Introduction
Late-season hay growth — whether in September, October or even November — can be a blessing or a disappointment.
Cooler weather often brings a fresh flush of grass, but this late growth behaves very differently from early-season forage.
So the question is:
➡️ Does late-season growth make good winter feed?
➡️ Or is it lower-quality hay you should avoid?
This guide explains how late-season hay affects nutrition, digestibility and livestock performance.
1. Why Late-Season Growth Happens
Late-season growth is driven by:
- cooler temperatures
- rainfall after summer drought
- reduced evaporation
- slowed plant maturity
Grasses enter a recovery phase, focusing on energy storage rather than stem elongation.
But lower daylight hours change everything.
2. Late-Season Growth Is Leafy — But Not Always Nutritious
Autumn hay tends to look green and leafy, but that doesn’t guarantee high feed quality.
Reasons:
- low sunlight → reduced sugars
- slow growth → lower protein accumulation
- dew and moisture → slow drying and higher mould risk
- early frost → cellular damage
The hay looks good but may test lower in energy (ME) and protein.
3. Fibre Levels Drop — Which Can Be Good or Bad
Late-season hay usually has:
- lower ADF (Acid Detergent Fibre)
- lower NDF (Neutral Detergent Fibre)
- softer stems
This makes the hay:
✔ easier to chew
✔ more palatable
✔ good for cattle needing bulk
But…
Lower fibre means:
✘ less rumen stimulation
✘ reduced winter weight maintenance if nutrition is low
✘ risk of underfeeding high-demand animals
4. Protein Levels Vary Widely
Late-season hay may have:
- 6–10% protein in grass-only fields
- 10–16% if legumes (clover/alfalfa) are present
Protein content depends heavily on:
- soil nitrogen
- plant maturity at cutting
- whether it’s a regrowth or a stressed stand
A forage test is essential for accurate feeding rates.
5. Sugar (WSC) and Energy Are Usually Lower
Shorter days = reduced photosynthesis.
This leads to:
- lower sugar (WSC)
- lower starch
- lower ME (Metabolisable Energy)
Animals needing high-energy feed, such as horses or lactating cows, may struggle on late-season hay alone.
6. Drying Late-Season Hay Is More Difficult
Autumn hay’s biggest challenge is drying.
Late-season hay suffers from:
- heavy morning dew
- shorter drying days
- cooler temperatures
- higher humidity
- slower evaporation
This increases the risk of:
- mould
- spoilage
- heating
- botulism (in wrapped haylage if baled too dry)
7. Frost-Damaged Growth: Use with Caution
A hard frost can:
- rupture plant cells
- encourage mould
- reduce sugar content
- decrease palatability
While cattle often eat frost-damaged hay, horses and high-performance livestock may refuse it.
8. Which Livestock Benefit Most from Late-Season Hay?
✔ Beef Cattle
Excellent for maintenance feed.
Provides bulk with moderate nutrition.
✔ Sheep
Good for dry ewes or maintenance feeding.
✔ Goats
Acceptable if mould-free and leafy.
✔ Dairy Heifers (Non-Lactating)
Good for body condition stability.
9. Which Livestock Need Higher-Quality Hay?
Typically require higher energy and cleaner forage.
❌ Lactating Cows
Need more energy and protein.
❌ Young Stock / Calves
Require higher ME for growth.
❌ Goats in milk
High nutritional demand.
If feeding late-season hay to these groups, supplement with:
- grain
- alfalfa
- mineral licks
- higher-quality early-cut hay
10. Should You Cut or Leave Late-Season Growth?
Cut It If:
✔ ample regrowth
✔ dry weather window
✔ you need maintenance hay
✔ weeds are low
✔ frost hasn’t destroyed quality
Leave It If:
✘ yields are too low
✘ weeds dominate
✘ drying weather is poor
✘ ground is soft and risks damage
✘ it’s too close to winter for curing
Leaving growth can protect crowns and improve spring vigour.
