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Author: RANKINS PubID: ANR-0494 |
Title: | FEED AND FORAGE ANALYSIS |
Pages: 2
Status: IN STOCK |
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Feed and Forage Analysis
ANR-494, Revised August 2003. Darrell L.
Rankins Jr., Extension Animal Scientist,
Associate Professor, Animal Sciences,
and Hamilton Bryant, Extension Research Associate, both
with Auburn University; and Mike Davis, Extension Area Agronomist,
Blackbelt Regional Research and Extension Center.
Sampling
Information
Sampling your feed or forage is an important step in determining its nutritive value. If you do not get a representative sample of the feed that is to be tested, the results of the chemical analysis will be worthless. If the results are to reflect the true feeding value of the material, you must obtain a sample that represents the entire lot of forage, mixed feed, or individual ingredient to be analyzed.
Hay. Hay samples should be taken with a hay probe. Check with your county Extension office about the availability of a probe. Each sample should represent a batch or lot of hay that has been treated alike"cut from the same field on the same date and stored in a like manner. Separate samples should be collected and submitted for different batches of hay.
Standard square bales: Take core samples from the ends of as many bales as possible. Minimum of 10 bales.
Large round bales: Take the core sample from the round side of the bale and sample as many bales as possible.
Silage. Take a silage sample from an upright silo after the top 3 to 4 feet of silage have been removed. In a trench or pit silo, sample from the fresh surface of silage after some has been removed. Take double handfuls from at least a dozen locations. When a silage unloader is used, place a container under the chute once per minute collecting about a half-gallon at a time until a total of 2 to 3 gallons is collected. Mix this thoroughly and take a subsample to send to the lab. Put into a plastic bag, remove air, seal, and mail or deliver to lab as soon as possible.
Mixed feed or grain. For on-farm mixed feed, samples should be taken as the mixer wagon is being unloaded. For ingredients or mixed feeds stored in bulk, take small samples from as many locations as you can"at least a dozen. A grain probe is most useful for grains stored in a grain bin.
Submitting the Samples
Fill out the reverse side of this sheet"one for each sample that is being submitted. Keep a good record of how you labeled your samples so that matching the results will be simple when you receive the report. Attach this completed information sheet to the bag containing the sample and place both bag and sheet in a mailing envelope. Additional information as well as information sheets, plastic bags, and mailing envelopes can be obtained from your county Extension office.
Mail samples to:
Soil Testing Laboratory Alfa Agricultural Services and Research Building 961 South Donahue Drive Auburn University, AL 36849Enclose a check payable to Feed Analysis Lab.
Fill out form (one for each sample being submitted) as completely as possible. See reverse side for sampling and mailing instructions.
Name:___________________________________ County: _________________________
Phone: ____________
Address:__________________________________________________________________
Your Sample ID: ___________________
Date Submitted:____________________
Check analysis desired*:
__ Basic $10
__ Basic Plus Minerals $25
__ Broiler Litter Feed $9
__ Crude Protein $6
__ Fat $8
__ Nitrate Nitrogen $6
* It is important to choose the correct analysis
to meet your needs. For hay, forage, silage, and complete feed
samples, the basic analysis is what you should choose. This will
include dry matter, moisture, crude protein, fiber, and TDN (total
digestible nutrients). If the mineral content is important, choose
the next option. If broiler litter is being used as a feed, choose
the third analysis. Many producers are interested in checking
the feed value of a commodity feed or a single grain; for most
of these feeds, the only analysis necessary is crude protein.
For example, corn grain is variable in protein content, but its
energy value is fairly constant at 90 percent TDN. The best way
to check its energy value is by bushel test weight rather than
by laboratory analysis. For commodity feeds (e.g., soyhulls, cottonseed,
corn, oats, etc.) choose crude protein only. Fat is self-explanatory.
Nitrate levels can become toxic in forages experiencing drought
stress and levels can be determined. See Extension publication
ANR-112, "Nitrate Poisoning of Cattle in Alabama, for complete
details.
(Check appropriate box)
Hay
__ Bermudagrass
__ Bahiagrass
__ Dallisgrass
__ Crabgrass
__ Fescue
__ Orchardgrass
__ Alfalfa
__ Clover
__ Serecia
__ Peanut
__ Soybean
__ Other Legume
__ Small Grain
__ Ryegrass
__ Sorghum/Sudan
__ Millet
__ Johnsongrass
Silage
__ Corn
__ Other
Total Mixed Ration
__ Contains Roughage
__ Contains Only Grains and Commodity Feeds
Grain or Commodity Feed
__ Corn
__ Cottonseed
__ Soyhulls
__ Broiler Litter
__ Other
Type of Animal and Supplement
(An example diet will be formulated using your hay analysis if you provide animal information and type of supplement that you might use.)
Beef Cattle
__ Dry Cow, 3 Months Pre-Calving
__ Superior Milking Cow, 1 to 3 Months Post-Calving
__ Average Milking Cow, 1 to 3 Months Post-Calving
__ First Calf Heifer, 1 to 3 Months Post-Calving
__ Weaned Steers/Heifers, 2.5 ADG
__ Yearling Heifers, 1.5 ADG
__ Yearling Bulls, 2.5 ADG
__ Yearling Bulls, 3.0 ADG
__ Dairy Cattle
__ Horses
__ Sheep
__ Goats
__ Swine
Supplemental Feed
__ Shelled Corn
__ Range Cubes
__ Soybean Hulls
__ Whole Cottonseed
For more information, contact your county Extension office. Visit http://www.aces.edu/counties or look in your telephone directory under your county's name to find contact information.
Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University), an equal opportunity educator and employer.
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