Late Cut Hay

We use a lot of late first cut hay as feed and bedding for our poultry. Late first cut (“land care hay”) is high carbon, high silica, imparts porosity, has seeds for bird feed from many plants, helps to maintain poultry excreta acidulate which retains protein in compost process (preventing foul odors associated with ammonia nitrogen loss from protein devolution). Long mature grass provides easy pathways for rapid mycelial development (poultry eat fungal mycelia) and sweetens compost process.

Late first cut hay has the energetic and economic advantage of allowing a single annual harvest at a time of year usually best for curing already partially dry grass as hay.