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Most small pet owners quickly discover two common options: alfalfa hay and Timothy hay. They sit side-by-side on shelves, but they behave very differently inside your pet’s body. And understanding these differences can greatly improve your pet’s long-term health and well-being.
This guide explains everything you need to know, from nutrition and taste to when each hay is appropriate. You’ll learn exactly how these hays differ, how to choose the right one for your pet’s life stage, and how to build a varied forage menu with confidence.
For grazing species, hay makes up around 80–90% of the daily diet. This high proportion means that choosing the right hay matters far more than people often realise. The wrong hay at the wrong time can lead to:
Different types of hay deliver different levels of fibre, calcium, protein and texture. That’s why age, species and specific health needs determine which hay should be offered as the main forage, and which should be offered only in very controlled amounts.
Meadow Hay Box and Timothy Hay remain the gold standard for adult small pets. But alfalfa has its place too, especially for youngsters and animals needing nutritional support.
Alfalfa is not a grass. It is a legume, closely related to clover. This is the first key difference. Because of this, it naturally contains more protein, more calcium and more calories than grass hays.
Most small pets love alfalfa because of its sweetness. It smells almost like fresh-cut herbs, and the leaf structure makes it easy to chew. But these benefits come with one major limitation: alfalfa should not be fed freely to most adult pets, as the nutritional profile is too rich for maintenance.
Timothy hay is a grass hay, high in long-strand fibre and naturally low in calcium. It provides the constant roughage needed to keep a small herbivore’s digestive system moving and their teeth worn down.
| Feature | Alfalfa Hay | Timothy Hay |
| Plant Type | Legume | Grass |
| Protein | High | Moderate |
| Calcium | Very high | Low |
| Fibre | Moderate | High |
| Texture | Soft and leafy | Coarse and fibrous |
| Taste | Sweet | Mild |
| Best For | Young, pregnant, nursing, underweight | Adult pets, daily forage |
| Nutrient | Alfalfa (approx.) | Timothy Hay (approx.) |
| Protein | 15–20% | 7–12% |
| Calcium | 1–1.5% | 0.3–0.5% |
| Fibre | 28–30% | 30–34% |
| Energy (DE) | Higher | Moderate |
| Fat | Slightly higher | Low |
Alfalfa’s high calcium and protein make it excellent for growth, but too rich for maintenance.
Adult rabbits absorb calcium differently from other animals. Excess is excreted through urine, creating a thick, chalky residue. Over time, this can form stones — a painful condition requiring veterinary care.
Adult herbivores need high-fibre, low-calcium hay. The digestive system depends on long, coarse strands that Timothy hay provides.
Alfalfa is calorie-dense. For less active adults, this can quickly lead to obesity.
The soft, leafy structure is less effective for grinding teeth compared to the fibrous strands of grass hay.
Choosing the right hay is one of the simplest ways to enhance your pet’s health, comfort and happiness.
