If you thought that hay and straw are synonymous with each other and they mean the very same thing, then you are wrong. As most farmers and agro-business owners know, hay and straw are very different from each other. Knowing what is the difference between straw and hay is going to make you understand how simple it is.
It is normal for people to get confused about these two. Both are plant products and both have wide uses in the farming business. So it is very common to not know that they are different from each other. Now let’s look at how they are different.
Hay
This is basically dried grass and legumes. After grass and other plants get harvested, the discarded parts are left to dry in the sun. These are then collected as bales of hay.
This is why these can be used to feed cattle.
Good quality hay will be green in color and it will also smell sweet. These are great to feed cattle with. It is best to not try to feed old brown hay to rabbits because it is then not nutritionally very good. But good quality hay is closer to nutrition to grass and hence good for feeding cattle and other farm animals with.
If there are legumes in the grass then it is also great to make hay with. This is because they increase the nutritional value of the hay that is produced. Hence, this hay becomes better to feed cattle and other farm animals. Giving cattle nutritionally rich food is something that every agro-business owner knows the importance of.
Straw
When cereal crops get harvested and the dried stalks are dried out in the sun, they become straw. They are collected in bales and are used for non-food purposes. Bales of straw have actually quite a few purposes. They are used as bedding material for cattle and other farm animals and keep them warm during the night. They are also used as insulating material to keep the space warm during the colder months of the year.
They are often spread off the floor in homes for this insulation quality. Since it does not have any nutrition, they are never used for cattle feed. But they are used in the construction of housing structures in many parts of the world. They are also very often used as packing material for companies that intend to be as eco-friendly as possible.
Straw is also used as biofuel in many ways. It also finds uses in the paper industry.
In Conclusion
Now that you know what is the difference between straw and hay, using it as they are fit for is easier. The good news is that both straw and hay are now available with ease online if you choose to go for a collaborating platform. Such a platform can be the best choice as it connects farmers and agricultural businesses across the world.