[MissBandit]

I know we have some hay farmers on here. Can someone please explain to me what makes the later cuts better than the first, and dispel any myths there may be regarding 1st cut alphalfa.

Thanks so much in advance.

[tn walker]

Typically the second cut of hay is the best around here. The first cut gets all of the weeds and impurities from the field, therefore lowering the quality and nutrients of the hay. Second cuts still have a LOT of the nutrients (as long as it is cut on proper time) without all of the impurities of the field. Same as with later cuts. As far as alfalfa goes, I would be concerned with the presence of blister beetles in ALL cuttings...primarily the first.

[Sandra-A1]

First cut hay is fine it is just usually weedier than the second cuttings. The second cut is usually cleaner and has thinner more tender stalks than a first cutting. We prefer to feed Tifton #44 Bermuda grass hay and have no problem with a first cut out of a well-kept field. If the field is not well managed then a second cut is preferred.

Particularly in the southwest, second cut or later alfalfa hay may contain blister beetles, which can be lethal to horses.

If the alfalfa hay (or the alfalfa in your mixed grass hay) has purple flowers, much of its nutrition has been lost.

Horsemen are very opinionated on which cutting is the best to buy. Although there are some differences in the cuttings, the quality of the hay is much more important than the cutting. From a nutritional standpoint, all cuttings can result in prime horse hay. With alfalfa, there will be some variation in protein content between cuttings. First cut alfalfa hay has the reputation of having large tough stems, but this is only true if the hay was too mature when cut. If first cut hay is mowed at the pre-bloom stage, the stems will not be coarse and the nutritive value will be high. Weeds do tend to appear in first-cut hay.

Second cut alfalfa hay is usually the fastest growing because it is developing during the hottest part of the season, and it usually has more stem in relation to leaf. Of all cuttings, second cut tends to be the lowest in crude protein, but its 16 percent average is adequate for all classes of horses.

Third (and later) cut alfalfa, develops a higher leaf to stem ratio because of the slower growth during the cool part of the season. Therefore, third cut hay will usually have the highest nutritive value. Horses which are not accustomed to a good, leafy hay may experience flatulent (gaseous) colic or a loose stool.

Mixed hays from all cuttings will have similar nutritional values except that with a grass/alfalfa mix, the first cutting will contain a larger proportion of grasses than the other cuttings.

[Paintlover]

1st cut is best around here. The second one has a ton of red clover (rabies!!!! )

[John]

The second cut of alphalfa will have a higher tdn rating (total digestive nutriants) than the first and the largest reason is related to the amount of sunshine in the growing stage. For the same reason hay from eastern Washington is higher than Fraser valley hay.

[wyldterv]

Originally Posted by Paintlover

1st cut is best around here. The second one has a ton of red clover (rabies!!!! )

Are you suggesting that horses can get Rabies from red clover??? Because if that's the case, it's a mistaken idea. Red clover CAN cause slobbering but NOT because of rabies, the slobbering is a result of a mold that grows on the red clovers in hot, humid weather. Slobbering is rarely a major health problem but many people dislike feeding any red clover because they find the slobbering unsightly and unpleasant.

NOT all slobbering equates to rabies

[Velocity]

Horses cannot contract rabies from red clover. We feed 2nd and 3rd cutting alfalfa. 1st cutting is very stalky, tough, and low in nutritional value. 3rd cutting is the softest with the highest leaf content. (more leaves, less stalks)

[MissBandit]

Thank you for all your replies.

[Super Step]

Some of the stem or stalk depends on what the grower uses for fertilizer.
I am more framilar with grass hays but interact with growers of different types of hay.
I like to fertilize early in the year with 13-13-13. I put 400 lbe per acre. This fertilizer is 13% nitrate, 13% ash and 13% phosphate. It will built the soil and will also grow stem. If I have rain and can not cut before the bermuda grass begins to mature and form a head or seed out, then I am going to have a field of hay that has a large stem and less relative feed value.

My second, third and fourth cuts are fertilized with 33% nitrate and 67% lime filler. This will grow leaf and not much stem. I can let these cuts go longer while waiting on the weather with out being as concerned about over maturation.

My first cut can be totally weed free if I spray with a non-selective herbicide in March before the Bermuda emerges. I do not like to use chemicals though I am forced to about every 4th year. In the good old days I could burn the field in late winter and rid myself of weeds and dormant seeds. I have to get a permitt to do that now.
I will bale my last cut this Saturday. I am not pleased with the quality of the hay, and have told the buyers as much.
This has been my worst hay producing year ever. Both in quanity and quality.
My first cut usually tests higher in protien and relative fee value. But not by much.