Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hey Dr. Getty,
Hope all is going well for you. I have a question for you if you don't mind.
While tequila's coat looks 100 Percent better, and he has not gained any more fat stores, he has developed a hay belly. He is eating half alfalfa and half coastal bermuda grass hay. I am wondering if it might be the coastal bermuda grass, since it is not a very high quality hay as far as I know.
The hays arvailble in my area are alfalfa, oat hay, coastal bermuda grass, orchard grass, and timothy grass. Could you tell me a little about the nutritional differences in these hays? That would be a great help. Is there any other type of hay that you would recomend? If so, why?
thank you again for all you help 
Hi Jamie,
Most grass hays are similar in nutritional content. What makes the content vary is the cutting, the way it is stored, and the age of the hay. The later cuttings typically have more stem and are not as nutritious. Or, if the hay has been stored for many months, it loses valuable vitamins.
A hay belly is a result of fermentation and feeding a poor quality hay will result in more gas formation. Timothy and orchard grass hays are cool weather hays and do have more digestible energy, so you may want to go with one of those, instead of the coastal Bermuda.
Nice hearing from you!
All the best,
Dr. Getty
Hi Jamie,
Three way hay contains some of the grain and I am especially wary of barley, since it is poorly digested in the small intestine, and much of it ends up in the hind gut, where it can cause the destruction of the bacterial flora. So, best bet – stick with a grass hay, and preferably, a grass/alfalfa mixture.
Dr. Getty