KDA service helps producers get the most out of their forages
Commissioner Richie Farmer
Are you interested in making your livestock operation more profitable? In these trying economic times, who isn’t?
I’ve got three words of advice – test your forages.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture offers forage testing for the low cost of only $10 per lot (same field, same cutting). It probably costs that much in gas for one of the KDA’s trained field inspectors to drive to your farm to take samples for testing.
Producers receive a laboratory analysis of their forage’s nutritional value and an “Interpreting Forage Quality Report” guide from the KDA. I encourage producers to keep a forage journal so they can compare forage quality year-to-year.
Testing provides livestock producers with valuable nutritional information. By knowing the nutritional value, they can minimize the cost of their feed while maximizing the production of their livestock.
Testing is also important for forage producers, who know the value of their hay or haylage is dictated through increased milk or meat production or reduced supplement need. Testing helps them determine the fair market value and an equitable price for their forage.
Three people work with the KDA’s Forage Testing Program. Kimberly Field works in the Forage Laboratory in Frankfort, where the samples are analyzed. Two field inspectors, Jim Wade and Mike Phelps, cover the midwestern and far western parts of the state, respectively. Click here to see a chart of the counties that Jim and Mike cover.
By testing hay/haylages and using the analysis, producers can balance feed rations for their livestock. This enables them to use available feed sources to formulate and feed the most economical ration. Producers who have their hay tested may obtain a complete balanced ration for their particular needs. Contact your local county Extension agent for assistance in formulating the most economical ration from available feed sources.
For producers who wish to sell their hay, the KDA inspector will make a visual evaluation of the forage and list them in the Department’s Hay Sales Directory. The KDA’s Forage Testing Program maintains a list of Kentucky hay producers at www.kyagr.com/buyky/corral/haylistingpara.aspx. The inspector will take several probes that are analyzed for protein, total digestible nutrients (TDN) and relative feed value (RFV). Each listing describes a lot’s type, cutting date and number, bale size and weight, color, odor, RFV and other characteristics. Listings can be sorted by any combination of county, RFV, bale size and type of hay.
Producers and brokers with hay for sale who lack an Internet connection can call the KDA’s toll-free Hay Hotline at (888) 567-9589 to be put on the list. The KDA makes no guarantees or claims to the quality, price or nutritional value of hay and forages submitted through the hotline.
The KDA has a forage testing van outfitted and used for testing and educational purposes. The van can be booked for hay contests, association meetings, fairs and the like by calling the lab toll free at 1-800-248-4628.
The KDA works closely with forage specialists Dr. Garry Lacefield and Dr. Ray Smith, and Hay Specialist Tom Keene of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. Extension maintains a Web site with forage information, publications and links at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage.
For more information on the KDA’s Forage Testing Program, log on to www.kyagr.com/marketing/forage/index.htm or contact Kim Field at kimberly.field@ky.gov or (800) 248-4628.
