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Coastal Bermudagrass, common in the southeastern United States, thrives in warm climates (65–100 °F; 18–38 °C). It recovers well when grazed close to the ground or trampled, making it a hardy pasture crop. As with all other forages, horse owners must weigh the pros and cons of coastal Bermudagrass before choosing it as part of a horse’s diet.

Coastal Bermudagrass intended for hay should be harvested about every three weeks throughout the peak growing season. Using this schedule, the hay will have the highest possible protein-to-fiber ratio. Coastal Bermudagrass has a much lower nutritive value if allowed to become overmature. In fact, excessively mature Bermudagrass has such a high fiber content that it has been implicated in cases of impaction colic.

If intended for pasture consumption, coastal Bermudagrass performs best when grazed on a rotational schedule with no longer than three to four weeks of rest time. This ensures that grass does not become too mature and fibrous.

If coastal Bermudagrass is managed correctly, there are two other nutritional aspects of the forage to keep in mind. First, it is low in fructans, natural plant sugars known to incite or exacerbate laminitis in certain horses. Horses prone to laminitis will generally improve when fed a low-fructan diet. Second, coastal Bermudagrass tends to cause fecal desiccation through contractions of the intestines. In other words, it causes the gut to squeeze water out of fecal matter, which can make manure drier than usual.

For horse owners in warmer climates with pasture or those looking to purchase hay, coastal Bermudagrass can be a sound choice.

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