In This Section |
The Fine Art of Forage Sampling
Haying season is upon us. There is an old axiom that what happens
in June determines the entire success of the farm year. Certainly
it determines the diet we serve to our animals. Good weather provides
opportunity to put up quality forage. Conversely, poor weather affects
quality negatively. You can grab grain by the handful. A grain probe is preferred. Sample
from various areas of the bin. Again, mix and retain a two-handful
sample for analysis.Don't forget to properly label your samples. Also,
obtain and fill out an input form from an accredited laboratory. Identifying
the type of forage assists the lab in determining the Acid Detergent
Fibre of your sample. For instance, calling a forage a grass instead
of a legume causes a different equation to be used, giving entirely
different results. As a matter of course, provide the laboratory with
any and all information that will be helpful to them in analyzing
your feed stuff. A list of accredited laboratories is available from the OMAF office. Getting a proper analysis of the roughage being fed makes it a lot easier to work with your nutritionist to plan a proper feeding program. | Top of Page | For more information:Toll Free: 1-877-424-1300 Local: (519) 826-4047 E-mail: ag.info.omafra@ontario.ca |
This site is maintained
by the Government of Ontario
Queen's
Printer for Ontario
Last Modified: