Transforming Hay Decisions A Comprehensive Analysis of Different Samples

When to sample: Sample the hay either as close to feeding or as close to sale as possible. Dry matter measurements may change after harvest and ... A representative sample will consist of at least 20 cores from 20 bales (one core per bale) resulting in a sample size of approximately one-half pound of hay ... Sample Different Lots of Hay Separately. Kind of hay, time of cutting, fertilizer rates (especially nitrogen), and weather conditions at harvest will influence ... “To obtain a representative sample, take samples from several bales – at least five from a lot of 20-30 bales. If you're testing a group of 100 ... Sample – Hay from each harvest from a field should be sampled with a hay probe. Many Purdue Extension offices have a hay probe to loan to sample ... A bale probe is critical for taking a representative sample. Without one, it's nearly impossible to get an accurate sampling of leaves and stems. If you don't ... Keep in mind that each hayfield may have different forages (alfalfa, grass or a grass alfalfa mix) and could be harvested at different ... Hay sampling tips. Most labs recommend sampling from 10 to 20 bales from various places within your hay stack or field. Ideally, the sampled ... We offer various hay probe samplers for different sizes of bales. Whether you need to assess moisture, protein, or nutrient content, our hay sampling tools ... Whether you're sampling from fresh pasture or round, square, or compressed hay bales, you'll want to collect a ½ – 1 lb (200 – 500 g) sample ...