The Best Types of Hay to Choose for Your Livestock
- Janine Russell, Farmbrite Co-Founder and CMO
- Jul 21
- 15 min read
Originally Published: February, 2025 | Updated: July, 2026
Summary:
Selecting the right hay is critical for optimizing livestock health, growth, and daily productivity. This guide explores the core nutritional components of forage, details species-specific dietary requirements for cattle, horses, sheep, and goats, and outlines nine essential factors to consider when growing hay on your farm. Discover the pros, cons, and ideal applications for eight common hay varieties—from protein-rich alfalfa to high-fiber timothy and orchard grass—to help you make informed, profitable feed decisions.
Key Takeaways
No One-Size-Fits-All Solution: Hay selection must be tailored to your livestock's specific species, age, reproductive status, and physical activity level.
Core Nutritional Profile: High-quality forage supplies vital water (with an ideal moisture content of around 15%), protein, digestible energy (non-structural carbohydrates), dietary fiber, vitamins (A, D, and E), and macro/micro-minerals.
Legumes vs. Grasses: Legume hays (like alfalfa and clover) are protein- and calcium-dense, making them ideal for young, lactating, or high-performance animals. Grass hays (like timothy, orchard grass, and Bermuda grass) are fiber-rich and balanced for maintaining mature livestock.
Species-Specific Diet Matching: Ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats) thrive on distinct forage profiles compared to horses, rabbits, or camels, which can suffer severe digestive or urinary health issues from improper hay types.
Strategic Farm Management: Successful hay production requires evaluating your USDA hardiness zone, soil health, crop rotation compatibility, labor costs, and harvest machinery.
Data-Driven Tracking: Utilizing resources like a hay estimating calculator or crop management software streamlines annual feeding projections, inventory management, and sales tracking.
Choosing Hay For Your Livestock
Choosing the best hay for livestock depends on species-specific nutritional needs, growth stages, and regional agronomic conditions:
Legume Hays (Alfalfa, Clover): High in protein, calcium, and digestible energy; ideal for growing, lactating, or high-performance livestock like dairy cattle and young goats.
Grass Hays (Timothy, Orchard Grass, Bermuda): Rich in structural fiber and balanced in protein; best for maintaining weight and digestive health in mature horses, beef cattle, and sheep.
Quality & Storage: High-quality forage should be mold-free with an ideal moisture content of around 15% to prevent spoilage and nutrient loss.
Choosing the right hay for your livestock depends entirely on your animals' unique nutritional requirements and your farm's environmental conditions. While legume hays like alfalfa deliver maximum protein and calcium for rapid growth and lactation, grass hays like timothy provide the vital fiber necessary for daily metabolic maintenance. Matching specific forage varieties to your livestock species ensures optimal digestive health, healthy weight management, and overall farm profitability.
The Core Nutrients in Hay
Like any live plant, forage contains varying levels of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Understanding these components ensures your animals maintain an optimal weight, gain mass efficiently, and resist disease.
Livestock Protein Sources
Protein is a fundamental building block required for cell function, growth, reproduction, and milk production. Ruminants such as cattle, sheep, and goats have specific protein demands that are often best met by legume hays like alfalfa. Non-ruminants like horses require lower protein levels than ruminants but still benefit from high-quality legume blends or balanced concentrates.
Carbohydrates, Energy, and Fiber
Forage energy is stored in carbohydrates, which fall into two categories: structural carbohydrates (fibers like cellulose) and non-structural carbohydrates (sugars and starches). Digestible energy represents the caloric intake animals use to maintain weight, produce milk, or perform work. Structural fiber is essential to slow food passage through the digestive tract and support beneficial microorganisms that aid in healthy digestion.
Essential Vitamins and Minerals
Livestock require macro-minerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, potassium, and sulfur) in higher amounts than micro-minerals (iron, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, and selenium). Vitamins A, D, and E are vital for vision, immune function, and bone development. Imbalances can lead to poor reproductive outcomes and stunted growth, making it a smart practice to track your minerals and vitamins using dedicated crop management software.
Hay Moisture and Water Intake
Water is the most critical element for livestock survival and daily metabolic function. Animal hydration needs vary widely by species, age, life stage, temperature, and live forage availability. For baled hay, the ideal moisture content is around 15% to prevent mold growth and spoilage.
