The Oxbow way

For over 25 years, Oxbow has specialized in producing premium hay that meets the specific needs and preferences of small herbivores. Their hay production is guided by 5 generations of family hay growing expertise, and all Oxbow hay undergoes an extensive quality journey – from the time fields are planted, to the moment when the hay is fed to pets. Oxbow hay is grown on their family of farms by longtime partners who are experts in the production of premium hay. All Oxbow farms are located in the United States in climates ideally suited for producing hay that meets the strictest quality attributes.

Passion for premium. Commitment to care.

At Oxbow, they believe that quality of life begins with quality care. Since the beginning, thay’ve promised to invest in small animal health and well-being through a series of principles and initiatives that transcend nutrition. Their duty and promise, the Oxbow Way is about making a true difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them. In this, they are guided by four fundamental principles: quality, innovation, education, and appreciation. 

Appreciation

Give back to others. Foster those following your path. Share that with which you’ve been blessed. These are all expressions of their simple philosophy when it comes to supporting the small animal community. From their beginning, they’ve felt called to show gratitude and support for those who share their common vision of bettering the lives of small animals. They provide grant funding and emergency support to assist animal rescues, humane societies, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and many other organizations in need.

Education  

Simply put, education is in their DNA. In their earliest days, proper care and nutrition for small animals weren’t widely understood and quality nutrition options were lacking. In those days, they worked with top exotic veterinarians and nutritionists to educate pet parents, retailers, and even the professional veterinary community about the value and importance of species and age-appropriate nutrition for small herbivores. Today, they are proud to support present and future animal health professionals. They continue to partner with top exotic veterinarians and nutritionists to help shape the landscape of small animal nutrition. In the academic setting, they’re actively engaged in landmark research aimed to advance animal health and care now and in the future.

Innovation

Over the years, they have taken pride in having been “first to market” time and again. They were the first to introduce Timothy Hay as a dietary staple for small herbivores, the first to develop a Timothy-based small herbivore food, and the first to create a 100% organic line for small pets. But their innovative spirit doesn’t end with product development; you’ll find it reflected in their everyday work as well. It’s in the way they make decisions and approach obstacles. It’s how they take what they have and make it better.

Quality 

Their commitment to quality starts in the field. They work hand-in-hand with expert growers across their family of farms to ensure that all Oxbow hay has the required premium attributes that their customers expect and deserve. When hay arrives at the Oxbow farm, their quality assurance process has only just begun. Hay is graded, analyzed, and altogether scrutinized before it ever enters their packaging facility. Next, their skilled team members sort all of the highest-graded hay by hand, removing less than premium portions and putting only the best in the bag. The same level of quality assurance and testing practiced on Oxbow hay applies across all of their product lines. Testing on all products and ingredients is multi-faceted, and only the best products enter the market. Only when their end product meets the approval of pets is their quality commitment complete.

About the hay

Oxbow hay is for all small animals: rabbit, chinchilla, guinea pig and others. There is a great variety of types of hay, so you can easily find the most suitable hay for your pet. You can also mix different kinds of Oxbow hay to get new flavors and texture combinations. By now, you’ve probably heard a lot about the benefits of offering a regular variety of hays to your pets. In addition to encouraging natural foraging behaviors and keeping mealtime fun and interesting, regular access to a variety of hays helps prevent pets from becoming picky eaters. All hay provides pets with essential fiber to support digestive and dental health, and has no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It harvested fresh from the Oxbow family of farms, hand-sorted and hand-packed with care for pets.

Video: Oxbow Hay Any Way