Hay Day: High-Quality Forage for Better Health

Hay: poor

Grass: poor – perennial

Grass: fatal – annual ryegrass

Grass: fatal – Italian ryegrass

Ryegrass is a tall grass that can grow up to 150cm tall. It grows in a clump, with a root system that can be as deep as 1.5m. The leaves are smooth, glossy, flat blades, that are about 14mm wide. Rye leaves are smaller than wheat leaves and are a blueish-green colour.

Rye is a cereal, just like oats and wheat.

There are four types of ryegrass: Annual, perennial Italian and biennial (hybrid).

Ryegrass overall, is high in sugar, and the sugar level increases when the grass is consumed.

Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) is a highly adaptable, used for pasture general grazing, fast growing. It is classed as a major weed in Western Australia. Annual reygrass a host of the Clavibacter spp. bacteria which causes toxicity and it can be infected by ergot fungus. Basically, it can make your bunny sick by poisoning, gangrene, convulsions or death if the ryegrass has little white circles on it with black centres, or the leaf looks like it has a scaly residue on it. Bunnies love the sweet, stalky green grass (or hay) because it is high in sugar. Too much annual rye grass can cause digestive upsets.

According to MSD Veterinary Manual, annual Ryegrass toxicosis is also known as Stewart range syndrome, floodplains staggers, and corynetoxin poisoning. Bacterial corynetoxins cause this often fatal neurologic disorder characterized by gait abnormalities, tremors, and convulsions. There is no effective treatment, and most severely affected animals die. Annual ryegrass toxicosis is endemic to agricultural areas of western and southern Australia; it also occurs in South Africa.

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is high in sugar – Early Spring 16%DM, Spring 14%DM, Sumer 27%DM, Fall 26.6%DM. Perennial ryegrass has 2-3% higher carbohydrate content than annual ryegrass.

Initially, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) is high quality, palatable and nutritious. Good winter feed. Regrowth through autumn, winter and spring. It was known to be great for balls and hay racks, wearing back teeth really well, especially when not chopped or pressed. It also increased body mass for meat rabbits due to high sugar content. Now, because it is covered with a deadly fungus, Italian ryegrass will kill animals that consumes it. It is classed as a major weed in Western Australia.

Hybrid/Biennial Ryegrass (Lolium boucheanum) is a breed made from perennial and Italian ryegrass, therefore it is a hybrid. It is not suitable to feed rabbits.

Hay: fatal

Grass: average

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is a cereal crop. It can be grazed as fresh grass, or cut for hay after the grain has been harvested.

Barley is annual, which means it does not regrow unless it is resewn. It is an erect, tufted grass that grows between 50-120cm high. Leaves are about 25cm long, straight and placed opposite their neighbours up the stem. Barley leaves are broader than other cereals, and it also produces more leaves.

Barley has large seed heads (10-12cm long) with long spikes which can measure between 5-10cm.

Barley grass is often grown with oaten grass to neutralise the nutrients in the soil. Seed heads can be found in oaten hay bales and they must be removed.

Protein in barley grass decreases slightly from flowering stage to dead stage. As the grass matures and starts to die, the starch level increases.

Barley grass is prone to nitrate accumulation that can lead to nitrate toxicity in animals that can result in death. If nitrogen levels exceed 0.2%, they are considered toxic to all animals. Barley forage contains 0.23% when it is young and growing, and 2.2% when bailed.

Some barley grass (as hay) is fine for rabbits, but never feed it as the only hay to a rabbit as it gain weight if given too much, which can be good for meat rabbits, excessive amounts can lead to toxicity.

Barley grass (fresh) is better for bunnies as the nitrogen is not as high as it is in barley hay. It’s good to include barley grass into your rabbit’s diet.

Hay: fatal

Grass: poor

There are over 25,000 different varieties of wheatgrass. The one that is safe for rabbits is Triticum aestivum. Scientists find classifying wheat very difficult, and often have conflicting approaches. The five main agreed types of wheat are:

1. Common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), used for flour, bread, grains in feed
2. Durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.), used for pasta, semolina. It is found in animal feed but it is not safe for rabbits.
3. Spelt (Triticum spelta L.), used for specialty foods.
4. Emmer (Triticum dicoccum Schrank ex Schübler), used for crops and specialty foods
5. Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.), used for food crops

Wheat is a cereal, and is ranked third behind maize and rice in production levels.

Wheat is a strong, tufted annual grass that grows between 0.4-1.2m tall. It is variable in size due to the weather and the type of species. The leaves are flat, about 1-3cm wide and 20-28cm long. The leaf gets thicker towards the stem.

Wheat stores proteins (albumins, gliadins and glutenins) that are known to cause allergies in humans due to the gliadins. Gluten can be fatal in large quantities in rabbits when they are fed a large amount of wheat flour. It forms in dough balls in the stomach and blocks digestion, which in turn starves the animal to death.

