How Late Is Too Late to Cut Hay?
In hay farming, few decisions have as much impact as when you make the cut. Waiting too long might boost yield, but it can dramatically reduce nutritional value and palatability—especially for livestock operations where forage quality is critical.
So how late is too late to cut hay? The answer depends on your crop, your climate, and your goals—but waiting past optimal maturity can cost you more than you gain.
The Hay Maturity Curve: Quality vs. Quantity
As forage plants mature, they grow taller and produce more biomass—but the digestibility and protein content steadily decline. Here's what typically happens:
Early-cut hay (bud to early bloom stage): Higher crude protein, lower fiber, more digestible
Mid-maturity (late bloom to early seedhead): Good yield, moderate quality
Late-cut hay (full seedhead or after bloom): High yield, poor digestibility, lower protein
This is especially true for alfalfa, clover, and grasses like orchardgrass or timothy. Cutting too late can result in hay that's more stem than leaf—and less usable as a high-quality feed.
When Is “Too Late” for Specific Forages?
Alfalfa
Optimal stage: Early bud to 10% bloom
Too late: After 30% bloom or once seed heads appear
Cutting past this point significantly reduces leaf-to-stem ratio—and most of the nutritional value is in the leaves.
Cool-season grasses (like timothy, bromegrass, or orchardgrass)
Optimal stage: Boot to early heading
Too late: After full seedhead emergence
Late cutting here leads to higher ADF/NDF (fiber levels) and lower protein, making it less suitable for lactating animals or fast-growing stock.
Warm-season grasses (like bermudagrass or teff)
Optimal stage: 4–6 weeks after regrowth or just before heading
Too late: When stems become woody or seedheads dominate
What You Risk by Cutting Too Late
Lower Feed Value: Less digestible = lower intake and reduced weight gain
Increased Waste: Livestock may sort or refuse coarse, stemmy hay
Harder to Sell: Lower quality reduces price and demand in the market
Delayed Regrowth: Stressed plants may not bounce back as quickly for the next cutting
Late Cutting May Still Make Sense—In These Cases
There are situations where a late cut is still worth it:
Dry cow or maintenance rations that don’t require high-protein hay
Mulch or bedding hay where feed value isn’t a concern
Unavoidable weather delays—better to harvest late than lose the crop entirely
In these cases, consider clearly labeling the hay as “low-quality” or “bedding only” for marketing clarity.
Conclusion
Cutting hay too late can cost you in nutrition, price, and future growth. For most hay crops, the sweet spot is just before or during early bloom, when plants are leafy and digestible but still offer good yield. The longer you wait, the more the stem takes over—and the less value ends up in the bale.
Cut early when you can. Cut late only when you must.
