Comanche Extension Agent Michael Berry
It has been a tough year to make quality hay. For the longest, it would not stop raining long enough to get hay harvested in a timely manner.
There was a lot of hay made, but a lot of it was not cut at the optimum time. The good news is there is some hay out there, but quality is all over the place. One of the most important tasks you can perform to help with your winterfeeding plans is to get your hay sampled. Now is the time to pull analysis on your forages so you will know just how much, if any, supplements you will need this winter. A forage analysis can help you increase profits by preventing over or under feeding of your livestock this winter.
Our typical grass hay can range from 4%- 20% crude protein; if you are feeding the same supplement regardless of hay quality you can easily be feeding more than is required.
As a result, you will be throwing away money on unnecessary feed. If you are not providing enough supplement for a lower quality hay, your livestock’s body condition scores will fall resulting in poor reproduction and animal health. This will potentially lead to fewer calves to sell, which lowers profits.
The following table shows crude protein and TDN requirements for different age beef cattle at different stages of lactation.
This is a very simple example using only crude protein and TDN, but it gives you an indication of just where your forage quality ranks and what class of cattle it might fit best. There was a lot of 7% to 9% hay cut, knowing this little bit of difference can make a difference on which cattle you should feed it to.
In testing your forages, you will get your best results when you sample each cutting of hay. Using a hay probe, you will want to take your sample midway up the side of the roll. Remove about ½” of the outer layer and then drill or core your sample approximately 15” into the center of the roll. Samples should be taken from several rolls or bales and mixed to make a single sample.
There are several laboratories that can provide a chemical analysis of your hay. We have all the forms and sample bags needed to utilize the Texas A&M lab available at the County Extension Office. Cattle and calves are worth more than they have ever been, but a forage sample is still only $8.00.