ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE March 2026 51 Use of a hay probe is highly recommended in sample collection over taking “grab” samples from various hay bales. One should collect 2-3 cored samples of a minimum of 10% of the hay inventory. Obviously, more is better in obtaining the most representative sample. Different hay harvests should be sampled and tested separately rather than combined. Once the sampling is completed, the material should be mixed thoroughly in a clean, dry bucket then subsampled to send to the laboratory. Subsampling is accomplished by placing your total sample on a clean, impermeable surface and mixing it thoroughly, then using a yard stick or similar implement, divide the mixed material into four quarters. Combine the material from two opposing quarters to make your submitted sample. Communicate with the laboratory to determine the desired amount of sampled forage to send that is necessary to complete all the desired testing. If you send too much material, the laboratory will need to take a subsample, which may not be a representative sample of your forage. A simple Google search for “forage sampling methods” will provide several good extension-based videos on forage sampling techniques. FORAGE TESTING METHODS Standardized chemical methods of feed analysis were developed more than 200 years ago. The proximate analysis system that includes crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF), ether extract (EE), and ash have been in use for more than 150 years. This system was not adequate for differentiating feed composition relative to microbial fermentation and animal needs. Newer chemical and biological methods of feed analysis that best relate to nutritional function have been developed over the past 40 years and continue to be developed (Box A). Newer biological methods such as determining rumen degradable protein or neutral detergent fiber degradability are examples of characterizing forage components related to microbial fermentation in feeding ruminant animals. Figure 1. Comparison of two grass hay samples that have similar appearance. Although some tactile, visual, or smell perspectives may provide an idea of forage quality they are not directly related to nutrient content. The analysis of these two forages is shown in Table 2 at the end of the article. A B Box A Suggested nutrient parameters for feed testing • Moisture/Dry Matter • Crude Protein • Soluble Crude Protein • Acid Detergent Insoluble Protein • Rumen Degradability • Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) • Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) • Lignin • Degradability of Neutral Detergent Fiber • Crude Fat or Total Fatty Acids • Water-soluble Carbohydrates • Starch • Ash • Macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, S) • Microminerals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo) • Energy content - calculated A B
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