Nutritional Requirements of Hay by Livestock Species
While general guidelines can point you in the right direction, every animal species metabolizes forage differently. Always consult your local university extension office or veterinarian to ensure your feeding regimen meets specific dietary needs.
Cattle
Alfalfa Hay: High in protein and calcium; excellent for dairy cows and young, growing cattle.
Timothy Hay: Lower in protein; ideal for mature beef cattle to maintain body condition without excessive weight gain.
Clover Hay: Highly nutritious and similar to alfalfa, but generally more cost-effective.
Horses
Timothy Hay: A traditional favorite offering a stellar balance of protein and structural fiber.
Orchard Grass Hay: Soft, highly palatable forage that is gentle on horses with respiratory sensitivities.
Alfalfa Hay: Rich in protein and calcium for foals, lactating mares, and performance horses; feed in moderation to sedentary adults.
Goats
Alfalfa Hay: Exceptional nutrient density for lactating does and rapidly growing kids.
Timothy or Bermuda Grass Hay: Provides mature goats with adequate dietary fiber without overloading them on protein.
Sheep
Timothy Hay: Delivers well-rounded nutrition and fiber for standard body condition maintenance.
Orchard Grass Hay: Softer and more palatable than timothy, making it great for picky eaters.
Clover or Mixed Grass Hay: Adds dietary variety; avoid feeding high-legume alfalfa to mature sheep to prevent urinary calculi.
Other Animals (Camels & Rabbits)
Specialty animals like camels and rabbits rely heavily on hay as their primary dietary staple. They require highly specific fiber-to-protein ratios, and feeding them the wrong forage species can be detrimental to their longevity and health.
9 Key Factors to Consider When Growing Hay on Your Farm
Selecting the right forage crop involves aligning animal biology with agronomic reality. Review these nine pillars before seeding your fields:
Nutritional Needs of Your Livestock: Match your forage species directly to your animals' dietary requirements. Different end-goals (such as meat, milk, or breeding) dictate whether you need high-protein legumes or high-fiber grasses.
Livestock Growth Stages: Feed requirements shift dramatically during pregnancy, lactation, and maturation. Utilize an online hay estimating calculator to project how much forage your herd will require throughout the entire year.
Regional Growing Conditions & Soil Health: Choose grass or legume varieties adapted to your local USDA hardiness zone and climate. Conduct soil tests to check pH and trace nutrient availability, as correct soil pH significantly improves crop germination and yield.
Growth, Yield, and Climate Resilience: Perennial grasses offer valuable regrowth ability, allowing for multiple cuttings per season if managed correctly. If you utilize rotational grazing, moving livestock strategically prevents overgrazing and builds long-term pasture resilience against drought and extreme heat.
Pests and Disease Management: Different forage crops attract specific agricultural pests and plant diseases. Research the common vulnerabilities of your chosen grass or legume and select pest-resistant varieties whenever possible.
Compatibility With Other Crops: Legumes like clover naturally fix atmospheric nitrogen, improving soil fertility for future crop rotation systems. Planting grass-legume mixtures can enhance overall forage density, flavor, and field yield.
Market Demand and Profitability: Selling surplus forage can become a lucrative secondary income stream for your farm. Check regional databases like Upper Midwest Hay prices or consult your local extension office to identify high-demand bale sizes and forage grades in your area.
Production and Labor Costs: Calculate the upfront costs of seeds, fertilizers, field labor, and machinery maintenance. Weigh the economics of buying equipment versus renting machinery, sharing costs with neighboring farmers, or hiring custom harvesters.
Harvest Equipment and Storage: Protecting your harvest from weather is essential to prevent spoilage, mold, and nutrient loss. Utilizing farm record-keeping software like Farmbrite helps streamline inventory tracking, monitor processing dates, and predict exactly when your hay supply will run out.
Choosing the right hay to grow on your farm and for your livestock involves several key considerations to ensure the hay you're growing meets the nutritional needs of your livestock, fits the environmental conditions of your region, and aligns with your farming practices. As you consider this, make sure to tailor the specific needs of your livestock, considering factors like age, reproductive status, and activity level. Always ensure hay is free of mold and contaminants to maintain animal health.
