Timothy hay cuttings – what is your pets favorite?

Often times we get asked questions that have to do with the different cuttings of timothy hay.

With that in mind, we decided to do this post which outlines the basic characteristics of all three cuttings.

1^st cutting timothy hay characteristics

-Typically harvested in late spring/early summer.

-Highest fiber content, lowest protein and calcium.  Small pets need a high fiber diet so this is one positive about 1^st cutting.

-First cutting timothy hay typically has coarser stems, bigger heads, and a harder texture.  Many small animals can have a harder time eating this hay and may refuse it all together.

2^nd cutting timothy hay characteristics

-Typically harvested mid-summer.

-Slightly less fiber than first cutting, but it still does a good job of providing the high fiber diet small pets need.

-Second cutting timothy is softer and leafier than first cutting. The stems are usually thinner and more pliable.  Generally speaking…this is a good timothy hay that is well liked by rabbits, guinea pigs, and chinchillas.

3^rd cutting timothy hay characteristics

–Typically harvested late summer/early fall.

-Fiber content is significantly lower than first and second cutting timothy hay. The analysis of a 3^rd cutting timothy hay can look similar to an alfalfa analysis (it is a richer hay with lower fiber and higher protein).

-Third cutting timothy hay is super soft…almost like grass clippings.  There is minimal stems and heads.  If you can find good quality third cutting timothy hay, small pets tend to love it…but it is important to understand the reason they love it is because it is so rich.  It is not really doing a great job of providing fiber and chewing material they need because it is almost all leaf and no stem.  For this reason we would not recommend third cutting for adult small pets, however it could be very useful for babies especially if you are trying to ease them off to alfalfa and into a grass hay.

What cutting of timothy hay does Small Pet Select use and why?

First and foremost we try to find the best quality timothy hay possible.  The reason we choose 2^nd cutting timothy hay is because it seems to have the best of both worlds of providing high enough fiber content while still being appetizing to the pet.  While one could make an argument that 1^st cutting timothy hay is higher fiber and so therefore is more nutritional, the problem with this logic is that many pets refuse to eat this coarse textured hay, and if they aren’t eating it obviously it’s not doing its job.  On the flipside, although a good quality 3^rd cutting timothy hay is very rich and appetizing to most pets, it simply isn’t doing a very good job of providing the high fiber content and the chewing material that they need.  This is why we try to find high quality 2^nd cutting timothy hay, a medium textured 2^nd cutting being ideal.  Most pets will love eating lots of this hay and it is doing a great job of providing fiber and chewing material at the same time.  With that said, its also important to understand every pet is different and so has different taste preferences, and no one program is going to work for every pet.

So, what type of hay is your pet currently eating? What are their preferences? Regardless if you’re feeding Small Pet Select hay we encourage you to share, at the end of the day it is all about finding the right hay that works for your pet.

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