Voluntary intake digestibility and selection of Matua bromegrass, coastal bermudagrass, and alfalfa hay by yearling horse

Matua bromegrass (Bromus unioloides (Willd.)) may be useful for equine, but little information exists. Voluntary intake and digestibility of Matua by 18 Quarter Horse yearlings were compared with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) as hays in a randomized block design. Voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein were greater $(P < .001)$ for alfalfa than for the grass hays and were greater $(P < .05)$ for Matua than bermudagrass. Organic matter digestibility averaged 73, 62, and 58% for alfalfa, Matua, and bermudagrass, respectively, and did not differ between the grasses. An 11-d selection trial followed with yearlings offered all three hays. Yearlings preferred $(P < .01)$ alfalfa over the grasses and selected more Matua $(P < .05)$ than bermudagrass but reduced their intake of the forage fed previously, relative to other treatments. Results indicated that Matua is an acceptable hay for horses.