Part 3 – Top Tips for Sourcing Appropriate Forage
Following on from Part 1 – Understanding the Options, AND Part 2 – Questions to ask your forage supplier, both of which you should read first, in this article, we are going to give you some Top Tips for Sourcing Forage.
Top Tips for Sourcing Appropriate Forage
- Know your supplier
Your forage supplier is a key part of your team. Visit them if possible to understand their production. - Equire Early
Contact new suppliers early for next year’s stock. - Be clear about what you want
Understand forage terms and your horse’s requirements. - Buy Early
Buying early can secure better prices and ensure availability in case of a poor harvest.
Key Terminology:
- Yield: The amount of grass produced from a field.
- Cut: Refers to the timing of harvest-first, second, or third cuts.
Commercial producers may achieve up to three cuts per season, while less commercial producers, may only get one. Typically, the timing of the cut (i.e. how mature the grass is at the point of harvest) impacts nutritional content to a greater extent than the cut number. - Seed Hay or Haylage: Specifically grown for forage, usually from one or a few grass species like ryegrass, making it more consistent than
