The sense and nonsense of Grass Seed Hay / News

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Recently, Robin from Hay to You talked in the Ezelmagazine about roughage: what to pay attention to and the different varieties. Grass seed hay was also discussed, a product that is regularly a topic of debate. Therefore, we would like to delve deeper into this.

What is grass seed hay?

We also call grass seed hay threshing hay. It is a by-product of grass seed production. This pasture is not sown with a complete mixture, but with one particular grass species. The goal is to let that grass go to seed and to 'thresh' it for the multiplication of that specific seed. Hence the name threshing hay. The remnants, the stems, can then remain in the field until they are dry, after which they are pressed into bales.

Characteristics of grass seed hay

This hay has a few very distinctive properties; it is always just one grass species, it almost never has a green color, and it is always pressed late in the season. The grower can thresh the grass seed when it is fully ripe. Then all the energy has left the grass, and the green color is no longer present. Here, you can also draw a comparison with the pasture of a wild grazer; from July onwards, the stems that the animal will have to rely on all winter have completely gone to seed, and the seed has fallen from the stem!

Advantages and disadvantages of grass seed hay

This hay is not very palatable and is often poorer than meadow hay. We only recommend this for overweight animals. They can eat this hay without restriction. Firstly, they will eat less of it, and secondly, it contains fewer nutrients. The downside is that due to the lack of diversity, you will easily end up feeding monotonously. We always advise to regularly switch batches or mix with meadow hay to introduce some diversity. An advantage of grass seed hay is that it is cheaper. A welcome bonus if your budget is not very large.

What should I pay attention to when buying grass seed hay?

Make sure you know what type it is. There are grass seed hays from dozens of species and thousands of subspecies. Each type has its own palette of characteristics: taste, structure, color, nutrients, etc. Field fescue, for example, is often a bit less poor, tastier, finer, and somewhat greener. English ryegrass, on the other hand, is coarser and more austere. Always check the different batches. In our shop, the characteristics of the grass seed hay batches are always described as well as possible. And if you have questions, please contact us!

Only buy grass seed hay from batches that have expertise and can provide you with good advice on which type is suitable for your animal. We recommend starting with a trial bale or sample to see if your animal likes it.