Brome hay is a good, palatable grass hay for cattle when it is cut early. Its protein and digestibility fall as the grass matures, so cutting date matters more than almost anything else. A forage test tells you whether a given load meets your cattle’s needs.
What Is Brome Hay?
Smooth brome (Bromus inermis) is a cool-season grass grown for pasture and hay across the northern and central United States and Canada. It forms a dense sod, comes back strongly in spring and fall, and can last many years once established. Cattle generally like it, especially when it is leafy and green.
Why Harvest Timing Matters
As brome grass heads out and goes to seed, the stems get tougher. The fiber (NDF) goes up, digestibility and protein go down, and cattle eat less of it.
- Early cut (boot to early head): higher protein, more digestible, and eaten in larger amounts. Best for growing animals, lactating cows and late-gestation cows.
- Late cut (full head or later): lower protein and energy. It can still work for dry mature cows in early or mid gestation, often with a supplement.
Weather also matters. Rained-on hay can lose quality, and moldy or dusty hay should not be fed.
How to Feed Brome Hay
- Test the hay. A forage analysis from a lab costs little and shows protein, fiber and energy so you can match hay to the animal.
- Match hay to need. Cows nursing a calf or in late pregnancy need better hay than dry cows in early gestation.
- Supplement when needed. Late-cut brome often needs extra protein or energy. Your extension agent or large-animal vet can help with a ration.
- Provide minerals and water. Free-choice minerals and clean water are needed with any hay. See our guide to cattle mineral blocks.
- Reduce waste. Feeders or ring feeders waste less hay than feeding on the ground.
Brome vs. Other Hays
Orchardgrass is another popular cool-season hay. It tends to be a bit more digestible at the same stage but is less long-lived and less drought tolerant than brome. Mixed stands with alfalfa or clover raise protein and are common in practice. If you are comparing options, read our posts on teff grass hay, triticale hay and clover hay.
Growing Smooth Brome
If you grow your own, take a soil test first and apply phosphorus, potassium and lime as recommended. Seed in late summer or early fall, or very early spring, and control weeds while the stand is young. Local extension offices can recommend varieties for your region.
Bottom Line
Brome is a dependable cattle hay. Cut early, test it, and match the quality to the animal’s needs. For a ration tailored to your herd, talk with your veterinarian or local extension agent.
