Just recently someone asked why I feed grass hay instead of oat hay

Grass Hay or Oat Hay ?

Someone once asked why I feed grass hay instead of oat hay. This person has the impression that oat hay is better for the horse.

So I contacted Bob Coleman Ph D, who is a Extension Horse Specialist at the University of Kentucky .Below is a copy of his reply.( I love e-mail)

Dear Simon:

I thought the e-mail must be from the west if oat hay was in

the subject line. There is not much of it fed around here.

the use of oat hay as with all hays depends on the quality and

stage of maturity at harvest. Oat Hay needs to have some grain

forming at harvest and that would usually be at a soft dough stage

for the grain. At this stage the oat hay would be similar to a good

grass hay. The nutrients may be slightly lower but it is a

reasonable feed for mature horses at maintenance or light work.

There can be more waste with oat hay as the horses tend to pick

through it more and you may find them leaving most of the stem

material especially if the crop was a bit mature at harvest. Because

the horses do pick through the feed you may find that a benefit as

the horses may be more content due to more time spent eating. If

the hay is overly mature then the possibility of impaction may arise.

good oat hay is like all other good hays for horses it is another

option that you have. Is it better than another type of hay (your

grass hay) no it is just different. If I were going to use it i would

have a good nutrient analysis done. To do this you would need to

core sample at least 25 bales and have a look at the ADF, NDF,

protein, dm, calcium, phosphorus, and the nitrate. Oat hay can have

a higher nitrate content especially if the crop ave been stressed by

drought, frost or was heavily fertilized.

I am not sure you can ever settle the discussion as to which hay is

the best. As long as it supplies nutrients is free of dust and mold,

does not cause any problems( weeds or harmful plants) and the

horses will eat it I don't worry very much.

Hope this helps.

Bob Coleman Ph.D.

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R.J.(Bob) Coleman

Extension Horse Specialist

University of Kentucky

859 257 9451

Other reasons for grass hay