forage quality

  1. Hay Sampling

    Dec 4, 2019

    Physical evaluation of hay is useful to sort hay into general categories such as high, medium or low quality.  To move beyond general categories and predict animal performance requires a forage chemical analysis.

  2. Hay mower cutting sorghum sudangrass

    Feeding High Ash Forages

    Nov 22, 2019

    High ash content in forages resulting from soil contamination can cause several problems. This article discusses ash content in forages, its sources, and problems that occur when soil contamination is high.

  3. Sorghum-sudangrass and teff

    Harvest Management of Summer Annual Grasses

    Aug 19, 2019

    Many producers in Ohio have planted summer annual grasses this year to increase their low forage inventories. These include sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass, forage sorghum, pearl millet, and teff grass. This article discusses when these grasses should be harvested or grazed.

  4. Hay barn

    How to Feed and Use Poor Quality Forages

    Aug 16, 2019

    How can livstock producers best utilize the low quality hay harvested in 2019?

  5. First crop of forages is ready for harvest

    Forages are Ready to Harvest!

    May 21, 2019

    Forage crops are ready for the first cutting despite the wet weather pattern. Look for the next weather window of opportunity to harvest for good quality forage.

  6. Akfalfa windrows

    Alfalfa Quality Estimates for Ohio

    May 25, 2018

    Alfalfa development over the past week has continued at a a rapid pace and caused an increase in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) values. It is time to harvest high quality alfalfa in southern and western Ohio!

  7. Hay windrows

    First Cutting Time is Approaching!

    May 17, 2018

    Estimating fiber content before harvest can be valuable to producers for making harvest timing and storage decisions. A simple method can be used to estimate the fiber content of alfalfa standing in the field to guide harvest timing decisions.