1st Cutting
Harvested from late May through June, as the weather allows. It tends to be more mature, coarser, and less green in color than later cuttings. Generally, first cutting is higher in fiber than protein.
This cutting is the least expensive and is usually used for livestock with lower nutrient requirements. Some people feed first cutting mixed with later cuttings, to cut cost
2nd Cutting
Harvested from late June through July. It rates from EXCELLENT to PRIME, tests as high as 12% -14% protein, and is typically greener in color than first cutting.
Second cutting works well as a primary feed, and requires little or no supplement to create a balanced ration.
3rd Cutting
Harvested from August to early September, it's a richer & greener grass than the 2nd cutting, best used for specific applications.
It is comparable to second cutting, but may be finer in texture and a darker green. Although young cuttings of third can be richer in nutrients than second cutting, it usually tests about the same.
4th Cutting
This is the wild card cutting -some years you get it and most you don't, depending on the weather.
Fourth cuttings harvest in late September, but we have done it in October.
While lower in fiber, it's more nutritious, the fourth cutting works best when mixed with a coarser feed with more roughage, such as first cutting.