Wheat, like barley are susceptible to fungal diseases, mainly the Fusarium species, which occurs when flowering and when the weather is warm. It is carcinogenic to animals, and can cause neurologic, haematologic and digestive effects.

A rabbit should not have more than 1g of wheat a week.

Hay: average

Grass: average

What’s the deal with Timothy hay?

I’m going to be honest. Timothy hay is only marketing hype. It is no better than any other hay. It has high sugar content, high crude fat and in the medium-high range on crude protein, and it wears down bunny’s teeth just like any other hay.

Timothy hay is an American grass that doesn’t take much care and grows really fast (just over a month), which means they can harvest it frequently (and make more money). The plant gets its name from Timothy Hanson in the 1700’s who promoted it as as a pasture grass. Because of his recommendations it became a major source of food for cattle in the 1700’s.

Timothy grass is also known as cat’s tail. It gets confused with meadow foxtail, but they are completely different.

The only time Timothy hay is high in fibre is when it is cut late. Most of the time animals wont eat Timothy if it is cut earlier because it is coarse and sour tasting.

I wouldn’t waste my money on it. I’d get a high-fibre low-sugar pasture hay that has a mix of different grasses and flavours and it can pick and choose what it feels like it wants to eat.

Timothy grass (Phleum pratense) is regarded as an environmental weed in Victoria and as a minor environmental weed or “sleeper weed” in other temperate regions of southern Australia. This species is often planted as a pasture or fodder plant in cooler areas, or occasionally as a soil stabiliser, and prefers heavy soils in moist habitats. It has since spread from these deliberate plantings and invaded natural vegetation.

Timothy grass grows in cool areas. It does not tolerate drought and extended periods of above 25ºC. The best growing temperatures are between 18-22ºC with night temperatures above 10ºC.

It grows in clumps from 50cm-1m tall. The leaves are smooth, hairless, pale green to greyish-green. They are rolled when young and become flat and pointed, slightly rough on the edges and about 3-10mm wide and 30-45cm long.

The seed heads are cylindrical and about 15cm long.

Timothy grass is often mixed with clover and lucerne to give better performance, but for rabbits it is grown in specialty pastures.

Timothy grass is better for your bunny than Timothy hay.

Timothy hay has a fair amount of sugar in it, nearly 10%. While Timothy grass doesn’t have sugar in it.

Timothy hay has up to 12% carbohydrates in it, while Timothy grass doesn’t.

Timothy grass is higher in protein compared to Timothy hay.

Recommendations

Give bunnies from under 5 months of age mixed with lucerne, or the bunny won’t eat it as an adult. Timothy is good for dental wearing.

Hay: average

Grass: average

Cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) is a tufted, deep-rooted, perennial grass. It grows from 60-150cm tall. Leafs are30-60cm ling, and 5-10mm wide. Seed heads are 8-20cm long with one-sided clusters.

It produces more foliage through summer, because it is very hard wearing. It grows well in shade and in full sun, and that’s the reason why they use it in vineyards and orchards.

Cocksfoot hay is a very healthy option for rabbits. Even though the grass has sugar in it, it is still a healthy option.

Hay: Unavailable

Grass: average

Canarygrass is perfect to fill in the “summer slump” when other grasses are seeding.

It develops in early spring and late autumn. Shoots that grow only last a year, while those that develop in autumn or winter survive through the following year.

Seed heads develop in spring and mature in summer. New buds form on the old stalks during summer. The seed heads are between 5-15cm long and about 1.5cm in diameter.

It is tolerant to wet soils and also survives in drought soils due to its deep roots.

Canarygrass is hard to establish, but once it is established, it is aggressive, like orchard grass. Canarygrass must be kept short (min 30cm) because overgrowth will cause low quality.

Leaves are hairless, flat, straight and about 40cm, long and 2cm wide. The sheath has a reddish colour.

In Australia we have many species of Canarygrass:

1. Phalaris minor
2. Phalaris paradoxa
3. Phalaris aquatica
4. Phalaris arundinacea

Hay: average

Grass: average

Prairie grass (Bromus catharticus syn. Bromus wildenowii) has almost hairless leaves, droping seed heads that are shaped like flat spikelets. It is a tufy grass, heat resilient, and grows well in summer and with low rainfall. It can get to 1m high. It aggressively competes with other plants for water and nutrients.

It is a perennial grass. It’s seeds germinate from autumn to spring, and it flowers from September to January. Seeds can remain viable in the soil for up to three years. It grows rapidly through winter to spring, especially if watered frequently.

It is a fantastic replacement for rye grass due to its tolerance to heat and lack of moisture. Animals prefer Prairie grass over ryegrass because it keeps its leaves throughout it’s entire life cycle.

