Hay acts as a basis of a diet of the cattle. A grass from which it is prepared have different properties. Those who does not prepare it independently, and gets bales, should study attentively nutritional value of his different types.
Hay is very important for the cattle. Animals need the large volume of food therefore it is just necessary in winter season and also during a crop failure. Hay needs to be able to be chosen correctly as it differs by types and quality.
Species of herbs for hay:
- Cereals (herd grass, meadow grass). Frigostable hay therefore often meets in the north, but such grass does not grow in hot areas.
- Bean (lucerne, soy, Vika, cow pea Chinese). Hay contains a large amount of energy, vitamin A and calcium. Bean are rich with a protein, protein, mineral substances.
- Mix of cereal and bean categories.
- The grass has to be cut until green, and seeds ripened yet. Hay may contain a large amount of nitrates if it was collected after a long drought.
What advantage of types of hay
The nutritional value of hay directly depends on the maintenance of leaves in it. Thanks to this factor the cereal versions have a large amount of nutrients and also are quickly and well acquired by an organism. At the same time all indicators change a grass maturity over time.
At bean composition of substances constant, it does not change throughout the entire period of maturing. When the plant young, with small quantity of stalks, it has excellent tastes. In the overripe hay there is a big percent of cellulose.
Feeding of the cattle
To change a diet of animals for winter, with hay addition, it is necessary carefully, gradually. For a start it is better to use mix from two types of a grass. To feed with it it is necessary to begin, gradually increasing amount of hay until at last it corresponds to quantity, suitable for a day diet. Sudden transition causes indigestion, death of microorganisms which help to digest to an animal food.
Hay cereal, alfalfa best of all is suitable for horses. Before purchase it is necessary to learn about a way of preparation of hay. It can become dangerous to animals if became wet after collecting or was collected very green. The quality of food has to correspond to requirements of the cattle. The adult horse requires good cereal hay, bean will be suitable for pregnant women and the feeding mares. It is possible to use mix, it will only improve quality of food.
Cereal hay will be suitable for cattle too. Cows are not so exacting as horses, they can eat the lain-down forage, even a little moldy. But some types of a mold influence posterity for the worse. The choice of hay depends on that, grow up a cow on meat or for milk, for posterity. Milk cows need to be fed with the food containing a lot of protein. Scot which is grown up on meat is fed with any hay.
If food contains the coarsened stalks or is overdried, it is better to add to it the sterns received from bean plants. Calfs require hay more softly, their gentle mouth will not chew what adult individuals will be able to eat.
The grass has to be mowed before blossoming. The best forage is necessary for milk cows. These are the dried-up cereal herbs, with a large number of stalks of a lucerne, but with smaller number of leaves.