Page 28 - MWC 9-15-2022s2

MARKET REPORT
The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P28

The Importance of Testing Hay Quality

By Alex Orozco - University of Wyoming Extension Live Cattle Feeder Cattle Daily
Now is the time to consid- The most important factor Testing for quality bale. It is important to get
er the quality and quantity that impacts forage quality Hay testing requires time a representative sample of
of your hay inventory. When is maturity at harvest. As and money but the informa- your lot, so it is important
preparing to feed hay in the the plant matures, fiber con- tion it provides is beneficial to obtain a sample of 15-20
winter, it is critical to under- centration increases, which because it allows producers random bales per lot. More
stand the quality of the hay decreases digestibility. Addi- to create feed rations accu- information on proper hay
being fed and the amount of tionally, as maturity increas- rately and cost effectively for sampling can be found on the
hay available. es, crude protein decreases. their herd. Ward Labs website.
Keeping records of the Understanding the quality To analyze the quality of Hay samples can be mailed
amount of hay used yearly al- of the hay is cost effective, as your hay it is important to to Ward Labs at 4007 Cherry
lows producers to keep track it allows producers to better test your hay in different Ave., Kearney, NE 68847.
of how much hay they will meet the nutritional require- groups/lots. Hay combined Ward Labs offers different
need for their herd so they ments of their herd through- into the same lot should testing packages using wet
can better prepare for the out the winter months. have been harvested from chemistry and Near Infrared
winter months. Additionally, High-quality hay should the same field and consist of Spectroscopy (NIRS). Wet
Live Cattle: My thoughts center around this market stabilizing now. I’ve been
Feeder Cattle: All you have to do is look at the corn market for a reason for the
keeping track of the current be fed to animals with high- similar types of plants, cut- chemistry analyses range pull-back in feeders. If I owned a feedlot I’d be nervous to say the least. I do feel
placing a bullish tilt to this market for some time now. I may need to temporarily
year’s hay inventory allows er nutritional requirements, ting dates, maturity, variety, from $13-42.50/sample de- the feeder market has overdone it to the downside and it will be tough to break it
place this on “hold” for a while. The higher placements the last three months will
producers to know how much such as growing animals, weed contamination, type of pending on the information further. The early corn harvest has most feeder buyers in the field and I don’t think
have a negative impact on prices yet, so like they say, “All good things come to those
hay they have available to cows in late gestation, and harvest equipment, curing you would like to receive. The they’ve really had time to concentrate on buying feeders. Let’em get caught up a
who wait”. I see production numbers staying over last years’ levels until at the
use as the winter months go lactating cows. Low-quali- methods, and storage condi- NIRS analyses cost $18/sam- little and they’ll head to town.....checkbooks in hand....bulging with “corn” money.
least the end of the year. Beef shipments have been lagging last years’ levels now
by. ty hay should be fed to ani- tions. When these conditions ple and it provides informa- This market will rally....wait and see.
for about a month. Two weeks ago they were 8% lower than last year. This weeks
report showed exports a whopping 56% lower than last year. This ain’t good. Low
Knowing the amount of mals with lower nutritional differ, feed should be desig- tion such as crude protein %,
imports and high exports have held this market up all summer. We’re starting to
hay available is important requirements, such as open nated and sampled as a sep- relative feed value, total di-
lose some of that. I just can’t pull the trigger yet on long term bullish hopes.
but testing the quality of the cows, cows in the early ges- arate “lot” (Berger, A., 2017). gestible nutrient estimate %,
hay is also crucial. Hay qual- tation stage, and mature When collecting hay sam- minerals % (calcium, phos-
ity is variable depending on bulls. It is important to meet ples to send into the lab, a hay phorus, potassium, and mag- Trading commodity futures involves substantial risk of loss
the type of forage, soil type, the nutritional requirements probe or core sampler should nesium), fat %, etc. and my not be suitable for all investors. The recommendations
Rich Nelson
express opinions of the author. The information they contain is
Allendale Inc.
fertilizer rate, and the matu- of your livestock to increase be used for best results. The It is important to note that obtained from sources believed reliable, but is in no way guaran-
Allendale Inc.
teed. The author may have positions in the markets mentioned
815-578-6161
rity of the forage when it was pregnancy and calving rates. hay probe should penetrate wet chemistry and NIRS are including at times positions contrary to the advice quoted herein.
WE ARE ON

rnelson@allendale-inc.com
hayed. at least 12-18 inches into the two different analysis tools, so Opinions, market data, and
recommendations are subject to change at any time.
What Does this Report Mean to Me?
WE ARE ON
Tired of the stress What do you think the price of fats will be in April 2011
THE WEB!
Q #1
and complications Answer: It’s hard to see the forest for the trees here, but peering through the foliage I see $105.00 fats on the horizon for April. Demand is
caused by going to have to kick in though in order to get it.
THE WEB!
Q #2
elastrator rings? Due to the recent break in feeders, would you be holding your fall-weaned
calves for a while or letting them go?
... Put a WEE Answer: What ever happened to the easy questions? This will depend upon your weaning sched-
ule and your available feed supply. I’m long term bullish the feeder market but the “reality” of
in your right now probably dictates letting them go. If you keep them for an extra 30 days, make sure you
midwestcattleman.com
minimize the grain in the ration. Grow them on good forage....”sell” $4.50 corn. If the fat market
pocket today! stays sluggish and corn prices don’t moderate, about the only thing you’ve got to hang your hat on
for “higher feeders” is “Hope”.
midwestcattleman.com November 6th

Auction

Lunch at 11:00 a.m.
Sale at 12:30
Sale Offering
16 - 2010 Heifer Calves Jan. - May
16 - Breeding Bulls 7 to 18 months RH Standard Lad 0313
Compression 16 - Spring Calving Bred Females Reynolds Herefords
Solid As A Rock Sire Group
16 - Spring Calving Black Females
Analgesic Made in USA Bred to Hereford Bulls 1071 County Road 1231
8 - Fall Calving Pairs
1-800-858-5974 573-641-5270 6 - Show Steer Prospects Home: 660-277-3679 • Matt: 660-676-3788
Huntsville, MO 65259
Both Horned & Polled Offered
November 5, 2010 Sale offerings on
Display 3:00 P.M.
• Barb: 660-676-4788
CallicrateBanders.com Call or E-Mail for Catalog Email: reynoldscattle@cvalley.net
CHB Dinner at 6:00 P.M.