THE HAY BARN GLOSSARY

Good hay quality - A physical description of hay quality. Early to average maturity, i.e., early to mid-bloom in legumes and early head in grass hays, leafy, fine to medium stemmed, free of damage other than slight discoloration.

Grass - Member of the plant family Poaceae.

Grasslike - Vegetation that is similar to grass in appearance and is usually a member of the plant family Cyperaceae (sedges) or Juncaceae (rushes).

Grazing land - Any vegetated land that is grazed or that has the potential to be grazed by animals.

Grazing season - The time period during which grazing can normally be practiced each year or portion of each year. On U.S. public lands, an established period for which grazing permits are issued. It may be the whole year or a very short time span and is normally a function of forage mass and climate. In this context, the vegetative growing season may be only a part of the grazing season.

Green-chopped - Mechanically harvested forage fed to animals while it is fresh and succulent.

Gross energy (GE) - The amount of heat that is released when a substance is completely oxidized in a bomb calorimeter containing 25 to 30 atmospheres of oxygen.

Growing season - That portion of the year when temperature and moisture favour plant growth.

The Hay Barn Glossary