Page 20 - MWC 8-6-20s

Forage Testing — A Key Decision Aid

The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P20

By Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist
Hay fields in most areas
of the region are producing
an average to above average
number of big round bales
this summer. The quality of
the hay will be quite variable.
Some will supply a great deal
of the nutrients needed to
maintain body condition on
beef cows this winter. Other
hay will be lacking in protein
and energy and will require
a substantial amount of sup-
plement to be fed or the cat-
tle will lose weight and body
condition during the winter
months.
Forage analysis can be a
useful tool to remove some of
the mystery concerning the
hay that producers will feed
this winter. The out-of-pock-
et costs of protein and ener-
gy supplements are further
fuel to this advice. Testing
the grass hays this year for
protein and energy content
will help the producer de- programs most appropriate bags for transfer to a forage offering to the livestock. Be
sign winter supplementation for the forage supply that is testing laboratory. Cores are certain to label the forage
available. taken from several bales at samples accurately and im-
There are several good random to obtain a represen- mediately, in order for the lab-
methods of sampling hay for tative sample to be analyzed. oratory analysis to be correct-
forage analysis. Most nutri- More selections for forage ly assigned to the proper hay
tionists would prefer to use sampling tools can be found piles or bales. Obviously, the
a mechanical coring probe on the National Forage Test- more samples that are sent
made specifically for this ing Association Website. to the laboratory for analy-
purpose. The coring probe Grab samples can also be sis, the more information can
is usually a stainless-steel obtained and tested. To re- be gained. Just as obvious is
tube with a serrated, cutting ceive the best information, the fact that as the number of
edge. It is 1 inch in diameter grab several samples by hand samples increase, the cost of
and is designed to fit on a 1/2- from about 6 inches into the forage testing increases. Any
inch drill or brace. Cordless open side of the bale or the of the potential nitrate accu-
drills make these tools quite middle third of a round bale. mulating hays should be test-
mobile so that the hay bales Place all of the sample in the ed for nitrate concentration.
Custom built shorter or longer beds. to be tested do not have to be bag. Do not discard weeds or
Standard Equipment: Arm extensions, hauled to be near an electri- stems, just because they look
GN & receiver hitches, side rails, lights,
trailer plus & pioneer quick connects. cal outlet. The hay samples undesirable. They are still
are placed in paper or plastic part of the hay that you are

Across the bed toolbox
70”L x 10”H x 20’W - complete with
stainless steel hinges, tray and gas shock.
Side toolboxes
30”L x 17”H x 12”D
standard size of
12 ga. steel with
stainless steel hinges
and latch.
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