Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
Welcome to my forum.
Here you will find more than 6 years of questions and my answers. It is searchable and offers a great deal of information.
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Elba,
The protein content of orchard grass hay is somewhat lower than most grass hays (9% vs approximately 11-13 % for other grasses). I can’t speak to the taste changing after a year of storage. However, the longer hay is stored, the more nutrients it loses. So, storing hay for a year is too long a period of time, in my opinion.
If the hay you have access to is fresh and looks better, it is likely more nutritious than what you’ve been feeding. The only true way to tell would be to have your hays analyzed.
Thanks for writing.
All the best,
Dr. Getty
