Hay question

[Fat Man]

We feed our three wethers orchard grass hay pretty much exclusively (with mineral supplements). This hay is getting way pricey. I can get a three way hay (wheat, barely and oat) at a substantially lower price. Does this hay provide the say nutritive value as the orchard grass?

[Molly Mckee]

If it is mowed early, when the seed heads are begining to form, before it forms beards, and it is nice and green it is pretty good hay. If it is riper, and turning yellowgreen or straw color it is straw and it doesn't have much food value. The grain will fall off the stems in handling, and the beards will be a real pain. They may cause problems for the goats, especially barley if it is not beardless. I have never heard of anyone planting wheat, oats, and barley in the same field mixed, so I would guess this is a comerical mix and really straw. I