Almost everyone knows that horses eat grass but many may not know what kind of grass horses prefer and are provided. There are many different forage species that are available to horse owners and today we are going to go over a few of them.
Cool-Season Perennial Grasses
Kentucky Bluegrass
Kentucky bluegrass is considered one of the best forage species available. It is highly nutritious, palatable, and tolerant of heavy grazing when used in pastures. However, it is low-growing and low-yielding (meaning it is not great for hay) and is not tolerant of hot, dry summers.
Check out more information on Kentucky Bluegrass, here.
Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerate L.)
Unlike Kentucky Bluegrass, orchardgrass is more tolerant of shade and drought and can adapt to well-drained soil. However, as it matures, it becomes coarse and less palatable making it a better option for hay than pasture.
Check out more information on orchardgrass, here.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is tolerant of heavy grazing and is a high-quality, highly palatable forage option. It performs well as hay and pasture, but, its poor winter hardiness makes it a poor option for areas with more diverse temperature ranges.
Check out more information on perennial ryegrass, here.
Tall Fescue
Tall fescue can thrive under continuous grazing but has a lower palatability than other forages available. It can also contain an endophytic fungus (determined by a lab test) that can cause reproductive issues in broodmares.
These issues can include late-term abortions, stillborn foals, prolonged gestation, and thickened placenta. If fescue is the best option for you, endophyte-free tall fescue is available.
Check out more information on tall fescue, here.
Smooth Bromegrass
Smooth Bromegrass has a high heat resistance and highly developed root systems that help hold forage quality as it matures. This forage type does not tolerate frequent grazing well but makes great, high-quality hay.
Check out more information on smooth bromegrass, here.
Timothy
Timothy grass makes great hay, is winter hardy, high quality, and palatable. However, this type has slow regrowth, poor heat/drought resistance, and a shallow and compact root system.
Check out more information on timothy, here.
Legumes
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is the most frequently grown, high yielding legume forage species. This type lasts approximately 3 growing seasons and makes great hay. However, this type is high in protein and calcium and left unbalanced can result in nutritional imbalances and fat horses.
Check out more information on alfalfa, here.
Clover
There are numerous species of clover that are both nutritious and highly palatable. This type should not be mixed with tall grasses and is susceptible to mold that can cause conditions such as slobbers.
Check out more information on clover, here.
Thank you so much for reading a bit about the different forage species available to horse owners. Let me know if any of the information in this post surprised you! I’d love to hear from you.
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