How do you know if the hay that you are buying or producing is good, quality hay? Tim Schnakenberg, agronomy specialist from Galena, Mo., with the University of Missouri Extension Service said the best way is to have your hay tested.
Procuring your samples is the key to a good hay test. “Grabbing” hay isn’t enough. You need to use a core sampler with an electric drill or brace. Most of your local extension offices have these available through loan or deposit basis.
It is better to test the inside bales, dig into the bale and avoid testing weathered areas. On small and large square bales it is best to go in about 10 bales from the end. On large round bales, test a bale about 5-10 bales from the side (rounded) of the roll.
Take about 1 quart of the samples and place them in a plastic bag. Send them to a lab that is certified by the National Hay Testing Association. Your local extension office can also help you with this. Most of them have hay testing services available through their offices.
Schnakenberg said one of the first things you should be looking at is the moisture content or Dry Matter that is in the forage. This is under the “As Fed” column If the hay has been harvested for some time the moisture level should be around 12-15 percent. If the moisture content is above 20-25 percent there will likely be molding, heating and loss of feed value.
Moving to the dry column is Crude Protein. This is a measure of the nitrogen content of the forage and computes a protein value by multiplying the total nitrogen amount times 6.25. Usually it ranges from 4 percent for very mature, straw-like grass forages to 26 percent for legumes and immature grasses that have had nitrogen fertilizer applied.
You may also test for Available Protein if the hay was baled slightly wet and has a tobacco brown appearance. This gives you the true amount of protein in the hay available to the animal.
Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) is related to the digestibility of the forage. The higher the ADF the lower the energy value, good quality legumes run 20-30 percent range; grasses in low 30s to mid 40s. Digestible Dry Matter (DDM) is calculated from (ADF)
Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) is the best idea of total fiber. The more NDF the less the animal will eat. Grasses contain more NDF than legumes at the same stage of maturity. Grasses range in high 50-60s and Legumes in high 30s to mid to upper 40s. Dry Matter Intake (DMI) is calculated from the (NDF).
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) is common value of measured energy in beef cow diets. This represents total digestible crude protein, carbohydrates and fat. Leafy immature legumes run highest on energy with TDN levels into the mid 60s. Mature grasses range in the mid 40s. Hay for lactating beef cows should be in the upper 50s or supplemental feed may be necessary.
Net Energy Lactation (NFL) A term for measuring energy levels in forage for lactating cows.
Nitrate (%NO3) This is a test for nitrates. None should be found and the report should say negative. If significant values are found a percent is shown.
There are two other important overall standards that evaluate your overall hay quality. One is the Relative Feed Value (RFV) and the other is the Relative Forage Quality (RFQ). The Relative Feed Value is a factor given for the overall feed quality, the higher the number the better. Average fescue is 70, whereas; show alfalfa hay will run around 175 or better. RFV is a number derived from ADF. It estimates digestible dry matter and dry matter intake. It is an index that is useful for comparing the relative quality of hay sources. RFQ better reflects the performance of the forage when cattle are fed. It better accounts for differences among forage types such as grasses and legumes.
