Understanding the First Cut vs. Second Cut of Hay
Choosing your horse’s forage can be daunting, but knowing how the timing and cutting of hay happens helps you make an informed decision. It might seem as easy as choosing alfalfa, orchard, or Timothy hay, but the cuts matter. Let’s compare the first cut vs. second cut of hay.
Table of Contents
The Basics of Hay Cuttings
- It’s a cutting when forage is mowed, dried, and baled. The first harvest of the grass field is the first cutting.
- The grass will continue to grow and can be harvested again in the second cutting, and sometimes even produce a third and fourth cutting. The timing depends on the weather, location, the type of grass, and more.
- As the cuttings continue, the stems tend to thin, and the plant produces more leaves as it grows. You can easily see this in legumes, which have almost all leaves and fewer thicker stems.
What Are the First and Second Cuts of Hay?
- First cut hay has grown since winter or spring and is reaching maturation. As it grows, its only job is to reproduce, and it will start to “go to seed” and create seed heads that keep the plant life cycle growing. The first cut of hay is usually in the late spring or early summer.
- The grass will continue to grow after the first cutting. It uses sugars and starches to fuel this process. There comes a time when it can be harvested again, hence the second cutting. This is usually in late summer.
- Third and fourth cuttings are possible, depending on the forage type, weather, the overall length of the growing season, and more.
What determines when hay is cut?
Three primary factors determine when the grass is cut:
- Moisture levels: To avoid mold and other spoilers, the grass should be 10-12% moisture before cutting.
- Plant maturity: The nutritional value and sugars/starches content will vary as the plant grows and may influence when to cut.
- Weather conditions: You need dry skies to harvest hay! After cutting, it rests on the ground until dried out and then baled.
Nutrition of First Cut vs. Second Cut of Hay
There are three primary nutritional differences between cuts of hay.
Protein
- There is less protein in earlier cuts of forage. The first cut is largely stems and fiber. Later cuts have more protein.
Fiber
- Early cuttings of a more mature plant will be higher in fiber than other cuttings. The plant has grown for a long time, with lots of stems. There is less fiber in later cuts.
Energy – NSC value plus fats and other calorie sources
- First cuts have lower energy sources and typically have lower NSC values. The second and third cuts are leafier, providing more calories, sugars, and starches.
This chart is a broad, sweeping comparison and will vary. Values fluctuate based on plant species, growing conditions, and harvest time. This also varies between warm and cool-season grasses.
2nd Cuts, 3rd Cuts, and Beyond
- Harvesting forage in a third cut is not unheard of. The second and third cuttings are softer, leafier, and more palatable because their growing time is much shorter than the first cut. Protein and energy levels will increase, too, while fiber decreases,
Considerations for Dental Health and Metabolic Status
Two factors may influence which cutting is best for your horse.
Dental health
- Equine dental health directly influences the digestive tract, determining whether eating is painful or difficult.
- Horses can develop many teeth problems, some requiring surgery or extractions. Other issues may cause a tooth to cut into the tongue or cheeks. Sweeping dental changes, like ramps and waves, impede proper chewing.
- A clear sign of dental problems happens when horses quid. Quidding creates blobs of partially chewed forage that fall or spit out. Some quids are small, while others can be as big as your hand. Quids also create a choking hazard.
- Regular dental exams and appropriate floating and care can make chewing more comfortable and productive for your horse. Feeding second and third cuts of forage will make chewing easier, too.
Metabolic health
- Equine metabolic disorder (EMS) and PPID (Cushing’s disease) influence how the body processes food and insulin. These metabolic conditions also increase the risk of laminitis, especially when the diet contains more sugars and starches.
- One line of defense is to feed forages and commercial horse feed with lower sugars and starches, aiming for 10% or less.
- For that reason, first cuttings of hay are best.
Long-Stem Forage Alternatives
- Hay isn’t for all horses, but they need a way to get the fiber and calories from forage.
- Alternatives include hay cubes, hay pellets, and chopped forage. Pound for pound, they are the same as long-stem forage but packed in an easy-to-chew manner. They make a tasty hay soup for added hydration, too.
- You can find low NSC value bagged hay options for metabolic horses, like Teff or Bermuda grass hay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is first cut hay better for horses?
The best cut for your horse depends on your horse’s nutritional needs. First cuts are usually lower in protein and sugars and have more fiber than later cuts. Second cut hay has more protein and less fiber.
Can first and second cut hay meet a horse’s nutrition requirements?
Of course! But most forages you offer need a vitamin and mineral supplement to balance the diet. Depending on your horse’s needs, you may need to add joint, hoof, skin, or digestive supplements. The best way to create an equine nutrition plan begins with hay analysis. The same holds for the third cutting.
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