Fiber is important for the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. While the type of hay is important, quality is a more important. Whether feeding a grass, legume or mixed hay, make sure it's high-quality. If you don't have a nutrient analysis of the hay, here's how to evaluate it. Evaluate it on maturity, leafiness, fineness, color and freedom from mold, weeds, insects and foreign materials.
Maturity is important to hay quality.
As plants become more mature, they contain less energy and protein and are less digestible and palatable. They become stemmy with fewer leaves. Seed heads in grasses and flowers on legumes are indicators of a plan t's maturity. Young, growing plants, on the other hand, have more leaves than stems. Leaves contain twice the nutritive value of stems.