What Is Teff Hay for Horses?

Hay comprises the majority of a horses diet. Therefore when owners are able to source a forage that complements their horses nutritional requirements there are numerous benefits. These benefits range from ease of management to better equine health and even lower feed bills. Teff is a species of grass that is gaining popularity for use as horse hay. It is thought to be a great option for both easykeepers and metabolic horses.
Equine Obesity Nutritional Management 
A prevalent concern across the industry is equine obesity with research reporting that 4050 percent of sampled equine populations are considered obese. This is a serious welfare issue that predisposes horses to a plethora of health issues such as metabolic syndrome. Consequently sourcing forage that better matches the nutritional requirements of these horses is becoming increasingly critical to their managemen
Owners of these horses understand how challenging they can be to optimally manage. Oftentimes hay must be restricted to prevent unnecessary weight gain. In metabolic cases hay that is too high in nonstructural carbohydrates NSCs can be detrimental to the horses health causing issues such as laminitis. When hay that does not match the horses nutritional needs is being fed it puts a strain on management with challenges such as soaking hay and safely restricting the forage intake.
About Teff
Teff grass Eragrostis tef also referred to as Summer Lovegrass or Annual Lovegrass is a warmseason grass that originated in Africa. Historically teff has been used as a grain crop in many countries but in recent years has gained popularity as a forage. This grass species tends to thrive in warmer conditions but adapts well to varying environments. A key difference between teff and other common plant species used in horse hay such as timothy or alfalfa is that it is an annual not a perennial which means that it must be replanted each year. Additionally teff is very sensitive to frost when the temperatures drop the plants will die.
In most cases horses that are fed teff hay consume it well. In palatability trials it has been documented that horses prefer alfalfa and timothy over teff but once acclimated to the teff they readily consume it. While this grass species is fibrous which can contribute to the reduced palatability the softer stems generally make it sufficiently palatable for most horses.
If you are considering growing teff as a hay crop there are a few key considerations. Initially due to