Hay Report: Coarse Timothy Hay [2022]
Written by The Rabbit Hole Hay Team
In 2019, we decided to change our Timothy Hay product names from First Cut, Second Cut, and Third Cut to more accurately describe the hay you and your small pet would be receiving. They are now known as Coarse Timothy, Medium Timothy, and Soft Timothy.
Why The Name Change?
The main reason behind the name change was we wanted your experience with our products to be more consistent and for you to receive what you expect with each box of Timothy Hay. While referring to a cut of hay by the order in which it was harvested from the field (first, second, and third) is an accurate and precise way to reference it, it does nothing to describe the quality and texture you want to buy.
Over the last ten years, we found we often use the terms like soft, coarse, and leafy to accurately describe the texture of the hay to our customers. It was with that thinking we decided to change our names to something everyone understands.
What is Coarse Timothy Hay Then?
Coarse Timothy Hay is almost always harvested from the first cut. However, in the past we have inspected and rejected beautiful second cut hay because it was ‘too coarse.’ Which is extremely silly as we know you would’ve loved it!
We now provide you with the highest quality hay we can find that meets the standards for what Coarse Timothy Hay should be, regardless if it’s from the first or second cut.
Coarse Timothy Hay should have these qualities:
Harvest: First or second cut of pure Timothy Hay
Color: Described as a mint or olive green. Earlier in the season the hay grows quickly, resulting in a lighter green color.
Stems/Stalks: The stems of Coarse Hay are one of the most notable features of the hay. It should have fully developed stalks (stems), many of which will be hollow. The hollow-ness will cause the hay to feel stiff and rough, which is why we are calling it Coarse.
Leaves: The leaves should be broad and less than half of the total amount of hay.
Seed Heads/Flowers: The seed heads, also called flowers, should be fully developed and will generally be between 2-3 inches long on average with small purple wisps.
Our goal is to offer the highest quality hay, however, all naturally grown and harvested hay holds minor imperfections such as dust, weeds, leaf crush, and brown leaf. The ideal version of Coarse Timothy Hay would have none of these.
October 2022 Coarse Timothy Hay Report
The 2022 Ultra Premium Coarse Timothy Hay we have in stock is currently a first cut. We had a cool spring with minimal rain, this caused the hay to grow much slower and put the hay under stress. The harvest occurred on schedule in early June with a shorter than expected stalk and thinner stocks. The Coarse Timothy Hay this year is much closer to a Medium Timothy Hay of years past.
Here is the report on what we have in stock:
Overall Rating: 7/10
Harvest: First cut of pure Timothy Hay, it was harvested in July of 2022.
Location: Northern California
Color: Medium Green
Stems/Stalks: Averaging 8-12" in length and up to 1/8" in diameter
Leaves: There are a moderate amount of leaves with the leaf length up to 8"
Seed Heads/Flowers: Fully developed, averaging at 2" in length.
Leaf Crush: Very minimal
Weeds: Slight Brome, which is actually a Hay that we sell in our Mountain Grass, it is a nutritious grass hay that is completely safe for your pet to enjoy.
Brown Leaf: Very light.
Dust: None.
Summary: This year's Coarse Timothy Hay is more like the Medium Timothy Hay we've had in years past.
Order 2022 Coarse Timothy Hay Below!
Ultra Premium Coarse Timothy Hay
This year's Coarse Timothy Hay is more like the Medium Timothy Hay we've had in years past.
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