Orchard Grass Hay

Orchard Grass for Sale in Glen Rock, PA

Orchard Grass is the emerging superstar of the horse hay world. Orchard Grass is a highly palatable grass with a high nutrient content. Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content, and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy Grass. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass. The high nutrient intake delivered by Orchard Grass hay translates into potentially less grain the horse would need to eat to satisfy energy and protein requirements. 

Compared to Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass grows better in moderate drought conditions and provides a solid three hay cuttings per year. With three cuttings instead of two cuttings, Orchard Grass produces consistent soft texture hay that horses readily consume with minimal or no waste. Mumsey Farms and Hay Sales produces both Timothy Grass and Orchard Grass products. This helps ensure your horses always have a high-quality grass forage option to utilize

Dried Orchard Grass | Glen Rock, PA | Mumsey Farms and Hay Sales

Orchard Grass for Sale in Glen Rock, PA

Orchard Grass is the emerging superstar of the horse hay world. Orchard Grass is a highly palatable grass with a high nutrient content. Orchard Grass is higher in protein (10-12%), higher in calorie content, and contains the same balanced levels of calcium and phosphorus as Timothy Grass. The higher calorie content of Orchard Grass is a result of higher fiber digestibility compared to Timothy Grass. The high nutrient intake delivered by Orchard Grass hay translates into potentially less grain the horse would need to eat to satisfy energy and protein requirements. 

Dried Orchard Grass | Glen Rock, PA | Mumsey Farms and Hay Sales

Compared to Timothy Grass, Orchard Grass grows better in moderate drought conditions and provides a solid three hay cuttings per year. With three cuttings instead of two cuttings, Orchard Grass produces consistent soft texture hay that horses readily consume with minimal or no waste. Mumsey Farms and Hay Sales produces both Timothy Grass and Orchard Grass products. This helps ensure your horses always have a high-quality grass forage option to utilize

Orchard Grass Hay for Horses

Glance through the “farm and livestock” section of most classified advertisements, and you’re bound to come upon listings for orchard grass hay, and with those listings come sundry superlatives: “perfect for horses,” “ideal horse hay,” or “best hay for horses in the tristate area.” Like any other preserved forage, the quality of orchard grass hay marketed by farmers depends on multiple factors, primary of which are cultivation and harvesting techniques. When grown and cured under a watchful eye, orchard grass hay deserves those superlatives. In fact, orchard grass has been cultivated for pasture and hay since colonial times and has been an important forage in horse husbandry since then. Orchard grass is commonly found thriving in shady areas, such as orchards and forest borders, which is where its name likely originated.

The Nutritional Value of Orchard Grass Hay

From a nutritional angle, as those classified advertisements indicate, orchard grass can be a worthwhile component in almost any horse-feeding scenario. “As a source of fiber, well-made orchard grass hay has a place in the diets of all types of horses. When it’s clean and sweet-smelling, its palatability is wonderful, and few horses refuse it,” said Kathleen Crandell, Ph.D., nutritionist for Kentucky Equine Research (KER).

The Versatility of Orchard Grass Hay

Because of its versatility, orchard grass hay fits neatly into many feeding programs. With it as a foundation forage, it’s easy to build an appropriate ration, according to Crandell. “A fortified feed from a reputable company, fed at recommended levels, will complement orchard grass hay incredibly well,” she said. Easy keepers might be able to maintain moderate body condition on just the orchard grass hay. Keep in mind that forage-only diets do not supply all of the nutrition horses require for optimal health. For mature horses, consider supplementing with a vitamin and mineral supplement such as Micro-Max or I.R. Pellet, both available in the U.S. 

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For more information about our Orchard Grass Hay products, call us today 717-654-7178.

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