Beef Extension Specialist Low Quality Hay Dr. Ron Lemenager Beef Extension Specialist 765-427-5972 rpl@purdue.edu

Low Quality Hay – 1st Cutting 4 common themes: Rained on (maybe multiple times) Cut late – advanced plant maturity Long term plant injury (wheel tracks and windrows) Baled too wet - heat damage and/or mold

2. Cut late – Advanced Plant Maturity (NDF)

Why is Forage Quality Compromised? Crude Protein (CP) May not decrease much, depends on leaf loss Adjusted CP lower if heat damaged Lower Energy (TDN) content Higher Fiber (NDF, ADF) content Reduced intake Reduced DM digestibility (as much as 40%)

SOOO, How Bad Is My Hay? Visual appraisal Smell Forage Analysis Color Presence/amount of Seed heads Weeds Mold Smell Forage Analysis $130 - Nasco $439 - Haychec

Hay Analysis Sample hay by “lot” Use a forage probe 20 samples/lot Package and send mixed lot sample to Certified Lab Cost ~$20/sample Rank hays (poorest to best) based on analysis Match nutrient analysis to animal requirements Minimizes supplemental feed costs Optimizes performance Supplement, as needed to meet requirements

Beef Cow Nutrition Cycle: When are nutrient requirements highest? High quality forage Low quality forage Late Gestation Early Lactation Mid to Late Lactation Mid Gestation

Hay Quality vs. Cow Requirements Item Adjusted CP, % TDN, % NDF, % RFV 1st Cut Alfalfa, July 4 13.2 52 58.2 87 Preflower Cereal Rye, May 20 64.6 81 2nd Cut Alf-Orchardgrass, July 15 17.0 50.5 101 2nd Cut Red clover-OG, Aug 10 54 54.3 96 Corn stalk grazing, 30 d 8.2 56 50 Baled corn stalks 5.2 70 Mid-gestation 8 50-53a Late-gestation 10 54-57a Early-lactation 12 57-63a aUse low end of TDN range for mature cows with average milk production. Use high end of range for young cows and cows with high milk production potential.

Which Feeds Are Available? Energy Protein Corn ++++ + Distiller’s grains Hominy ++ Corn gluten feed +++ Soybean hulls Wheat midds Corn skins Brewer’s grains Cottonseed hulls

Precaution “Thumb Rules” Corn grain (high starch) Need to manage rumen pH for fiber digestion Max of 0.3% body wt (1300 lb cow x .003 = 3.9 lb) Corn by-products (high protein) Distillers grains, Corn gluten feed, Brewer’s grains Significant excess protein suppl. during gestation Can increase birth weights and dystocia High in phosphorus (need added calcium) Ca:P ratio in final diet should be 1.5:1, or greater Soybean hulls (hard pellets) Need to manage bloat potential Max of 1.0% body weight (1300 lb cow = max of 13 lb

Summary: Things to Consider Obtain a nutrient analysis of forages Inventory forages by quality Match forage quality with nutrient needs Determine supplemental nutrient needs Balance diets to minimize costs Use Body Condition Scores as a “guide” Sort cow herd into nutritional groups Adjust energy for cold stress

For More Information www.thebeefcenter.com www.beefroundtable.com Dealing with Low Quality Forages 2 part video by clicking on presenters www.beefroundtable.com Programs October 2015 program