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Stretching Winter Feed Dollars
 Auburn, Sept.
10, 2003 --- Experts
predict Alabama farmers will produce about 2.2 tons of hay from each acre in
production. The Alabama Agricultural Statistics Service predicts hay
harvest for 2003 will be around 1.70 million tons, down slightly from
last year’s 1.75 million tons.
Farmers have baled considerable quantities of hay for
winter feeding, but specialists with the Alabama Cooperative Extension
System are concerned about the hay’s quality.
Dr. Don Ball, an Extension forage agronomist, said he is
concerned that wet weather may have prevented producers from cutting
hay at its peak quality.
“It is important to cut hay, if at all possible, at the
correct stage of maturity. As forage crops mature, they become more
fibrous and less nutritious,” Ball said. “A key point to keep in mind
is that the important issue is not the pounds of hay produced but
rather the animals' performance that results when the hay is fed.
Extensive research has shown maximum animal performance occurs when
hay is cut before it's too mature.”
Ball said quality was also adversely affected in some hay
that was exposed to rain after cutting.
“Rain on hay waiting to be baled has a negative impact on
the hay’s quality,” he said. “How much impact depends on a number of
variables, but rain on cut hay is certainly not good.”
Ball added, “In a wet year like this we get lots of forage
growth, but putting up good quality hay is even more difficult that
usual.”
Extension Beef Nutritionist Dr. Darrell Rankins agreed
with Ball.
“The two nutrients of most concern will be the protein and
energy content of the hay. It is important to know if these are low
in hay relative to the cattle’s winter feed requirements,” said
Rankins. “If we know it’s low, then we can determine the correct
supplement to feed this winter.”
Rankin added that cattle have different feed requirements.
“Nutrient requirements of beef cattle vary with age and
stage of production,” he said. “Younger cattle need higher
percentages of energy and protein in their diet than older animals.
Nursing cows have different needs from a dry cow.
“It’s important producers provide their cattle a diet
suited to their specific needs.”
Rankins emphasized that producers should have their hay
analyzed for quality.
“It is the only way they will know if the hay will meet
their cattle’s needs,” Rankins said.
The Auburn University Feed and Forage Testing Service can
do these analyses.
“The lab has recently reduced its testing fee to $10 per
sample,” said Rankins. “I hope producers will take advantage of this
and have their hay tested.”
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has organized
five regional meetings to address hay quality and what implications it
has on wintering livestock. The meetings will offer timely
information as producers begin to prepare to feed their cow herd
through the winter. Extension professionals will discuss a variety of
topics.
Hay Sampling – Mike Davis, Area Agronomist
Interpreting the Analysis and Choosing the Right Supplement –
Dr. Darrell
Rankins, Beef Nutritionist
Hay Storage – Dr. Don Ball, Forage Agronomist
Forage Options – Dr. Don Ball, Forage Agronomist
The meetings will be held in the following locations.
Tuesday, Sept. 30,
5:30 p.m. –
Tuscaloosa County Extension Office, Tuscaloosa
Thursday, Oct. 2,
5:00 p.m. –
Morgan
County
Extension Office, Hartselle
Thursday, Oct. 9,
5:00 p.m. – Poarch
Creek Indian Reservation, Atmore
Tuesday, Oct. 14,
5:30 p.m. – Pike
County Cattlemen’s Building, Troy
Thursday, Oct. 16,
5:30 pm – Location
to be announced, Talladega
For additional information, contact the
county Extension
agent hosting the meeting nearest you.
Tuscaloosa – Johnny Gladney, (205)349-4630
Hartselle – Ronald Britnell, (256)773-2549
Atmore – Buck Farrior, (251)867-7760
Troy – David
Carpenter, (334)566-0985
Talladega – Henry
Dorough, (256)362-6187
Hay is the most popular stored feed for
Alabama livestock operations. This year, about 780,000 acres of
grass and other forages will be harvested.
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