Chattooga County Extension is encouraging livestock producers to have their hay and other stored forage tested while this year’s hay crop is being harvested.
Forage testing provides information about the nutritional value and overall quality of hay, helping producers make better decisions when developing feeding programs for times when fresh grass is unavailable. Hay quality can significantly affect livestock health, growth, performance and the amount of supplemental feed needed during the winter.
University of Georgia Extension specialists say appearance alone cannot reliably determine the nutritional value of a particular supply of hay. A laboratory analysis can measure factors such as crude protein, fiber, digestibility and total digestible nutrients, allowing producers to build a feeding plan around the actual needs of their animals.
A representative sample is important for accurate results. UGA recommends using a clean forage probe and collecting samples from multiple randomly selected bales rather than simply pulling hay from the outside of a bale.
With hay now being cut and stored across the area, Chattooga County Extension says this is a good time for producers to test their forage and begin planning for the upcoming winter feeding season.