1. Nutritional Needs of Your Livestock:
The most important factor in choosing hay for your farm may be this one thing: the nutritional needs of your livestock. Match the hay you grow to the specific dietary requirements of your livestock. Some animals need less protein, for instance, because they are being raised for different purposes. Being aware of these needs will ensure the optimal health of your livestock.
2. Livestock Growth Stages:
Animals will need different nutrients during different times of their life and stages of growth (e.g., young, pregnant, lactating). Also, animals will have differing dietary needs per species. It's important to grow the types of hay that your animals need (or supplement for them) as they mature and grow.
Another aspect of this is knowing how much hay you will need to support your animals throughout the year. To understand your needs, you can use this hay estimating calculator.
3. Grow It Well:
Choose a type of hay that is easily grown in your region. There are types of hay that grow better in cool weather and also ones that have adapted to grow in warmer weather. It's important to understand your USDA hardiness zone and how the seed will germinate, grow, and reproduce in your area.
Understanding your soil (loamy, clay, etc), the PH, and the other trace nutrients that are available in your soil is vital to growing healthy crops. It is advisable to understand your soil and know the PH. Plants will grow better with the correct PH.
4. Growth and Yield:
Many types of grass are perennials and have regrowth ability. The hay that you grow can be a sustainable source of feed for your livestock. This means that you may get a second, third, or more cutting(s) of your hay. You can then store the hay cutting or sell it if you have extra. Be sure not to over-harvest and give enough time for your crop to regrow.
Alternatively, if you are using rotational grazing methods, the plants your livestock consume today will regrow if given time by moving them to a different area to graze. This method is beneficial for the long-term health of your pasture and ensures that the pasture isn't overgrazed.
Another factor you may want to consider is drought and heat. Unfortunately, extreme weather is becoming more and more common and will negatively affect the growth of your hay crop. So, it's something to take into consideration as you plant hay.
5. Pests and Diseases:
When you are choosing a type of hay to plant on your farm, it's important to know the downside as well. Crops can attract unwanted pests that will also eat the crop. Know the types of pests that different types of grasses might attract and manage them, or grow pest-resistant types.
6. Compatibility With Other Crops:
Some hay crops, like clover, can improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, making them good choices for crop rotation systems. Combining different hay types, such as grass-legume mixes, can enhance forage quality and yield.
7. Market Demand:
You might also choose to sell your surplus hay. Choose hay types that have strong demand in your local market to ensure you can sell any extra. Some customers can tell you the amount of hay they need to overwinter their livestock, or you can use an estimator to do this.
Selling hay can become another income stream for your farm. You can use a Farm Management System like Farmbrite to keep track of your inventory, the hay you have on hand when it was processed, and how much you made from your sales.
We often get asked, how much can you sell a bale of hay for? That depends on many factors like your location, the type and grade of hay, and the size of the bale of hay. Here is a link to the Upper Midwest Hay prices, but if this is not relevant to you, you might try searching for hay sales in your area or ask your local extension office.
8. Costs:
Consider the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and any additional inputs required for growing and harvesting the hay. Different hay types may require varying levels of management and labor. You might also want to consider your available labor resources and equipment. You may be able to share costs with another farmer, rent equipment, or pay for your field to be cut. These all have costs associated with them, so it's important for you to weigh those against potential sales.
9. Harvest and Storage:
Ensure you have the necessary equipment for harvesting as well as a place to store the hay. Proper storage will prevent spoilage and maintain quality. You can use farm record-keeping software like Farmbrite to keep track of how much hay you have on hand and what date you will run out.
Selecting the right hay can significantly impact the health and productivity of your livestock, so it's important to consider all these factors when making your choice. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can select the most suitable hay type for your farm, ensuring it meets both your livestock's nutritional needs and your operational capabilities.
Types of Hay to Consider Growing on Your Farm
There isn't a one-size-fits-all solution when growing hay. Selecting the right type of hay for your livestock is a critical decision that can significantly impact their health, growth, and productivity, and this can be unique to each farm operation.
Hay is a primary source of nutrition for many animals, providing essential fibers, proteins, and other nutrients. Different types of hay offer unique benefits and nutritional profiles, making some more suitable for certain livestock and specific stages of their growth or production cycles. Understanding the characteristics and best uses of various hay types can help you make informed choices that optimize the well-being of your animals and the efficiency of your farming operations. This guide will explore the most common types of hay grown, detailing their advantages and ideal applications to aid you in selecting the best forage for your livestock.
