Not all hay is the same
Quality forage can be an important part of good nutrition and overall welfare of your livestock & pets.
Whether you are feeding goats, sheep, cattle, horses, alpacas, llamas, rabbits, pigs, chickens, or other animals on the homestead, the foundation should always match the animal’s natural digestive system and nutritional needs. Choosing the correct hay for your livestock is essential to their health and welfare.
It is also important to consider your local climate and weather patterns when choosing forage. Warm, humid climates often grow different grasses than cool regions, and drought, heavy rain, or long winters can all affect hay quality, nutrient levels, and feeding needs throughout the year.
Herbivores
Animals like goats, sheep, cattle, horses, rabbits, alpacas, and llamas rely heavily on forage. Good pasture, browse, or hay helps support digestion, steady energy, body condition, and overall health.
Omnivores
Animals like pigs and chickens eat a wider variety of foods. They may enjoy grasses, greens, seeds, bugs, grains, fruits, and vegetables, but they still need a balanced diet made for their species. Forage can be a healthy addition, but it usually should not be their only feed source.
Common forage options include:
Timothy grass
A good basic grass hay with moderate protein and higher fiber. It is often used as a maintenance hay and helps keep the digestive system working properly.
Orchard grass
Usually soft, leafy, and very palatable. It often runs a little higher in protein and energy than Timothy, making it a great everyday forage option for many animals.
Bermuda grass
A common warm-season grass hay. It is usually a practical, fibrous hay that works well as a base forage, especially when it is clean, leafy, and not overly stemmy.
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is not a grass — it is a legume. Compared to most grass hays, alfalfa is usually richer in protein, calcium, and energy. That can make it helpful for growing young, pregnant or nursing mothers, dairy animals, and hard keepers with higher nutritional needs.
Grass vs. Alfalfa
Grass hay is usually the better everyday base forage for many animals because it provides fiber without being too rich. Alfalfa is more nutrient-dense, so it can be a great tool when used appropriately, but it may be too rich for some animals if fed heavily or without balance.
The biggest thing to remember is that feed quality depends on more than the name on the bale. It depends on cleanliness, freshness, storage, maturity, leafiness, regional growing conditions, and whether it fits that animal’s individual needs.
Supplements can help fill nutritional gaps, but they cannot replace poor forage or poor feed.
Healthy animals start with clean water, quality feed, proper minerals, and a balanced feeding program designed for their species, age, environment, and stage of life.
What are you raising on your homestead, and what type of hay or forage works best for your animals?
We’d love to hear what works in your climate and region! Drop your livestock and favorite forage in the comments below.
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