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Forage quality is a concern

Forage quality is another casualty of this year’s excessive rainfall.  Purdue Extension forage specialist Keith Johnson says forage testing is going to be vital to livestock producers.

He says as plants age – they take on more fiber and become less palatable to the animal.  “It reduces the intake and crude protein is reduced as forages age,” he says.  “We have a situation where quality is very much impacted because we’re harvesting 4-6 weeks later than normal.”

Before feeding hay from this year – it needs to be tested.  Once tested and analyzed – Johnson tells Brownfield it’s important for producers to work with an animal nutritionist to create a proper feeding plan.  “Help us use those feeds in the right order as the needs of the livestock change,” he says.  “Then we can supplement them accordingly with products to make sure we keep these animal in good body condition as they go through winter.”

And if the weather cooperates, he says there is still opportunity for another harvest.  “With that comes the possibility that we could have hay that we are quite proud of and is harvested on a timely basis,” he says.  “Therefore it has nutrient levels in the form of energy and protein that are more apt to meet the needs of livestock that we have.”

A link to more information on forage testing can be found HERE.