Choosing the right type of hay for your livestock is crucial for their health and productivity. Here are some common types of hay and growing considerations for each type.
1. Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa is a perennial legume that's high in protein, calcium, vitamins, and fiber. It is grown in many different areas throughout the world. It is known to be a top choice to grow in grazing areas, for hay, silage, green manure, or cover crops. This is one of the highest quality feeds for livestock as well as a cash crop. It is especially good for pregnant or lactating animals and work animals.
Nutrient Content: High in protein and calcium.
Suitable For: Dairy cattle, young animals, horses (with moderation due to high calcium), and other high-performance livestock.
Growing needs: It requires deep, well-drained soils.
Considerations: Can be too rich for some animals, leading to digestive issues if not balanced properly.
2. Timothy Hay
A type of perennial grass. It has a balanced nutritional composition of high fiber and low protein, and contains nutrients like calcium and phosphorus that make it more easily digestible by livestock.
Nutrient Content: Lower in protein compared to alfalfa, but higher in fiber.
Suitable For: Horses, rabbits, guinea pigs, and livestock that require high fiber and lower protein.
Cool Season Crop: Plant in the fall of the year before to get established.
Considerations: Good for maintaining digestive health; often mixed with other hays.
3. Bermuda Grass Hay
Bermuda Grass is considered a medium-quality forage. It is a deep-rooted, high-quality forage for various livestock. It has moderate protein but provides other nutrient content. One of the clearest advantages to growing this hay is that it can be baled at more convenient times, offers nutrition for grazing cows and calves when they might need it most, and withstands heat in the summer months.
Nutrient Content: Moderate in protein and fiber.
Suitable For: Horses, cattle, sheep, and goats.
Warm Climates: Not suited for colder climates
Grazing: Grazing height needs to be no lower than 3-4 inches.
Considerations: Soft texture, generally well-liked by animals.
4. Orchard Grass Hay
Orchard grass is highly versatile and widely valued in livestock management due to its excellent nutritional profile and palatability. It is best used as hay or pasture for a variety of animals, including horses, cattle, sheep, and goats. Its high fiber content and moderate protein levels make it ideal for maintaining digestive health and supporting steady growth and productivity in livestock.
Orchard grass is also well-suited for mixed hay production, where it can be combined with legumes like clover or alfalfa to enhance the overall nutrient balance. Additionally, its resilience to frequent grazing and ability to thrive in cooler climates make it a reliable forage option for sustainable pasture management.
Nutrient Content: Moderate protein and fiber levels.
Suitable For: Horses, cattle, goats, and sheep.
PH: Prefers well-drained, loamy soils with a PH of 5.8 to 7.0
Considerations: Often preferred due to its softness and palatability.
5. Clover Hay
Clover hay is highly regarded for its rich nutritional content, particularly its high protein and calcium levels, making it an excellent feed choice for dairy cattle, young animals, and other high-performance livestock. It is often used to supplement diets that require additional protein, supporting milk production, growth, and overall health.
Clover hay is also beneficial when mixed with grass hays, such as orchard grass or timothy, to create a balanced forage that enhances the palatability and nutrient profile of the feed. Additionally, clover hay can improve soil fertility when grown in rotation with other crops, as it fixes nitrogen in the soil, promoting sustainable farming practices. Its versatility and nutritional benefits make clover hay a valuable component in the diets of a wide range of livestock.
Nutrient Content: High in protein, similar to alfalfa.
Suitable For: Dairy cattle, growing animals, and other high-performance livestock.
Protein: High Protein Content
Considerations: Can be mixed with grass hays to balance the diet.
6. Fescue Hay
Fescue hay is a versatile and durable forage option, best suited for beef cattle, horses, sheep, and goats due to its moderate protein and fiber content. It thrives in a variety of soil types and can withstand harsh weather conditions, making it a reliable choice for regions with challenging climates.
Fescue hay is particularly advantageous for grazing systems, as it maintains its nutritional value and palatability even under frequent grazing. It is also a good option for hay production, providing a steady supply of forage throughout the growing season. However, it is important to use endophyte-free or novel endophyte fescue varieties to avoid potential health issues in livestock, such as fescue toxicosis. Overall, fescue hay's resilience and adaptability make it a valuable feed resource in diverse livestock management systems.
