Feed Sampling Analysis Representative Sample Identify a lot
- Slides: 12
Feed Sampling & Analysis
Representative Sample • Identify a “lot” of hay • Same field harvested within 48 h • Other variables – variety, soil, weeds • Small sample represents “a lot” of hay
How to Take the Sample? • Use a strong, sharp coring device • At least 12” to 18” long • Right angle to bale
Where to Take the Sample? • Ends of square bales • Sides of round bales
How Many Bales to Sample? • Minimum of 20 bales per “lot” • Take more if variability high • Sample bales at random • Around the entire stack or yard • Different heights • Have a plan
Pasture Sampling • Identify uniform area as “site” • Approximately 20 plots per site • But, forage maturity changes
Silage Sampling • 3 to 5 handfuls from the middle of a load • Plastic bag, refrigerate immediately • Repeat several times during day
Grain Sampling • Grain probe • At least five cores • Approximately 1 lb total
Handling Samples • Combine “cores” of one “lot” • Hay or grain – store in sealed freezer bag • Fresh forage – store in paper bag • Send to lab quickly
Proximate Analysis • Water • Crude protein = %N x 6. 25 • Crude fiber (CF) • Ash • Ether extract (EE) • Nitrogen-free extract (NFE)
Proximate Analysis • Nitrogen-free extract (NFE) = • 100 – (%water + %CP + %CF + %Ash + %EE) • Estimates non-structural CHO
Total Digestible Nutrients • %TDN = • (% dig x %CF) + (% dig x %NFE) + (% dig x %CP) + (2. 25 x % dig x %EE) • (0. 50 x %CF) + (0. 90 x %NFE) + (0. 75 x %CP) + (2. 25 x 0. 90 x %EE)