Hay and forage are dried or fresh plant materials fed to livestock as the foundation of their diet. Hay is grass or legume that has been cut, dried, and stored for winter feeding. Forage includes pasture grasses, legumes, and browse consumed directly by grazing animals. The quality of hay and forage directly affects animal health, milk production, growth rates, and feed costs. Common forage species include timothy, orchardgrass, fescue, bermudagrass, alfalfa, and clover.
Grass hays, including timothy, orchardgrass, and brome, are lower in protein than legume hays but provide adequate nutrition for most maintenance-level livestock. Legume hays such as alfalfa and clover contain 15 to 22 percent protein and are fed to growing, lactating, or working animals. Mixed hays containing both grasses and legumes offer a balanced nutrient profile. Straw, the dried stalks of grain crops, is used primarily for bedding rather than feed due to its low nutritional value.
Hay quality is determined by the stage of maturity at cutting, drying conditions, leaf retention, and storage. Early-cut hay has higher protein and lower fiber content than late-cut hay. Hay cured to 15 to 20 percent moisture content prevents mold growth. Leaf loss during raking and baling reduces protein content significantly, as leaves contain the majority of nutrients in legume hays. Color, smell, and leaf-to-stem ratio are reliable field indicators of hay quality.
Pasture rotation is the primary method for managing forage quality. Pasture Rotation divides grazing areas into paddocks that are grazed in sequence, allowing each paddock time to recover. Rotational grazing increases forage utilization from 30 to 40 percent under continuous grazing to 60 to 70 percent. Soil testing and appropriate fertilization maintain productive pasture stands. Feed Rations rely on knowing the nutritional content of the hay and forage being fed.
Hay is stored in barns, sheds, or under weatherproof tarps to prevent moisture damage. Round bales stored outdoors on well-drained ground with a south-facing opening lose 10 to 30 percent of their dry matter to weathering. Square bales stored indoors retain their nutritional value for 1 to 2 years. Grain Storage principles of moisture control and pest management also apply to hay storage.