Success StoryForage Testing Increases in Menifee County



Forage Testing Increases in Menifee County

Author: Mary McCarty

Planning Unit: Menifee County CES

Major Program: Forages

Plan of Work: Animal Science

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Menifee County Beef Producers have hosted many winter meetings on Forages and Beef production and increasing profits. After going through the last two winters in Kentucky, with the mud and poor hay crop, Menifee County Beef members are listening to what is presented by UK Specialist at these meetings.  UK Specialist Jeff Lemkuhler showed examples of hay testing results and gave examples of how they could improve their cattle nutrition with supplementation. Farmers know to look for CP% (Crude Protein), TDN % (Total Digestive Nutrients), and RFV %(Relative Feed Value) of the Hay testing report. Farmers then will know what supplementation their cattle need to meet their daily requirement.    Meeting attendees have increased hay testing exponentially.  2018 East KY Hay contest had 12 tests enter from the county.  The hay contest gives producer an option to test at no cost to them.  Menifee County in 2018-2019 had 21 tests completed on local hay. Farmers now want to see what the difference in hay that is bailed at the correct time compared to the hay that was cut the first of July.  They what to see how much maturity actually plays in hay quality by seeing how TDN and RFV go down with maturity in the crop.  






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