Hay is a forage consisting of cut grass, dried and preserved for feeding herbivorous animals during periods, such as harsh seasons or droughts, when grazing is not possible. It most often comes from a meadow. It was once a prerequisite for mixed crop-livestock farming systems and was essential for activities using horses (postal services, transport, the military, etc.).
In intensive livestock farming, it is primarily considered a balancing factor to achieve the necessary bulking index for the ration to ensure proper digestive transit.
In farms focused on sustainable agriculture, it is once again highly valued, at least when the climate is favorable.
The entire haymaking process is called haymaking. The nutritional value of hay depends mainly on its floral composition, the stage of grass harvest, and the quality of the haymaking process (drying conditions). Hay has also been used to preserve meat and cheese.
Source: Hay — Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
