Timothy grass is one of the most popular cool-seasoned perennial grasses. Timothy is highly palatable to livestock and produces high quality forage for hay and grazing. It is a premium feed for horses and calves. It is known for being rich in nutrients and high forage quality. Timothy grows best on rich, moist bottomland and on finer textured soils, such as clay loams. The best quality is found in cold climates and mountain areas. Timothy grass does not tolerate drought and periods of prolonged high temperatures above 25 degrees C. Ceads timothy hay is premium quality and comes only from the Eastern part of the mountainous region where the highest temperature even in summer does not exceed 23 degrees C. The highest quality of Timothy hay is typically harvested at the early flowering stage, when it is rich in nutrients and is very tender. The quality of hay may degrade as the plant matures past the blooming stage, so it is very important to harvest the hay at the proper time in growth cycle. We always strive to produce the best quality and highest nutritional value hay by harvesting our hay at an early point of maturity.
Horse owners consider timothy the gold standard in grasses for horses, primarily when it is harvested and cured as hay. It has high fiber and relatively low protein content and is the most digestible of all hays. Timothy hay is often recommended for horses in intensive training programs. Timothy hay is excellent for impaction and colic prone horses and is fed to horses by surgical clinics after impaction surgery in conjunction with alfalfa. Timothy hay is also excellent for foundered and obese horses and it has been said to help mares foal 40% easier. Horses are pasture animals. Their normal activities include grazing anywhere from 10-15 hours a day. Problems can arise in horses that are confined to stalls for long periods of time. They may develop kicking habits due to boredom or hunger or will continuously walk around their stall in circles which causes damage to ligaments and joints. To avoid or decrease this behavior, free feeding timothy is recommended because of the extended chewing time it offers. It will keep them busy and closer to their natural state. Horses that are fed timothy hay will have a shiny coat due to the natural oils timothy has and is perfect for horses that are protein sensitive. Furthermore, timothy hay does not create fat around the diaphragm and this enhances breathing and endurance.
Timothy hay is high in fiber, has a high energy content, and is also easily digested by beef and dairy cattle. Due to its relatively lower protein content, timothy must be combined with alfalfa when used as food for dairy cattle. Hypocalcemia, or milk fever, is a common problem that negatively impacts between 5% to 10% of every herd cattle. Subclinical hypocalcemia can impact up to half a herd at any given time, but typically occurs right before or after calving. This condition makes it difficult for cattle to absorb calcium, so timothy hay’s low-calcium, low-potassium content makes it ideal for dairy herds. To help prevent hypocalcemia, timothy hay is typically added to the cow’s diet 3 to 4 weeks before calving is to occur. The timing helps reduce potassium concentrations within the bloodstream and has considerable effect on the animal’s health. Including this product within a beef herd’s diet has a positive impact on the meat that is eaten by humans. Timothy fed cows are typically low in fat, with tender muscle, and are ideally suited for consumer tastes, which can enhance the cattle’s market value. However, most cattle will not eat a diet consisting solely of timothy hay. For this reason, it is often mixed with alfalfa to create a palatable balance within the cattle’s diet.