Prairie grass loses nutrition if it is harvested twice a year. Prairie grass cut in November – December has over 10% protein and 60% TDN. As the grass gets older, its quality declines. If it’s cut around January, protein will be around 5% and TDN around 45%.

Hay: fair

Grass: average

Oat plant is an annual grass that is grown for its grain, which is one of the main cereals worldwide. Historically, oats were grown for forage then allowed to grow again and were then harvested for their grains.

The plant grows to 1.2m tall, with straight leaves that are about 15-40cm long and 0.6-1.5cm wide. It’s seed heads are 0.6-0.6cm in length.

Due to the hardiness of the dry plant, farmers sometimes use oat hay to cover the muddy ground during winter.

It is called “oaten” before it seeds, and then it is called “oat” when it has seeded.

Oat hay has been reported to cause digestive and bowel occlusions in some animals.

Rabbits get more benefit out of the pre-flowering plant, rather than the hay. When eating the grass, rabbits get around 60% DM, 78% protein and 32% crude fibre. In India, they only feed Angora rabbits oat grass because it helps with hair growth due to the protein. In Tunisia they mix oat grass with vetch (30% vetch, 70% oat) to help the rabbits produce more kittens.

Hay: fatal

Grass: fatal

It’s safer to not feed your bunny any type of fescue, it has a type of fungi (ergot) that grows on it that can kill bunnies (and humans). The grass itself is fine, but the fungi will often be growing on it. The fungi is black and grows in long worm-like segments.

The only nearly safe fescue is Tall Fescue, especially if it is mixed with Australian native grasses in a seed mix. It is less likely to have ergot due to the herbicides and fertilisers that are included in treated seed mixes.

I have an article on Plant Diseases.

Hay: average

Grass: fair

Lucerne, known as alfalfa outside Australia, is a perennial legume, that is one of the most important plants of the world. It is an important source of protein for young and nursing rabbits. Its roots ca go down as far as 4m, but can reach 6-7m in well-drained soils. The plant grows to 1m tall, with hairy upper parts. The leaves are about 10-45mm long and 3-10mm wide. It grows between 5-40 yellow, blue or purple flowers. It’s curly 2-8 seed-pods turn from green to brown.

Lucerne can be cut up to 12 times (in warm regions) a year. The best stage to cut it is 25-50% flowering, after that the nutrition drops after that.Bailing should be done at 82% DM.

Hay: Unavailable

Grass: danger

Bermuda grass is also known as Couch. It is drought tolerant, and is great for high traffic areas in a lawn.

Rabbits can eat couch, but not too much throughout the day – only about 2g per kilo of body weight. Any more than that, the rabbit will start to get digestion problems. It is best to mix with other grasses.

Rabbits can get a very sensitive stomach and intestine when given too much couch in a short period. It can cause irritations in the small intestine.

Hay: excellent – when at mature to overripe stage

Grass: excellent – when at milk to mature stage

Kentucky Bluegrass is a popular grass because it is hardier than bent and makes an attractive lawn. It withstands most extreme Australian temperatures, but particularly does well in New South Wales, northern Victoria and South Australia. It is usually in mixes with rye grass and tall fescue.

It is a dark green, textured, cool season grass. It has smooth shiny leaves with a point at the tip.

Rabbits love bluegrass; they will eat it all year except for summer where it changes nutrition because it is seeding. If your lawn is bluegrass, they will keep it short for you!

Hay: fair

Grass: fair

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) lives for 2-4 years. It is a legume that grows in temperate areas. Flowers are pink or magenta coloured and 10-15cm long, they are formed by clusters of many tubes.

It is best to plant it in autumn so it provides good ground coverage over winter.

Red clover is high in protein, and can cause urinary calculi (clover stones), it may also cause a boost in estrogen. It may disrupt reproductive cycles and impair fertility.

Young rabbits love red clover, and can save up to 37% of pellets without affecting growth rate. When red clover, by itself, is the main forage for rabbits, it will cause enteritis.

Hay: average

Grass: average

White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is a creeping perennial legume. The plant will have between 20-40 flowers.

For rabbits, white clover is a well-loved source of protein and fibre. Grass hay that has clover in it will be a favourite for rabbits. Giant rabbits need a diet of white clover and ryegrass hay, as it supports their growth more substantially.

White clover contains saponins, a molecule that seems to have no negative effects on rabbits, and 86-90% of them are destroyed by digestive flora.

Hay: Unavailable

Grass: excellent

Blowfly grass (Briza maxima) is also known as Quaking grass. It originated in the Mediterranean and the Iberian Peninsula and is classed as a weed in Australia. However, rabbits love it (probably because they both originated on the Iberian Peninsula).

Most countries use it as an ornamental grass to add creativity to gardens and bouquets.

