfa fields?
Concluding Thoughts. Do deer eat alfalfa? Yes, they do. Alfalfa is a great foraging crop and sometimes used for deer food plots.
What state grows the most alfalfa?
Alfalfa is California’s highest acreage crop, and California is currently the leading producer of alfalfa hay in the United States (Fig. 1.9).
How many years will alfalfa grow?
Alfalfa can remain productive in stands from four to ten years or more, but as plant population declines renovation eventually becomes necessary.
Why do farmers leave hay bales in the field?
You might find hay bales left in a field simply because a farmer hasn’t had time to stop by and grab the bales yet. Most farmers work overtime during the summer to get the hay in the barn by the time the fields stop producing.
What is the best hay for cows?
Timothy hay is recommended by many experts due to its ease on various animal’s digestive system as well as promotion of bowel regularity. Additionally, there have been scientific studies done that show Timothy hay is an ideal feed for pregnant or lactating cows.
What hay can cows not eat?
Sorghum, Sudans, Millets and Corn. Four main categories of sorghum and millets are grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudan-grass hybrids. These all put grazing cattle at risk for prussic acid HCN poisoning.
Do cows prefer hay or grass?
During the cold winter months when pastures contain scant forage, hay is the typical diet for cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Next to pasture, good quality hay is the ideal feed.
What are the 4 categories of hay?
While there are many many different types of hay, we’re going to narrow the focus and cover some of the most common ones:
- Timothy Hay. Timothy is a type of grass hay, mainly for the horse market.
- Orchardgrass. Orchardgrass is slowly becoming a class favorite for the hay to feed your horses.
- Oat Hay.
- Triticale.
- Alfalfa.
What hay should horses not eat?
Hoffman said there are a few grasses to avoid in hay or forage if you are feeding horses. They include: Perennial ryegrass and rye. This quick-growing grass is popular in dairy pastures.
What hay is not good for horses?
Bahiagrass: This grass hails from the southern coastal plains. It’s typically found in pastures, so the stuff they make into hay is not that great for horses. Overly mature Bahiagrass hay can cause ergot poisoning, so buyer beware.
What is the most nutritious hay for horses?
Legume Hay for Horses
Alfalfa, white clover, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are common types of legumes, with alfalfa being the most popular choice. Benefits: Legumes are higher in protein and calcium than grass hay, and may also provide more energy and a higher level of total digestible nutrients, such as vitamin A.
What is the easiest hay to grow?
Alfalfa, clover and fescue grasses are popular hay types, as well as brome and timothy grasses. Oats and millet can also be useful for hay crops. The best hay to raise will depend not only on growing conditions, but also on the livestock that will eventually eat the hay and what their feed preferences may be.
Does hay grow back every year?
Planting and growing
Some fields are always used to grow hay, and don’t require re-planting every year. In other cases, hay is a part of a crop rotation, where farmers plant different crops on the same field in different years.
Will Timothy grass come back every year?
It is a cool season perennial grass with rapid growth. The plant gets its name from Timothy Hanson, who promoted the grass in the 1700s as a pasture grass. The grass is native to Europe, temperate Asia and North Africa. The plant is adapted to numerous climates and performs well in even cold, northern regions.