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.