First vs Second Cutting Hay: What's the Real Difference?

The short version: first cutting hay is coarser and higher in fiber; second cutting is leafier, higher in protein, and more expensive. But that summary misses the detail that actually matters — which one to buy for which animal, when each cutting is the right choice, and why paying a premium for second cutting isn't always necessary or even desirable. This guide gives you the complete picture.

What "Cutting" Actually Means

In northern climates (Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota), a typical hay field produces 2–3 cuttings per season. In the South and mid-Atlantic (Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina), warm-season grasses often allow 3–4 cuttings. The Pacific Northwest can push 4–5 cuttings in irrigated fields.

Each cutting is simply the sequential harvest of regrowth from the same field:

• First cutting: harvested in late May to mid-June in most of the US. This is the overwintered root growth — thick stems, lots of seed heads, high fiber, coarser texture.
• Second cutting: harvested 30–45 days after first cut, typically July. Faster regrowth produces leafier, finer-stemmed hay with higher protein and lower fiber than first cut.
• Third cutting and beyond: increasingly leafy and protein-dense, less stemmy. Often described as "dairy quality" because it's rich enough for high-producing cows. Can be too rich for easy-keeper animals.

Nutritional Comparison: First vs Second Cutting

These numbers represent typical mixed-grass hay (timothy/orchard grass blend) from the northeastern and Midwest US. Actual values vary by field management, fertilization, plant species, and climate — always request a hay quality test for purchased hay if nutrition matters for your operation.

What These Numbers Mean in Practice

Crude Protein (CP): The percentage of protein in the dry matter. Higher protein supports growth, reproduction, and milk production. A dry horse in light work needs about 8–10% CP in their forage — first cutting is fine. A mare in late pregnancy or peak lactation needs 12–14% CP — second cutting or a mixed ration is more appropriate.

ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber): A measure of digestibility. Lower ADF = more digestible hay. First cutting's higher ADF means more fiber passes through as waste rather than being absorbed as energy. This is actually desirable for some animals (more on that below).

NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber): A measure of bulk fill. Higher NDF hay is more filling but less nutrient-dense per pound. Animals eating high-NDF hay will consume more to meet energy needs but are less likely to overconsume. Good for weight management; not ideal for high-demand animals.

Relative Feed Value (RFV): A single composite number combining digestibility and intake potential. An RFV of 100 is the baseline (full-bloom alfalfa). Higher is richer/more nutritious. Most horses and adult dry animals do well on RFV 100–130; high-producing dairy animals want 150+.

Which Animals Need Which Cutting?

First Cutting Is the Right Choice For:

• Easy-keeper horses that are at or above ideal body weight. The higher fiber and lower caloric density of first cutting helps them feel full without getting fat. Many mature horses maintained on pasture all summer can be overweight — first cutting keeps their gut working without adding condition.
• Horses prone to metabolic disorders (Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushings, laminitis history). The lower sugar content and higher fiber of first cutting is preferable to the richer second and third cuttings.
• Beef cattle in the maintenance phase (dry cows not in late gestation or lactation). First cutting meets maintenance requirements at lower cost.
• Dry does and wethers (goats and sheep). Animals not in production or late pregnancy have modest protein needs — first cutting covers them adequately.
• Mature rabbits in maintenance. First cutting's coarser texture and higher fiber content supports gut motility in rabbits better than rich cuttings.

Second Cutting Is the Right Choice For:

• Horses in heavy work or performance. Higher energy density supports the additional caloric needs of working animals.
• Mares in late pregnancy (last 90 days) and early lactation. Protein demand spikes; second cutting meets it without needing as much grain supplementation.
• Young growing horses (yearlings, two-year-olds). Protein supports musculoskeletal development.
• Dairy goats in active production. Second-cutting protein levels better support milk volume than first cutting.
• Does in late gestation. Same principle as horses — third trimester protein demands are high.
• Lactating ewes. Twin-bearing ewes in peak lactation need the protein density that first cutting alone doesn't provide.
• Beef calves and stocker cattle being grown out. The additional protein supports growth rate.

Price Difference: Is Second Cutting Worth It?

Second cutting typically commands a 20–40% price premium over first cutting from the same supplier, though this varies significantly by region and year. In a drought year when second cutting yields are low, that premium can reach 50–70%.

Whether the premium is worth it depends entirely on your animals' needs:

• If you have easy-keeper horses or dry beef cows: Paying for second cutting is unnecessary and may cause condition problems. First cutting at a lower price point is the better buy.
• If you have high-demand animals (lactating mares, dairy goats in production, growing horses): Second cutting may actually save you money on grain supplementation. Higher-quality hay reduces the amount of concentrated feed needed to meet nutritional requirements.
• If you're unsure: Buy a mixed load — first cutting for maintenance feeding, second cutting for breeding animals and high-demand periods.

Price Per Unit of Protein

The economically rational way to compare cuttings is cost per unit of crude protein, not cost per bale or per ton. If second cutting costs 30% more but delivers 50% more protein, it's a better value for protein-dependent animals. This calculation is only meaningful if you have hay test results with actual CP percentages for both batches.

First Cutting Timing Risks

First cutting is harvested in late spring — the most unpredictable weather window of the year. Rain during baling causes quality problems that are unique to first cutting:

• Rain-damaged hay has washed-out leaves (leaves are where protein concentrates), higher mold risk from delayed field drying, and darker color from oxidation. First cutting damaged by rain can drop from adequate to genuinely poor quality.
• Late first cuttings — from fields that got behind schedule or were cut after full seed head development — are lower quality than well-timed early first cuttings. A first cutting harvested in mid-July (due to weather delays) may be lower quality than a well-managed second cutting.
• Weeds are more common in first cutting — winter annual weeds that die out by summer often appear in first-cut fields. Not necessarily a problem (most are palatable), but worth noting.

Visual Identification: What to Look For in the Field

When you pick up a bale to examine it (which you should always do before buying — see our hay buying guide):

• First cutting: More seed heads visible, coarser stems, more stems relative to leaves, golden-green color. Should smell sweet and fresh, not musty.
• Second cutting: Finer stems, leafier texture, deeper green color, more uniform appearance. Very palatable smell — most animals immediately prefer it.
• Third cutting: Extremely leafy, fine-stemmed, often almost all leaf with minimal visible stem. Dark green. Smells almost sweet.