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Forage Quality Trends Lower In 2008

published: November 5th 2008
source: University of Arkansas Extension Service

LITTLE ROCK - An analysis of the forage samples submitted to the University of Arkansas, Diagnostics Laboratory in 2008, indicates a troubling trend - forage quality is dropping.

Forage analysis results for Bermuda grass, fescue and mixed grass samples submitted between May and October were compared over the past 10 years, says Dr. Shane Gadberry, assistant professor and ruminant nutritionist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

The result of the testing showed total digestible nutrients, also known as TDN, averaged 56.3 percent, compared to 57.3 percent in 2007 and 58.4 percent in 2006. Crude protein averaged 12.1 percent, compared to 12.8 percent in both 2007 and 2006. Neither crude protein nor TDN had averaged this low for the same time period since 1999, according to Gadberry.

"The greatest contributor to the lower quality observed in the dataset is likely weather related," he said. "Many regions of the state received abundant rainfall throughout the growing season, often interfering with hay harvest."

The loss of forage quality can’t be blamed entirely on the weather.

"Many coffee shop discussions by producers focused on high fertilizer cost and reducing fertilization," Gadberry said. "Producers that felt like they couldn’t put out the fertilizer this year because of high prices should expect this type of hay to be low quality. Unfortunately, this type of hay seldom makes it to the laboratory for analysis."

Historically, the average analysis for hay tested at the laboratory indicated gestating cattle were seldom lacking in protein or energy when fed hay through winter; however, 70 percent of the forages analyzed had inadequate energy (TDN) and 25 percent lacked adequate protein needed for lactation, Gadberry said.

If fertilization was cut back as many hay producers have indicated, a large percentage of these unfertilized hays will be deficient in energy and protein, Gadberry said.

Three unfertilized, mature hay samples analyzed this year ranged from 6-8 percent crude protein and 48-52 percent TDN. As a result, lactating beef cows fed this quality of hay will be short 0.75-pound crude protein and two pounds TDN per day.

Compensating for this level of deficiency often requires more feed to replace forage, which most producers aren’t willing to purchase. There aren’t too many people that would be willing to feed the eight pounds per cow, daily, of corn gluten feed to compensate for the low quality hay’s shortcoming.

Unfortunately, Gadberry said, low quality hay always results in added cost either through the level of supplementation required to maintain body condition and reproductive performance or the consequence of lost body condition and reduced reproductive rates from not supplementing.

For more information on forage testing, matching hays to animal requirements, or feeding beef cows to maintain body condition and reproductive efficiency, contact your county extension office. The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the U of A Division of Agriculture.