It grows to about 60cm tall. When it starts flowering the seed heads are about 1cm long with a red base and green body. As the seeds mature they turn into a multi-level spikelets look like blowflies with brown eyes. A spikelet can be 14-25mm long and 8-15mm wide.

Blowfly grass is known to have great health benefits for rabbits, although it is really difficult to locate a nutritional panel with any meaning. Studies have not really been conducted on Blowfly grass because it is classed as a prolific weed in Australia, which is a shame, because it is a herbivore favourite.

Native grasses in Australia make up a major quantity of grass hay that is baled on properties and farms. I’m not going to go through every single native grass in Australia, but I will name a few that your bunny will like to eat as grass and as hay:

• Wallaby Grass
• Kangaroo Grass
• Silky Bluegrass
• Burra Weeping Grass
• Sweet Vernal
• Honey Reed Grass
• Weeping Rice Grass
• Red Grass
• Bottlebrush Grass

Hay: average

Grass: average

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is also known as “Tef” and Williams Lovegrass. Teff is a cereal, grown for its grain and forage, it is a staple food in Ethiopia for humans and the hay is a staple for animals. It is gluten-free. It also helps with lowering erosion around dry areas because it has a shallow root system and it makes good ground cover.

Teff grows really fast, and provides a good quality and quantity.

It is a leafy, tufted grass that grows to 150-200cm at maturity. Leaves are 25-45cm long and 0.1-0.5cm wide. The seed head is a long panicle 10-65cm long.

Teff is mainly used for ruminants (cows and sheep), so there isn’t much data about feeding it to rabbits and it is considered safe.

Tef is low protein, with high NDF content, which means it is better than legume hays. Digestible energy is 7.2 MJ/kcal DM, which is significantly lower than lucerne (alfalfa) hay.

Tef hay should be considered as a low energy low protein forage, and mainly given as a source of fibre. Tef is deficient on lysine, and only covers 70% of the recommendations for rabbits.

Hay: poor

Grass: danger – Hairy vetch

Grass: danger – Common vetch

Vetch is an annual legume that is used as a disease break in cereal cropping rotations. It can be used to replace lucerne to fatten rabbits, or nursing does.

There are several types of vetch, wild rabbits prefer hairy vetch, domestic rabbits usually get common vetch as forage or as hay because hairy vetch causes intoxication.

Common vetch seeds can be given to rabbits up to 10% of their diet, and forage can be as high as 60% to fatten rabbits. Mixed grasses that include common vetch is a better option. However, too much common vetch in the diet will inhibit absorption of calcium and negatively influence bone health. That is because it has a lower calcium value than phosphorus, and this causes digestive issues.

Hay: Unknown

Grass: fair

Rabbits like veldt. It is a tufted plant that grows to 70cm tall. Leaves don’t have hairs, but they have a hairy stem.

There are different varieties of veldt: Panic Veldt Grass (Ehrharta Erecta), Perennial Veldt Grass (Ehrharta calycina) and annual veldt grass (Ehrharta longiflora).

Veldt is considered an aggressive, almost constantly in seed, spreading ground cover grass.

Veldt is also considered to be a high fire risk, and in some states in Australia it must be reported and removed according to the regualtions.

Veldt has a high fibre content when the grass is growing through to maturing and into it’s wood stage. Younger plants have a low fibre/high protein value, while older plants are high fibre/low protein.

Hay: fair

Grass: fair

Brome (Bromus stamineus) is closely related to prairie grass. Dense in harsh environments. Best in well-drained soils.

An excellent choice for bunnies. It is tender, sweet and healthy.

Hay: fatal

Grass: fatal

Kikuyu is an aggressive, vigorous perennial that spreads quickly and forms dense swards. It has a deep root syste, down to 3m, the root system is denser 15cm from the topsoil. Runners of the plant that travel across the ground can reach up to 5m long. Leaves are blade shaped, about 15cm long by 5mm wide.

Kikuyu causes poisoning. Several classes of plant toxinf and mycotoxins can cause inflammation of the gastrointesional mucosa which causes the toxicity. It can also damage the caecum, so that it cannot function adequately and will cause the rabbit to die.

Kikuyu also accumulates oxalic acid and creates acute toxicity, because the oxalates reform into carbon dioxide in the gut. This then binds the calcium in the system and results in hypocalcaemia.

Kikuyu also causes nitrate poisoning. This is caused by consumption of the lush growth, which generates excessive nitrogen, causing nitrate poisoning. Nitrates are generally non-toxic, but they transform into ammonia, in the caecum, produces toxic nitrates that bind with haemoglobin and prevent blood from binding with oxygen, resulting in oxygen starvation of the tissues and death.

Hay: fatal

Grass: fatal

It has been reported that Buffalo grass, the seeds and stalks stick in the throats of animals and choke them.

It contains haemostatic glucoside that reduces blood clotting by 50%.

Rabbits don’t like eating Buffalo grass because it has a bad flavour.