Forage analysis
We sent off a sample of our hay and got the results back yesterday:
(All values are on a dry matter basis)
%Crude Protein (CP):  6.4
%Available Protein:  5.6
%ADICP: 0.8  (Acid Detergent Insoluble Crude Protein)
%Adjusted Crude Protein: 6.4
Soluble Protein % CP:  31
Degradable Protein % CP: 66
%NDICP:  2.1  (Neutral Detergent Insoluble Crude Protein)
%Acid Detergent Fiber: 45.3
%Neutral Detergent Fiber: 71.9
%Lignin:  8.5
%NFC:  18.5  (Non Fiber Carbohydrates)
%NSC:  11.7  (Non Structural Carbohydrates)
%Starch:  1.8
%Sugar:  9.9
%Crude Fat: 1.9
%Ash:  3.43
%TDN:  53  (Total Digestible Nutrients)
NEL, Mcal/lb:  0.39  (Net Energy for Lactation)
NEM, Mcal/lb:  0.44  (Net Energy for Maintenance)
NEG, Mcal/lb:  0.19  (Net Energy for Gain)
Relative Feed Value:  69
%Calcium:  0.44
%Phosphorus:  0.08
%Magnesium:  0.14
%Potassium:  0.71
%Sodium:  0.037
PPM Iron:  68
PPM Zinc:  19
PPM Copper: 9
PPM Manganese:  75
PPM Molybdenum:  0.2
%Sulfur:  0.11
%Chloride Ion:  0.14
%Lysine:  0.22
%Methionine:  0.08
So the quality of this hay is not great. Six percent crude protein is barely above values for various straws, which may be around 3-4%. We knew that it wasn't going to be that great however because of the large amount of overly-mature timothy in the mix. Everyone around here will tell you that the weather played a big part in the quality of the hay they got. A few days of rain at the wrong time and that was that. Slightly more than half (53%) of the hay is considered digestible (Total Digestible Nutrients, TDN). So half is waste. Oh well, hopefully next year will be better. Meanwhile, we supplement with grain.