Conclusion
Late-season hay growth can be a useful resource for winter feeding — but only if you understand its limitations.
It’s usually leafy, soft and palatable, but lower in energy, sugar and protein than early-season cuts.
It’s great for maintenance feed for cattle, sheep and goats, but less ideal for horses or milking animals without supplementation.
At PremiumHaySupply.com, we test and sort our hay by season and nutrient profile to ensure every customer gets the right feed for their livestock.
What Role Does Late-Season Growth Play in Feed Value for Winter Stock?
Introduction
Late-season hay growth — whether in September, October or even November — can be a blessing or a disappointment.
Cooler weather often brings a fresh flush of grass, but this late growth behaves very differently from early-season forage.
So the question is:
➡️ Does late-season growth make good winter feed?
➡️ Or is it lower-quality hay you should avoid?
This guide explains how late-season hay affects nutrition, digestibility and livestock performance.
1. Why Late-Season Growth Happens
Late-season growth is driven by:
Grasses enter a recovery phase, focusing on energy storage rather than stem elongation.
But lower daylight hours change everything.
2. Late-Season Growth Is Leafy — But Not Always Nutritious
Autumn hay tends to look green and leafy, but that doesn’t guarantee high feed quality.
Reasons:
The hay looks good but may test lower in energy (ME) and protein.
3. Fibre Levels Drop — Which Can Be Good or Bad
Late-season hay usually has:
This makes the hay:
✔ easier to chew
✔ more palatable
✔ good for cattle needing bulk
But…
Lower fibre means:
✘ less rumen stimulation
✘ reduced winter weight maintenance if nutrition is low
✘ risk of underfeeding high-demand animals
4. Protein Levels Vary Widely
Late-season hay may have:
Protein content depends heavily on:
A forage test is essential for accurate feeding rates.
5. Sugar (WSC) and Energy Are Usually Lower
Shorter days = reduced photosynthesis.
This leads to:
Animals needing high-energy feed, such as horses or lactating cows, may struggle on late-season hay alone.
6. Drying Late-Season Hay Is More Difficult
Autumn hay’s biggest challenge is drying.
Late-season hay suffers from:
This increases the risk of:
7. Frost-Damaged Growth: Use with Caution
A hard frost can:
While cattle often eat frost-damaged hay, horses and high-performance livestock may refuse it.
8. Which Livestock Benefit Most from Late-Season Hay?
✔ Beef Cattle
Excellent for maintenance feed.
Provides bulk with moderate nutrition.
✔ Sheep
Good for dry ewes or maintenance feeding.
✔ Goats
Acceptable if mould-free and leafy.
✔ Dairy Heifers (Non-Lactating)
Good for body condition stability.
9. Which Livestock Need Higher-Quality Hay?
❌ Horses (especially performance horses)
Typically require higher energy and cleaner forage.
❌ Lactating Cows
Need more energy and protein.
❌ Young Stock / Calves
Require higher ME for growth.
❌ Goats in milk
High nutritional demand.
If feeding late-season hay to these groups, supplement with:
10. Should You Cut or Leave Late-Season Growth?
Cut It If:
✔ ample regrowth
✔ dry weather window
✔ you need maintenance hay
✔ weeds are low
✔ frost hasn’t destroyed quality
Leave It If:
✘ yields are too low
✘ weeds dominate
✘ drying weather is poor
✘ ground is soft and risks damage
✘ it’s too close to winter for curing
Leaving growth can protect crowns and improve spring vigour.
Conclusion
Late-season hay growth can be a useful resource for winter feeding — but only if you understand its limitations.
It’s usually leafy, soft and palatable, but lower in energy, sugar and protein than early-season cuts.
It’s great for maintenance feed for cattle, sheep and goats, but less ideal for horses or milking animals without supplementation.
At PremiumHaySupply.com, we test and sort our hay by season and nutrient profile to ensure every customer gets the right feed for their livestock.
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