Quality hay is one of the most essential parts of your rabbit and guinea pig’s diet. It is essential for the maintenance of overall health of guinea pigs and rabbits but most notably their digestive system and teeth.
The digestive system of rabbits and guinea pigs have adapted to a herbivorous diet that is high in fibre. High-quality indigestible fibre helps the digestive system to move, lack of fibre can cause the slowing of the digestive tract, leading to GI stasis.
Both guinea pigs and rabbits have continuously growing teeth. The process of eating hay helps to grind down their teeth and prevent overgrowth. It is important to understand the different types of hay to ensure you are providing your small animal with the correct hay that meets their nutritional needs. Hay is divided into two main categories: high fibre fescue and high protein lucerne.
What hay should you choose?
Fescue
Fescue is a grass hay, which is high in fibre and low in protein. The high fibre hay supports optimum digestion. Being a lower protein hay in comparison to lucerne, fescue is suitable for adult rabbits and guinea pigs of all ages. Adult guinea pigs and rabbits require a lower protein hay, in comparison to young animals, as high protein diets may lead to obesity and other health issues.
Lucerne
Lucerne (aka alfalfa) legume hay is high in calcium and protein. The high calcium and protein content of lucerne hay is excellent to support the development of young rabbits and guinea pigs and to support the increased nutritional demands for pregnant and lactating animals. As young rabbits and guinea pigs reach adulthood it is recommended to switch them to fescue hay.
Vetafarm Mini Bales
Our Mini Bales are created from farm to bale by Vetafarm. We have dedicated years into researching and developing the unique Mini Bales from growing our own fescue to manufacturing our own unique machinery to bale the hay to ensure that we can deliver the highest quality hay to your small animals.
