A forage probe for sampling hay might be the most valuable tool you can use in 2019!

To suggest that it’s been challenging to get quality hay made this year is an understatement. Much like last year, until near the end of June it was nearly impossible to find enough days in a row that allowed for the harvest of dry hay. In fact, the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) has estimated that only 60% of Ohio’s first cutting hay harvest was completed by the first of July.

To further confirm concerns for the quality of much of the hay that’s been harvested, a recent forage analysis on some Fairfield County mixed grass hay that was mowed on June 25th and baled on June 29 – after also getting lightly rained on once – came back showing 6.85% protein and 38.02% TDN (total digestible nutrients) on a dry matter basis. The ADF (acid detergent fiber) was 51.63% and the NDF (neutral detergent fiber) was 65.51%.

While that level of protein might be tolerable for a dry cow in mid-gestation, the other quality factors indicated by this sample of hay – TDN, ADF and NDF – indicate that when fed as long stem hay, even when offered in unlimited amounts, it simply won’t satisfy the total nutritional requirements of a cow at any time during the year. That includes Continue reading →