Kaytee Alfalfa Mini Bale Treat. Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is most important. As i looked for straw on craigslist i found a guy who has old alfalfa hay. Hay … The higher calcium levels in alfalfa hay … #2 Alfalfa hay for chinchilla. It's not that far away and i could borrow a … Profitable rotation crop for Alfalfa Growers for the premium horse hay market. Alfalfa pellets are commonly available, as are timothy pellets, orchard grass pellets, etc. That means these pets should eat a portion of hay the same size of their own body every day! Forage Nutrition 101: Crude Protein. Buy on Amazon. Hay is high in fiber so it will help keep your bunny’s digestive system moving and it will keep their teeth in shape. In general alfalfa has 120% more energy than oat hay. Suitable for double cropping Good hay or pasture crop when late … Alfalfa is a mixed blessing with horses. When looking at which type of hay to feed a rabbit or guinea pig, Timothy hay … How will you ever choose between the many different types of hay? Alfalfa hay … Most rabbit owners feed their bunnies Timothy hay because it’s considered the “gold standard” of nutrition. Oats can be grown for hay or oats and straw. Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. For more information about Alfalfa hay versus Timothy hay… There are actually many differences between the two and these differences are what make feeding alfalfa hay for rabbits such a hot topic. Do Not Sell My Personal Information
But this doesn’t mean that alfalfa is a bad hay. It has the same long-strand fiber found in grass hays, only it has more protein, energy and calcium. Alfalfa is a legume hay and is generally more nutrient rich than grass hays like orchard or timothy. The high levels of calcium, protein, fat, and fiber in alfalfa make it a great choice for these hungry little babies. One of our nutrition experts may be able to help. But, there are some things to consider. All Rights Reserved. Grass … High quality forage is critical for proper digestive function in horses. But you should stop feeding alfalfa hay after about a year because of the considerations mentioned above. Protein in hay varies depending on the type and maturity level of the hay when it is cut. Posted on May 5, 2016 Tweet; High-quality forages are essential for livestock, as premium products provide the optimal … Purina Animal Nutrition LLC. Alfalfa hay as mulch? 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. Alfalfa is a legume. 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. The difference between Alfalfa and Timothy hay is one that often confuses many rabbit and guinea pig owners, especially first-timers! To determine maturity, look for leaves and small, tight “buds” on alfalfa, and few or small, soft seed heads on grass or oat hay. 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. 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. But, there are many other types of hay for rabbits. By Dorothy H. on February 20, 2019 Alfalfa is greener, and high in protein and calcium. Hay can come in concentrate form, i.e. Ohio House Rabbit Rescue feeds our bunnies Oxbow Timothy Hay, but you can also use orchard grass and/or oat hay … Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa Hay is a high-fiber legume hay. if (theYear < 1900);
Alfalfa Goes Way Back. It comes in three different cuttings and each one has their benefits. Teff is a great interim hay crop between alfalfa rotations. If, for some reason, your little fuzzy refuses to eat Timothy, you could try orchard or oat hay. Timothy is a meadow grass that is both nutritious and flavorful, and it is highly recommended by veterinarians. Because it contains a variety of plants, it can also be a bit more variable in contents than Timothy. Forage for horses can be divided into two categories—grasses and legumes. Alfalfa, clover, and peanut are legume hays, while timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard are examples of grass hays. The Timothy hay contains a balance of fiber, protein, calcium, and other nutrients which is suitable for the daily diet of all guinea pigs. The difference between alfalfa hay and Timothy hay is one that often confuses many rabbit owners, especially first-time owners. The higher calcium levels in alfalfa hay, though, can actually be dangerous for an adult bun if they’re fed too much. Feeding Alfalfa as a hay is very different from it being used as an ingredient in a nutritionally balanced pet food. Alfalfa hay has about 1.2% calcium, while Timothy hay only has 0.4%. If you’re sitting there thinking that you’ve seen oat straw before, you may have! |
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. The alfalfa hay contains high fiber and calcium, which is suitable for … Hay is usually classified in two basic categories, grass or legume. Grasses you’re likely familiar with include orchardgrass, timothy, and bermudagrass … You can buy from Small Pet Select anywhere in the world! Alfalfa hay is high in energy. 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. An ideal hay for easy keepers will be in the higher end of these ranges. For all small herbivores – that’s rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and degus – hay should make up around 80% of the diet. Alfalfa is the most common legume hay for horses. 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 rather different again from Timothy and Orchard and Coastal, as all three of those are grasses. Alfalfa hay and timothy hay are both forage sources commonly used in rabbit and guinea pig diets. 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. This is the problem to consider. Please spread the love and share this with your friends!Every little bit helps. It’s really rich and high in all those goodies, which makes it the perfect … 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. When used as part of the pet food recipe, Alfalfa offers higher nutrition and therefore makes for healthier and happier bunnies! Non-structural carbohydrate levels also decrease. That’s where we come in. 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. 3. posted 5 years ago. It is lower in protein and calcium than alfalfa hay, so it makes a better staple for adult … I planted my field in straight alfalfa … To get the best service, choose the store closest to you: hay is a super important part of any rabbit’s diet. theYear=now.getYear();
Alfalfa hay also makes a delicious treat for those lucky bunnies. Alfalfa hay offers the same fiber contents as high as that timothy hay offers, but with higher levels of energy, protein, and calcium. But, each type of hay suits different types of bunnies. It has balanced levels of protein, fat, and fiber and will help keep your bunny happy and healthy. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. 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. Because it ’ s no denying that hay is rather different again Timothy... About 1.2 % calcium, protein, fat, and fiber and calcium while! The same size of their own body every day considered the “ gold standard of... Guinea pig diets a guy who has old alfalfa hay after about a year old who are like! In any happy bunny ’ s no denying that hay is high in protein and,. 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