Is Coastal hay good for horses?

Coastal hay is a type of Bermuda hay that has a reputation for increasing the risk of ileocecal impaction in horses. The belief that coastal hay causes impactions has been around for a long time, and in some cases might be true; however, Bermuda hay can make excellent forage for horses.

Is Tifton 85 better than Coastal?

When grown as a hay crop, Tifton 85 produces up to two-thirds more forage per acre than coastal. Tifton has a much higher digestibility rate and higher fiber content than Coastal. In addition to all of this, Tifton 85 has been found to be one of the lowest starch and lowest sugar content hay available.

What is the difference between coastal hay and Bermuda hay?

Bermuda hay for horses is a common warm-season grass hay in the South of the United States. For hay, coastal grass is used, because its common counterpart does not reach the needed height. Unlike cool-season grasses, Bermuda hay is lower in protein but higher in fiber.

What is the difference between Tifton and Coastal?

Tifton 85 is also a sterile hybrid; however, there is a distinction between the two. Coastal is a cross whose parents were two bermudagrass species (Cynodon dactylon X Cynodon dactylon). Although more drought tolerant than Coastal, Tifton 85 is less winter hardy because of that tropical parent with no cold hardiness.

Which is better for horses, Bermuda or coastal hay?

There are some varieties of Bermuda, such as Tifton 85, which have courser stems that might reduce the impaction risk. Additionally, in digestibility studies researchers found Tifton 85 had just over 10% greater digestibility when compared to coastal Bermuda, and animals gained and maintained body weight better.

Why does coastal hay cause colic in horses?

Researchers have found correlations between high NDF content and increased impaction colic; this is because NDF is a measure of forage digestibility. The higher the NDF, the less digestible the forage. On the other hand, the less mature the grass at harvest, the lower the NDF content, and the more digestible the hay.

When was coastal hay introduced to the US?

Bermudagrass is native to Southeast Africa and since the early 1800s it has been one of the most important grass species in the Southern United States. Several varieties exist, and coastal Bermuda was introduced to the United States in 1943.

Which is the cheapest hay to buy for a horse?

Bermuda is typically the cheapest grass hay you can purchase for a horse. There are some loose correlations between bermuda grass hay and colic. It could just be a coincidence between colic symptoms and feeding dry forage though. When in doubt, be sure to discuss feeding this hay with your vet.