Soft digestible hay is better than stalky, mature forage as it has a lower fibre content and is more palatable. Soft hay is easier to digest than mature forage, which can cause “hay belly” in cattle, leading to poor growth. The best feed is the softest. This type of hay is usually grown with legumes or grasses and is more readily available than mature forage. It contains a higher proportion of protein and lower levels of starch, and is therefore more valuable. Starchier mature forages are also suitable for yearlings but tend to be less palatable. These include ryegrass, fescue, timothy and clover, as well as most grasses. Stalky forages also contain a high proportion of lignin, which is indigestible. The amount of feed required for a yearling depends on many factors including its breed, size and stage of maturity. A yearling has the ability to grow rapidly, which means they will require more food than if they were younger.