What Is Teff Hay for Horses?

earlier in the season and have seed heads by late spring or early summer then become more dormant in the warmer months. The opposite is true for warmseason grasses. This relates to their differences in NSC content. Coolseason grasses require stored NSCs to survive colder temperatures while warmseason grasses grow in warm temperatures where the demand for stored energy is lower and the plant relies on continuous photosynthesis instead of large energy reserves to fuel growth.
Legumes differ as they have greater protein content and are higher energy but typically lower in NSCs than coolseason grasses. Alfalfa birdsfoot trefoil and clover are examples of popular legumes fed to horses. The reason they are typically higher in protein is that they have the capability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere to then make protein. Grasses are not able to fix nitrogen as easily hence the lower protein content.
Therefore warmseason grasses tend to be preferable for easy keepers and metabolic horses due to their lower energy and sugar contents. However because many of those species cannot be successfully grown in colder temperatures it presents a challenge for horse owners who require this type of forage but are not in a warm environment. That is why with the adaptability of teff it is gaining popularity as a forage in Canada specifically for these horses.
Factors That Influence Nutritional Value of Hay 
General trends in the nutritional value of hay depending on the grass and legume species present are important to understand. However they are simply trends and not a hard rule. It cannot be assumed that any hay is safe for a metabolic horse no matter the species present. This is because there are numerous variables that heavily influence the nutritional content of the forage. The growing conditions time of harvest storage conditions and soil health will all have a significant impact. Therefore all hay must be tested prior to feeding.
Harvesting conditions are of the utmost importance to consider as the maturity of the plant largely impacts the nutritional value of the hay harvested. It is well known that the more mature the grass the lower the digestibility tends to be and the greater the fibre content. Very mature grass hay can also be less palatable due to the fibre content.
Importance of Hay Testing 
Hay testing is the only way to know the nutritional content of forage and to determine if it is acceptable for
your horses individual needs. Working with your local feed store or equine nutritionist to collect an accurate forage sample and have an equine analysis done prior to it being fed to horses is recommended. A hay analysis will provide information on the digestible energy content protein fibre sugar and minerals. When you are equipped with this information you can be confident in your horses nutrition program as it takes the guesswork out.
Health issues arising from poor nutrition are numerous and negatively impact the welfare of the horse. Therefore the yearly investment in a hay analysis is critical to optimizing equine wellbeing and doing the best for our beloved equine partners.
Take Home Message 
Equine obesity is an epidemic across the industry and many horse owners face challenges in effectively managing these horses. Investing in forage options that have a nutritional profile better aligned with these horses needs can make a significant difference in their wellbeing and the ease of management. As a warmseason grass teff hay would generally suit the nutritional needs of these types of horses and with the adaptability of growing conditions it can be grown in cooler climates. Remember that many factors above and beyond plant species impact the nutritional value so testing remains critical.