Importance of Hay & Forage Testing
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When we go to the grocery store, most of the food we eat has a nutrition label on the package. The same cannot be said for hay and forage. Visual inspection can tell a lot of information about quality, but the only way to know the nutritional quality of hay or forage is to conduct a forage sample.
Forage sampling allows for a producer to verify the nutrient content of their hay, fresh forage, or feed/grain to ensure livestock are meeting all of their nutritional needs for their stage of production. Taking a sample also lets a producer know if there is a deficiency in a certain nutrient and adjust their feeding practices accordingly. If protein is low, provide a supplemental protein source for livestock.
Although most livestock producers are done feeding hay until the winter, there are still folks utilizing hay as a forage resource and those baling hay for sale, or storage. If hay producers have a verified analysis, it gives their customers peace of mind knowing what they are purchasing. Understanding the nutritional quality of your forage’s nutrient content can also let a producer know if any soil amendments are needed. Pairing a forage sample with a soil sample is a great course of action to improve any forage stand or hay field.
Collecting a forage sample involves collecting cores from randomly selected bales in the lot, usually 15-20 bales, much like collecting soil samples. Once cores are collected, mix the sample into a gallon size bag and write the name of the sample on the bag in permanent marker. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture conducts forage and feed analysis for $10 per sample, and can also test for nitrates and aflatoxin. Please contact the Extension office for more information and if you need assistance with taking samples.