Test hay, don't guess

Fall is here and the weather reminds us of the changing of the seasons. This is the time of year when many producers are hauling hay home for the winter as well as pricing and purchasing hay. There is a tremendous range in hay quality depending upon level of maturity, fertilization, growing conditions, harvest circumstances and storage methods. Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get a real understanding of the nutritive value of feed. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t representative. Aaron Berger, University of Nebraska-Lincoln discusses how important hay testing can be, especially in dry conditions. Read more… Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service also provides tips about sampling hay bales and pastures for forage analysis. Read more…