1. Quantifying the Difference
Item
Units
Alfalfa
Bermuda
TDN %
60.2
59.6
RFQ
144.7
110.4
DMI
% of b.w.
3.0
2.3
TDN Intake
lbs per lbs b.w.
17.8
13.6
24% diff in energy intake

2. How Are Samples Currently Distributed in this Categorization System?
Percent of the Samples
- Utility
- Standard
- Select
- Choice
- Premium
Frequency of Quality Grades of All
Samples Submitted between July 1, 2003 – February, 2011

3. How Do Species Compare?
Typical expected range (color bars), median (dark green vertical lines) and the extent of what is typically considered exceptionally low or high for a species (extent of horizontal black lines represents two std. dev. away from the mean). Based on statistic from samples submitted to the UGA FEW Lab between July 2003 – February 2011.

4. Aspects of this Categorization System
Because it is RFQ-based, it is a more robust method for categorization
RFQ is the only tool that is useful in comparing energy and intake across species

5. Aspects of this Categorization System
It is a categorization system…
It does not favor certain species
Analogous to cattle market reports (weight, sex, but not typically breed)
It is a first approximation
It has indirect links to ration balancing
RFQ is not used for ration development
Final valuation can be fine-tuned

6. Aspects of this Categorization System
Provides at least 3 forage quality categories appropriate for each of the major livestock enterprises:
Dairy (choice, prime, and supreme)
Horse (standard, select, and choice)
Beef (standard, select, and choice)
Etc.
It also isolates hay that is unlikely to be nutritionally sufficient without substantial supplementation

7. Over the next few minutes…
Forage systems that match forage quality to needs.
Carbohydrates (WSC, ESC, “Brix”)
Optimizing Digestibility (TDN, IVDMD, etc.)
Maximizing Dry Matter Intake (DMI)
Minimizing Supplement Need
Gain/Acre, ADG, Grazing Days, & SR

8. Tools For Taking a Forage Sample
“Penn State Probe”

9. Tools For Taking a Forage Sample
“Colorado Hay Probe”

10. How To Take a Forage Sample
Sample from each field AND cutting (“Lot” of hay).
Use bale corer to get a representative sample from 20 bales per lot.
Insert the sampler fully and cross-ways to the stems.

11. How To Take a Forage Sample
Sample from each field AND cutting (“Lot” of hay).
Use bale corer to get a representative sample from 20 bales per lot.
Insert the sampler fully and cross-ways to the stems.

12. How To Take a Forage Sample
Fill a clean quart-size plastic bag with about ½ lb of forage.
Label each bag with details.
Send to an accredited lab (National Forage Testing Association), such as the UGA Feed and Environmental Water Lab.
For details, see the FAQ page on

13. Taking a Forage Sample
Do not take a grab sample!

14. Taking a Forage Sample

15. Taking a Forage Sample

16. Taking a Forage Sample
“Colorado Hay Probe”

17. How To Take a Forage Sample
Fill a clean quart-size plastic bag with about ½ lb of forage.
Label each bag with details.
Send to an accredited lab (National Forage Testing Association), such as the UGA Feed and Environmental Water Lab.
For details, see the FAQ page on

18. Cut Across Windrows
Sampling across
10-20 locations

19. Cut Across Windrows
Sampling across
10-20 locations

20. Cut Across Windrows
Sampling across
1-2 locations

21. 2013 Forage Quality Issues

22. 12.0 vs. 13.5 CP 10.3 vs. 11.5 CP (4% lower than normal)

23. 50.6 vs. 55.2 TDN 47.0 vs. 56.5 TDN (8.3% lower than normal)

25. Pregnancy Rate, % of exposed Body Condition Score (BCS)
100 90 80 70 60 50 40
420
410
400
390
380
370
360
350
Pregnancy rate, %
Calving Interval, d
Pregnancy Rate, % of exposed
Calving Interval, days
Body Condition Score (BCS)

26. Photo credit: Bobby Smith, Morgan CEC
The least used and least understood element of a good forage management plan.

27. Tools in the Toolbox
Plant Tissue Analysis

28. Troubleshooting and Tissue Sampling

30. Tissue Sampling
6 in.

31. Troubleshooting Good Zones Tissue Sample Soil Sample Other(?)
Bad Zones
Tissue Sample
Soil Sample
Other(?)
Representative Samples
~ 20 similar specimens

32. Plant Tissue Analysis

33. Plant Tissue Analysis