Nutrient Content: Moderate protein and fiber levels.
Suitable For: Beef cattle, horses, sheep, and goats.
Grazing: Good for rotational grazing and Hay production.
Considerations: Endophyte-infected fescue can cause health issues, so choose endophyte-free varieties.
7. Ryegrass Hay
Ryegrass hay is prized for its high energy content and moderate protein levels, making it an excellent feed choice for dairy cattle, sheep, and goats, particularly during lactation and growth phases. Its palatability ensures high intake rates, which can lead to improved weight gain and milk production.
This type of grass is also beneficial when used in rotational grazing systems, as it establishes quickly and recovers well after grazing, providing a consistent forage supply. Its lush, high moisture content makes it ideal for silage production, ensuring a high-quality feed during the winter months. Due to its adaptability to various soil types and climates, ryegrass hay is a versatile and valuable component in the forage repertoire of many livestock operations.
Nutrient Content: High in sugars and moderate in protein.
Suitable For: Dairy cattle, sheep, and goats.
Grazing: Good for rotational grazing
Considerations: Can be lush and high in moisture; best mixed with drier hays.
8. Oat Hay
Oat hay is a versatile and nutritious forage option, particularly well-suited for horses, cattle, and sheep. Its high fiber content and moderate protein levels make it an excellent choice for maintaining digestive health and providing a balanced diet.
Oat hay is especially beneficial for young, growing animals and lactating females due to its nutrient profile. It is a valuable supplement during the winter months when fresh pasture is limited. Harvested at the milky to dough stage, oat hay retains a high nutritional value and palatability, ensuring livestock readily consume it. Its adaptability to different climates and soil types makes oat hay a reliable and sustainable forage crop for diverse agricultural settings.
Nutrient Content: Variable, but generally moderate in protein and high in fiber.
Suitable For: Horses, cattle, and sheep.
Grazing: Good for pasture grazing in the winter
Considerations: Best harvested before oats fully mature to maintain palatability.
There are many things to consider as you transition to growing hay on your farm: the needs of your current livestock and the ones you are thinking of purchasing in the future, your land and soil, the resources you have available to produce hay, how you'll store it, how you'll manage its consumption, and who you might sell it to. I hope we've been able to give you some information to get you headed in the right direction to support your livestock's nutritional needs on your farm by growing your hay for yourself.
Thanks for reading. We would love to help you estimate or track how much hay you need. Give our hay tracking software a try.
Happy Farming from the team here at Farmbrite!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is alfalfa hay not recommended for all adult livestock?
Alfalfa is a legume that is exceptionally dense in protein, calcium, and energy. While beneficial for young, lactating, or high-performance animals, feeding alfalfa exclusively to mature, sedentary livestock can lead to rapid weight gain, digestive disturbances, and urinary calculi (bladder stones) in male sheep and goats.
What is the main difference between legume hays and grass hays?
Legume hays (such as alfalfa and clover) provide higher concentrations of protein, calcium, and digestible energy, and their root systems naturally fix nitrogen into the soil. Grass hays (such as timothy, orchard grass, and Bermuda grass) offer higher structural fiber and lower protein, making them ideal for daily maintenance diets and healthy digestion in mature animals.
How can I accurately estimate how much hay my livestock will need for the year?
To calculate annual forage needs, factor in your livestock's species, average body weight, physiological state (e.g., lactating vs. idle), and the length of your winter or dry feeding season. Using an online hay estimating calculator alongside digital farm management software allows you to forecast inventory needs and track daily consumption accurately.
Can growing clover hay improve my farm's soil quality?
Yes. As a legume, clover contains root nodules that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable soil nutrient through nitrogen fixation. Incorporating clover into pastures or crop rotation systems enriches soil fertility, boosts companion grass growth, and reduces the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilizers.
What is the ideal moisture content for baled hay?
The ideal moisture level for harvested hay is approximately 15%. Baling hay with excess moisture increases the risk of mold formation, nutrient degradation, and spontaneous combustion during barn storage. Conversely, hay dried below 10% becomes brittle, causing nutrient-rich leaves to shatter and fall off during handling.
