Are you also one of those people who do not know the difference between straw and hay? Not only those people, who do not have any knowledge about it, intermix these two terms but also some professional farmers or garden shop owners use these terms interchangeably.

In this article you will learn the difference between them and I will teach you enough so when the next time you will go for the shopping of animal feed, you won’t get fooled by the shopkeepers.

Straw

Straw is the byproduct of agricultural products that we get after cultivation of grains such as wheat and barley. The stems that are left over after grains separation are called straw. In other words it is the waste of agriculture plan

Color

Straws are of golden yellowish color. Think of straw hats and basket.

How is it made?

The stalks that are left behind after separation of grains are then left to get dried. After that, they are piled up into bales.

Bales of straw:

Bales of straw can be square, rectangle or square. They can also be large or small depending on the need of buyers.

Nutritional value

Most of the nutrition lies within the actual grains so they are less nutritious.

Use as animal feed:

Straws are used to feed animals. This less nutritious animal feed is used as a side food for animals if there is nothing else for them to eat. It is also in expensive as compared to hay.

Baskets:

Hundreds of men and women in the U.S and even all around the world are employed to make baskets with straws. It is an old traditional method of making baskets. They look traditional and beautiful. They are also cheap in price.

Bedding:

Straws are used as a filler of mattress. Some people still use straws as their bedding in different parts of the world. They are primarily used as bedding for animals such as horses.

Source of Biofuel:

Straws have now-a-days become a great source of bio-energy because of their high temperature. They are also used as an alternative of coal.

Building material

It is now becoming an emerging trend to use straws in construction. It is used to bind concrete and is sometimes used in combination with mud. This mixture is called cod.

Hats:

You may have seen golden yellowish color hats made of sticks. They are actually made of straws. They look so pretty and are relatively cheap in price.

Ropes:

Ropes made out of straw are used for packaging by different industries.

Shoes:

Koreans wear sandals made of straw. Different types of Japanese traditional shoes are made of straws. In several parts of Germany such as black forest, people wear straw sandals at home or at different occasions. Though, straw is quite sharp and can hurt your feet

Paper making:

Straw is also used to make papers.

Tips to use straw as mulch for your garden

Straw is used in the garden to keep plants moist so you don’t have to water them daily. If you are not using straw as mulch for your garden use it now. Why? Because it is light, clean and keeps your plants moist. It also provide nutrients to your plants so they can grow well.

Straws are compressed tightly in a bale so one bale would be enough for your whole garden. Buy just one, if there will be need then buy more.

Take a shovel or any sharp thing to cut straws into length of 3 to 6 inches. Then spread these straws into the rows of your plants. Keep them away from leaves and stems of your plants because your plants can get fungus from straws.

Check it after every 6 weeks because straw compost so easily so may have to add another layer of straw once every six weeks.

Straws are the ideal mulch for potatoes so if you grow potatoes use straw or if you are planning to grow potatoes then must add straw in your list. Straw will help them grow faster and healthier.

 Hay

Hay is a crop grown to feed farm animals such as cows, horses, and goats etc. It is made up of different kinds of plants grown in the garden. Farmers cut those plants to feed their dairy animals such as cows.

Color:

Hay is of green color especially when you compare it with the yellowish golden sticks of straw.

It is important to let hay get dried. It is important that hay bales do not contain too much moist because it is not good to feed animals.

How is it made?

Hay is grown into the farms and farmers cut it before the seeds get matured. They then piled it, into the large bales. It’s surprising to know that hay contains too much moisture because of which it can catch fire easily. It happens when the heat inside hay bale increases during decomposition process.

Nutritional value:

There are different kinds of hays grown by the formers. Some hays such as Alfalfa hay contains more protein and carbohydrates than the other.  They are quite expensive but are packed with nutrients and are to feed the working animals such as horses.

Other type of hay that is made up of different kinds of plants grown in the garden are to feed the dairy animals such as cows but these hays are of low quality and are less nutritious than Alfalfa Hay that is why they should be used as a side diet for animals or only be used when there is nothing else to feed them.  But they are fine for the dry cows that don’t need extra nutrition to produce milk.

Hay is easy for animals to digest as compared to low nutritious straws.

Uses:

Animals such as cows, goats, horses, and sheep eat hay when fresh pasture is not available because of limited supply or off season.

Some pro tips to keep in mind while shopping for hay or straw

• Anyone who is looking to buy hay bales should make sure that they won’t get straw bales as they both are packed in the same way. Many garden shop owners use the word straw no matter it is hay or straw.
• Bales of hay sometimes contain a lot of weeds. You never know what you are getting in the bale of hay so in that way straws are better because during the growth of crops, farmers control the growth of weeds to unsure that they get high quality crops.
• There are chances that you may get 100% pure hay such as Alfalfa hay and timothy but they can be much expensive.
• Make sure hay comes from plants that are full of nutrition and healthy.
• Make sure that don’t include plants that are poisonous.

Straws and hays both are animal feeds but are completely different animal foods in terms of their color, nutritional value, quality, price and uses.