WheatGrass Question

[paula.m.moore]

I did a forum search but didn't find an answer to this specific question.

I bought some little "flats" of wheatgrass today for my pigs and I'm wondering if I can just put them in their cages as they are (dirt and all) or if I should cut off the green part of the grass for them.

[Ly&Pigs]

Not sure what search term you used but wheat grass and cat grass questions have been asked numerous times. Cut the grass and feed it otherwise you will have a dirty, muddy mess in the cage. Plus this way the grass gets to continue to grow and they don't eat it roots and all.

[webjetter]

I've heard that the regrowth has no nutritional value ... is that true? I've read it several places online. Just curious if it should be allowed to regrow because I've just grown a batch myself and wondered if I should feed them the regrowth or just toss the flat out after the original grass is harvested.

[Justin]

Originally Posted by webjetter

I've heard that the regrowth has no nutritional value ... is that true?

Maybe the source was about human consumption? There are some good things for human only in the new sprouts.

[aqh88]

The only way I can see that the wheat grass would go down in nutritional value is if it's using up the media it's growing in. Chemically fertilized potting soils and special growing mediums will often burn out quickly. Wheat grass containers probably aren't designed to grow long term. If it's grown in a good soil then it's the same as every other grass. Newer growth may be sweeter, with less fiber, and more water but the difference is hardly worth mentioning unless it makes up nearly the entire diet. Newer grass will taste sweeter and less grassy to humans. As far as guinea pigs are concerned grass should go up in nutritional value the older it gets instead of down. More fiber, more stored vitamins/minerals, less water, and less sugar in older growth. Provided it's in good soil.

[webjetter]

Originally Posted by aqh88

Provided it's in good soil.

Oooh, interesting! Thanks for the info. I used organic topsoil with peat moss (Scott's Premium) ... would you consider that good soil?

The instructions for growing wheatgrass say that the grass reaches its peak nutritional value at 6" to 7" tall and should be harvested then. So I haven't been letting it grow any taller than that. Should I, though?

The piggies get wheatgrass once per day for the 8 or 9 days it's available. (It goes in the fridge in a container with a wet paper towel on harvesting day.)

This is my second batch, and just a few days into the first batch I noticed that PJ's coat was no longer coarse, but soft and silky for the first time ever! This is great stuff! A bit of work, but worth it for the girlies. They absolutely love it.

[aqh88]

The pigs would prefer you cut it short. Like I said sweeter, more flavor, etc... They go after new fresh shoots of grass before the older stuff but there is no harm in letting it grow taller or go longer if you have another reason to. If they have softer droppings letting the grass get a bit older can help.

That soil is probably fine but the collection of peat moss is very damaging to the environment it comes from so it is best to avoid it if possible. Compost can be used in place of peat moss and will provide more nutrients. I pretty much only use very well composted cow manure (very well composted or it will attract bugs). It should look and smell like black soil and not at all like manure. At that point it's equivalent to top soil, better than any potting soil, and it's kinda like using recycled garbage. It gives the waste a use as compost and is not taking away from the environment like scraping top soil or collecting peat moss does. You can also set up your own compost pile if you want. It doesn't take a large pile or vermiculture can be done in the house in a plastic container.

Any fresh grass will give their coat that extra shine and softness. It's the extra fat soluable vitamins (like E) and fatty acids. They break down when grass is dried into hay so the hay has a much lower amount than fresh grass. You don't have to grow wheatgrass specifically. I had a huge plastic storage container growing bluegrass in the apartment. Wheatgrass is just commonly used for people as well so it's easiest to find. A bag of lawngrass seed (avoid fescue unless it has an endophyte free sticker on the front) will work just as well and last forever.