Bad Hay? Test To Be Sure

ELDON COLE

MT. VERNON, MO.
   About the time I started to work for the University, Jim Ross, state livestock specialist worked with an event, I believe in Texas county, on selecting the worst bull in the county. I don’t recall all the specifics but I believe Jim just looked at the candidates and picked out visually what he thought was the absolute worst “looker.” Then the winner, or loser was to go directly to slaughter or be castrated.
   I think if we were to have a worst hay in the county or region contest I may have a winner. Like Jim’s selection of the worst bull, I’m basing my choice on just looks and not on objective evaluation where energy, relative feed value or protein analysis was done in a lab. My “winner” was two-year old, outside-stored, sericea lespedeza.
   I made the farm visit due to a cow dying the night before. She died near the bale that was set out the day before. The owners suspected there might be a poison weed in the hay. I could not find any weed but was amazed at the low quality of the hay. I’m guessing but it had to be 3 percent or less on protein and down in the 30’s on TDN. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF) was surely into the 80’s.
   As I tore through the bale searching for a possible poisonous weed I’d find a pocket of sericea leaves but mostly just woody stems that smelled moldy. With a favorable cattle market this year, I find there is more interest in spending a little money on various items for beef cattle. If you’re thinking about a feed purchase, I encourage you to first invest in a hay or silage test. Some have tried new forages or new varieties so this is a good time to check them out before buying a supplement. If you’re a good forage producer, you may not need any supplement. ∆
   ELDON COLE: Extension Livestock Specialist, University of Missouri