Test, Don't Guess - sampling and testing hay

By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator

Accurately sampling and testing hay is the only way to get a real understanding of the nutritive value of feed. Using values from previous years or a “book value” can be costly since a producer may incorrectly develop a ration using values that aren’t representative.

Guidelines for sampling

When sampling hay, getting a representative sample is a critical first step. Samples must accurately represent the entire lot of hay. The UNL NebGuide “Sampling Feeds for Analyses" (PDF version, 655KB) states that a “lot” of hay should be harvested from the...