Forage Lab Results - Interpretation, Hay Dr??

MOISTURE,% 15.02 0.00 DRY MATTER,% 84.98 100.00 CRUDE PROTEIN,% 20.22 23.79 AVAILABLE PROTEIN,% 20.22 23.79 ACID DET. FIBER (ADF),% 24.40 28.71 NEUT. DET. FIBER (NDF),% 29.95 35.24 RELATIVE FEED VALUE (RFV) 175.63 ASH,% 9.88 11.62 FAT,% 1.56 1.84 LIGNIN,% 5.54 6.52 ADF_CP,% 0.64 0.75 NDF_CP,% 2.58 3.04 CRUDE FIBER,% 19.52 22.97 AVAILABLE PROTEIN,% 20.22 23.79 NON-FIBER CARB.,% 25.97 30.56 EQUINE TDN,% 54.88 64.58 EQUINE DE MCAL/LB 0.97 1.15 CALCIUM (Ca),% 1.37 1.61 PHOSPHORUS (P),% 0.30 0.35 POTASSIUM (K),% 2.25 2.64 MAGNESIUM (Mg),% 0.28 0.33

The values on the left hand side are on an AS IS basis the ones on the right on a Dry Matter basis. They are not a range of values.

Jim

How many bales in this lot of hay did you sample to generate the subsample for the laboratory analysis? Did the lab conduct Wet Chemistry or NIR to determine the nutritional value of your hay? I follow the sampling procedures outlined by CSU Davis when I collect samples.

Jim

Do you know how accurate NIR testing is. I know that Wet Chemistry is themost accurate. If NIR has a 95% confidence then I am fine with that. I haven't found how accurate it is....

The NIR systems are calibrated using alfalfa samples coordinated by a consortium of labs and universities. The use of NIR for alfalfa-grass hay is less accurate since the standard is straight alfalfa, but the NIR is still quite valid for alfalfa-grass hay. The situation with NIR is analogous to to the use of moisture testers which are calibrated for alfalfa, but usable in alfalfa-grass with a little interpretation. I use NIR for most of the samples we collect from our production. I use wet chemistry for tissue analysis, though.

On our farm we test every lot of hay we purchase or produce. We us Dairyland Labs in St. Cloud, Minnesota for all of my testing needs. Having the nutrient value is a service that will definitely separate you from other hay producers. I have several customers that left their suppliers for us since we test our hay. Some people will scoff at the testing, but it is key to knowing what kind of hay your farm is producing and helps you sell the most appropriate hay to meet your customers' needs. Of course, it helps that my wife and I have graduate degrees in livestock nutrition. :-)

My the way, what part of Indiana are you located in?

Jim

My results were from Stearns DHIA Laboratories , in Sauk Centre, MN. While I am Purdue grad, I was not in the Ag dept(I'm a bean counter), so I do not have any contacts to have them do it....

My results were from Stearns DHIA Laboratories , in Sauk Centre, MN. While I am Purdue grad, I was not in the Ag dept(I'm a bean counter), so I do not have any contacts to have them do it....

I'd say you are on the right track - good job!

• USDA 2002 Statistics

Calcium did rate pretty high on my soil sample, are you saying I really don't want to be any higher on the Calcium:phosphorus ratio? Fertilize with more P to try and overcome the abundance of calcium in my soil?

What happens is all the nutrients are provided by a smaller amount of inputs to meet the needs. Where all goes wrong is the standard of 1 - 2% of body weight of feedstuff needed is thought to be of top quality hay. That amount provides way more than necessary.

If horse ppl would look at what's required nutrient wise...they would be OK. But..... the horse is constantly hungry with high quality hay and they feel "sorry" for it.... and the horse ends up chewing on the wood to fill it's belly. Kind of like living on candy bars instead of a balanced diet.

You won the prize!!!!! !

According to the standards set for by the AFGC that hay is Prime. Very good hay, but probably much "better" than what most livestock in the midwest acutally need.

Jim