Transcript Forage Testing For Beef Cattle: Why, What, How

Forage Analysis For Beef Cattle:
Why, How, and So What
Dr. Matt Hersom
Dept. of Animal Sciences
Forage Testing - Why
Is a bale of hay a bale of hay?
How can you tell the relative difference between forages?
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing - Why
How can you tell the amount of nutrients present?
Which group of cattle need a particular forage quality?
Matt Hersom, 2008
Requirement Cycles in Beef Cows
January
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing - Why
• So you know what you are working with!
– What is the supply of nutrients
– Which nutrients are deficient/excess
– How big is the deficiency
– What kind of supplementation is needed
– Make better decisions
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing - How
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing - How
• Take random sample
from
– Pasture
– Hay supply
• How much / many
samples
Matt Hersom, 2008
Need for Proper Sampling
200 bales of Hay or acres
of Pasture
20 core samples
Lab Analyses
0.5 grams
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Sample Number and Variation
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Forage Testing - How
• Get enough sample(s) to be an accurate
representation of the forage
– Hay
• Sample different lots/cuttings
• 20-25 cores from each grouping to composite
– Pasture
• Sample individual pastures
• Multiple random locations
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing – So What
• Assessment of the concentration of important
nutrients
– Dry matter
– Energy : TDN or NE
– Protein : Crude protein, degradable protein
– Minerals
– Others
• Fiber fractions
• VFA score
• Mycotoxins
Matt Hersom, 2008
Here’s Your
Analysis,
Now What?
Matt Hersom, 2008
Look at all
Dry Matter Values
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Moisture / Dry Matter
1,100 lb bale in the field =
1,015 lb of DM to feed
Matt Hersom, 2008
Energy Values=TDN
1,100 lb bale = 467 lb TDN
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Energy Values=Net Energy
Maintenance (NEm)
Gain (NEg)
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Protein Values=CP
1,100 lb bale = 92 lb CP
Matt Hersom, 2008
Protein Values=CP
Degradable Intake
Protein =DIP
1,100 lb bale = 55 lb of DIP
Matt Hersom, 2008
Mineral Concentration
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Everything Else
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Forage Testing – So What
• What do you do with the numbers?
– Use to calculate DM lbs of TDN or CP
– Consult Cow Nutrient Requirements
• How do they compare
– Determine limiting nutrient(s)
– Put into ration balancing software
• Formulate diets or intake potential
– Calculate cost of TDN and CP coming from forage
• Compare to supplemental sources of TDN and/or CP
– Determine supplementation needs
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“What can I do to make more money and/or cut
costs in my beef cattle operation”
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing For Beef Cattle
• “Don’t guess forage test” John Arthington
• Assessment of fertilization and forage
management practices
• Absolute necessity for ration balancing
• What is the cost of forage testing,
What is the true cost of not forage
testing……..
Matt Hersom, 2008
Forage Testing Facilities
• UF Forage Extension Laboratory http://rcrecona.ifas.ufl.edu/papfel
• Dairy One http://www.dairyone.com
• Waters Laboratory http://www.watersag.com
• http://www.foragetesting.org
Matt Hersom, 2008