Long summer days signal the busiest time of year for many producers and, for some, the added stress of harvesting forage for winter hay stocks. If you don’t make it yourself, chances are you buy it from someone, and purchasing tested hay can pay for itself. Testing hay can help reduce chances of nitrate poisoning and can improve your feed program. To test your hay, use a hay probe and take samples from the top, middle and bottom of the bale as well as both sides. Make sure you select bales that represent the entire stack, rather than sampling only exterior bales.
Effective storage methods affect nutrient content by protecting the hay from moisture and sun degradation. More information on hay sampling can be found in this online publication.
Nitrate poisoning can occur in any class of cattle and has a physiological process that would not fit in this article, but essentially, excess nitrates bind up oxygen and muscles become starved of oxygen, leading to death. Nitrate toxicity generally occurs at 5,000 parts per million (ppm) or greater in naïve cattle. A hay test will tell you if the nitrates in your forage are too high, and if they are, do not feed the hay in large amounts.
If your forage is high in nitrates, you can mix it with other forage or feedstuffs, as long as you ensure that your finished ration does not contain more than 5,000 ppm, and the high-nitrate forage is mixed evenly with your low-nitrate forage. Nitrate poisoning most commonly occurs in stressed plants, such as after a freeze, herbicide application or prolonged drought. If your pastures are experiencing any stress event, it is highly recommended that you test for nitrates. And for your peace of mind, testing all your hay would be a good idea.
If you are not familiar with the signs or symptoms of nitrate poisoning, contact your veterinarian or check out one of the many extension publications on the subject. Testing hay for nutrients also allows you to more effectively balance your feed rations. Providing proper nutrition for cows not only allows them to perform well but can save your pocketbook. Testing hay gives you vital information to help you make more informed management decisions and can pay for itself quickly.
