Hay and straw

[Sue G]

I've always been told to use hay and not straw for my piggies and I do just that. But please excuse me if this is a silly question - what actually is the difference between hay and straw? They look different and smell different, but are they from different crops, or produced at a different time in the harvest?
Sue

 

[roninnorfolk]

Hay is dried grass of different types
Straw is the stem of crops like wheat barley etc
Hence hay has more nutrients

 

[Sue G]

Simple when you know the answer, thank you so much.
I've always in the past used straw in our hedgehog kennels as bedding, but since having hay for the piggies, the hogs get to share that as well, although I don't think they eat it.
Thanks.