Acceptability of Teff Hay by Horses

Irrigation and Nitrogen Treatments Slightly Affected Teff Yield and Quality in the Southwestern USA

“…Forage nutritive value. Teff crude protein (CP) in this study (Table 3) was consistent with that measured elsewhere (4,6,9,18,19), but greater than that reported by McCown et al (15) and more than sufficient to meet the requirement for maintenance of mature horses when fed a dry matter intake (DMI) of 1.5 to 2.0% of body weight (BW) per day (17). The main effect of irrigation level did not impact CP at any time ( data not shown ) and nitrogen treatment had no effect in the first cutting (Table 3).…”

“…Teff neutral detergent fiber (NDF) measured in this study ( Table 5) was similar to that reported by Clapham et al (4) and Roseberg et al (18) for some studies. However, it was lower than Roseberg et al (18) reported for their other studies, which had been consistent to NDF measured by Hunter et al (9), McCown (15), and Staniar et al (19). As with other components of nutritive value, the irrigation effect was not significant for NDF (data not shown) and neither was the nitrogen treatment for the first cutting (Table 5), but the nitrogen treatment was significant for the second and third cuttings with a reduction in NDF for Split30 compared to Single60 that was consistent to the difference for ADF (Table 4).…”

“…Acid detergent fiber (ADF) in this study also was consistent to (4,9) or lower than that measured elsewhere (6,15,18,19) and not affected by irrigation regime ( data not shown ) or nitrogen level in the first cutting (Table 4). As with the main effect of nitrogen for CP in the second and third cuttings, Split30 was different than Single60 with Single90 being intermediate (Table 4).…”

“…Teff hay, with its very fine stems (16), has been shown to be preferred equally to orchardgrass ( Dactylis glomerata L.) hay by horses, although beef cattle did not express a consistent preference (18). Forage quality of teff harvested at late boot to early heading was similar to full bloom alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), making it acceptable as horse hay (16) although horses tended to prefer alfalfa or timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) hay when given a choice (15). Feeding studies have demonstrated the value of teff for obese horses and others that require lower levels of digestible energy due to risk for metabolic disorders such as laminitis (19).…”

Effect of Soaking on Nitrate Concentrations in Teff Hay

“…The forage analysis revealed the hay had an unusually high crude protein (CP) concentration (29.5%; dry matter (DM) basis). In previous reports, the CP concentration of teff hay was below 20% [6,14,15]. Because of the high CP concentration and the previous report of nitrate accumulation in teff [8], the hay sample was submitted to a commercial forage testing laboratory (Dairy One, Ithaca, NY) for nitrate analysis.…”