Forage Testing

Why Is It Important to Test Forage Quality?

Forage is plant material for grazing livestock, primarily the leaves and stems of plants. It is now used more loosely to include similar plants that are cut for fodder and carried to animals, especially as hay or silage. Good quality forage for livestock can produce high weight gain rates, adequate milk production, efficient reproduction, and adequate profitability. As forage analysis procedures have improved, so knows how to use test results to improve animal efficiency and performance. However, many livestock producers still do not view forage quality testing as a valuable management tool. Accurate analysis of all forages is needed to balance diets, develop the lowest-cost supplements, use homegrown forages effectively, and price hay correctly.

Solutions

Testing your forage is useful for maximizing animal production while minimizing feeding costs. As a global company focused on forage testing, Lifeasible offers services and custom protocols related to forage testing. Our forage tests provide useful information on the nutritional value of pasture, hay, or silage. Whether you plan to feed hay to your livestock or sell it, testing hay can be beneficial.

Forage Sampling

Proper sampling and handling of forage are critical to obtaining accurate results. Just a few grams of material represent several tons of forage, so it is important to obtain a representative sample. You can choose to sample on your own, or our laboratory professionals can sample for you. When sampling pastures, each paddock or field should be sampled and tested separately. Samples should be taken randomly from at least 20 different locations to ensure that the samples represent the entire area. When sampling hay, it is important to sample and test each lot separately.

Analysis of Forage Quality

We offer proven analytical procedures and laboratory techniques to ensure the accuracy of forage analysis. Representative samples allow you to determine the nutritional value of the forage and to determine if nitrates, mycotoxins, etc. are toxic in the forage. Sampling procedures vary depending on the type of forage and whether your sampling is done before harvest or after forage storage.

Our state-of-the-art analytical platform offers a wide range of testing solutions to meet your specific needs. Our services include:

❖ Stable Isotope Analysis of Forage

❖ Animal Methods for Assessing Forage Quality

❖ Near Infrared Technology for Forage Testing

❖ Fiber Digestion and Transmission Dynamic Modeling Detection for Forage

❖ Detection of Harmful Substances in Forage

Our Methods for Testing Forage

• Sensory evaluation. It includes color, leafiness, maturity, foreign matter (mold, dust, weeds, etc.), texture, and odor. This method relies heavily on subjective evaluation. Furthermore, studies have shown that these physical characteristics do not necessarily correlate closely with the animal’s performance. The main advantage of this method is that it can be done in a matter of minutes.
• Chemical methods. Our forage quality assessment requires testing of its chemical composition. The main limitation of this forage testing method is the slow turnaround time.
• Forage test evaluation. This method focuses on the forage quality by detecting whether the animals gain weight, produce more milk, reproduce successfully and live longer.

Application of Forage Testing Results

• Ration Formulation. The results of forage testing are used to develop nutritionally balanced and least costly rations.
• Evaluation of forage production practices. Producers can use forage test results to see where they can improve their management practices.
• Forage marketing. Forage testing can be used to set a fair price based on the value of forage feeding.

Lifeasible has a diverse range of forage testing platforms and advanced analytical technologies. We can deliver forage testing results in the most efficient manner and minimize feeding costs while maximizing animal production. For more information or to discuss in detail, please contact us.