Understanding the different types of hay is the first step to feeding your animals well and spending your money wisely. In New York, buyers choose mainly between grass hays like timothy and orchard grass, legume hays like alfalfa and clover, and straw, which is bedding rather than feed. Each has its own nutritional profile and its own best use.
This guide walks through the most common types of hay you’ll find across NY State, what sets them apart, and which animals they suit best. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to look for the next time you shop.
Grass Hays: The Everyday Workhorses
Grass hays are the backbone of most NY feeding programs. They’re generally lower in protein than legumes, higher in fiber, and easier on the digestive systems of many animals, which makes them a safe, versatile choice. They’re also widely grown across the state, so availability is strong and pricing is usually reasonable.
Timothy Hay
Timothy is the gold standard for horse owners, and for good reason. It offers moderate protein, high fiber, and a low-to-moderate energy level that suits easy keepers and mature horses. The long, soft stems and clean texture make it palatable and easy to digest.
Timothy grows well in New York’s cooler climate, so local supply is dependable. Horse owners lean on it heavily, but it also works well for goats and other small livestock that don’t need rich feed. Browse timothy hay listings to see what NY growers currently have available.
Orchard Grass Hay
Orchard grass is a soft, leafy cool-season grass that’s a touch higher in protein than timothy when cut at the right stage. Animals tend to love it, and it regrows quickly, giving growers multiple cuttings per season. That makes it a productive, palatable option for horses, cattle, and goats alike.
It’s well suited to NY fields and often blended with timothy or other grasses. If you’re after a leafy, nutritious grass hay that most animals eat readily, orchard grass is a strong pick. Check current orchard grass hay listings to compare local options.
Brome and Other Grasses
Brome is another cool-season grass grown in parts of New York. It’s leafy, palatable, and offers a nutritional profile similar to timothy and orchard grass, making it a fine choice for horses and cattle. You’ll often find it mixed into blended hays rather than sold on its own.
Mixed Grass Hay
Much of the hay in NY isn’t a single species but a blend of grasses that grow together in a field. Mixed grass hay gives you a balanced, economical forage that suits a wide range of animals. Quality varies from field to field, so inspecting the bales matters, but a good mix is hard to beat for value.
It’s a practical everyday feed for horses, cattle, goats, and sheep that don’t need the extra richness of legumes. Explore mixed grass hay listings to find versatile, budget-friendly forage near you.
Legume Hays: Higher Protein and Energy
Legume hays pack more protein, calcium, and energy than grass hays, which makes them powerful feed for animals with higher nutritional demands. That richness is a benefit for the right animal and a risk for the wrong one, so legumes are usually fed with more care. According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension, matching forage type to an animal’s stage and workload is key to good nutrition.
Alfalfa Hay
Alfalfa is the heavyweight of the hay world. High in protein, calcium, and energy, it’s ideal for growing, lactating, or hard-working animals that need more than grass can provide. Dairy cattle, performance horses, and nursing goats all benefit from its density.
That same richness means it can be too much for idle horses or easy keepers, so many owners feed it in a mix with grass hay. Alfalfa is grown and traded across NY, though it’s typically priced higher than grass hay. See what’s available in alfalfa hay listings from local sellers.
Clover Hay
Clover is another legume, offering solid protein and energy that sits between grass hay and alfalfa. It’s often grown alongside grasses, producing a nutritious blended hay that many cattle and goats do well on. Because clover can be dusty or mold-prone if not cured properly, buying clean, well-dried bales is especially important.
Straw: Bedding, Not Feed
It’s a common mix-up, so it’s worth stating plainly: straw is not hay. Straw is the dried stalk left over after grain like wheat or oats is harvested, and it has very little nutritional value. Its job is bedding, not feeding.
Straw shines as clean, absorbent bedding for horses, cattle, goats, and poultry. It’s also useful for garden mulch and other farm chores. If you need dry, comfortable bedding for your animals this winter, browse straw listings rather than reaching for feed hay.
Cuttings: First vs. Second
Beyond the plant itself, when the hay was cut affects what you get. First cutting hay, harvested earliest in the season, tends to be coarser and higher in fiber, which suits cattle and animals that need bulk. Second cutting is usually leafier, softer, and richer, making it a favorite for horses and pickier eaters.
Neither is universally better; it depends on your animals. A hardy beef herd may thrive on first cutting, while a stalled horse might do best on leafy second cutting. You can shop directly by first cutting hay or second cutting hay to match your needs.
How to Choose the Right Hay for Your Animals
Start with the animal. Horses generally need clean, dust-free grass hay like timothy or orchard grass, with legumes reserved for those working hard or needing to gain weight. Cattle can handle coarser first-cutting and mixed grass hay, while goats and sheep often do well on a leafy grass or a grass-legume blend.
Whatever type you choose, quality is what really counts. Look for green color, a fresh smell, plenty of leaf, and no dust, mold, or signs of rain damage. A well-cured bale of the right hay will always outperform a poorly stored premium one.
Now that you know the main types of hay, you’re ready to shop with confidence. Explore hay for sale on Empire State Haymarket to compare timothy, orchard grass, alfalfa, mixed grass, and more from local NY growers, and connect directly with sellers to find the right forage for your herd this season.
