BOZEMAN, Mont. – Montana State University Extension specialists have released two new MontGuide factsheets on forage analysis.
A new four-page MontGuide, Forage Analysis Interpretation, describes why forage analyses are an important tool in livestock nutrient management.
"Understanding forage analysis and how it can impact a ration feeding program is vital to maintaining herd health, improving productivity and decreasing forage waste," said Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension beef cattle specialist.
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Van Emon, MSU Extension Forage Specialist Emily Glunk and Colleen Buck, MSU Extension agriculture agent in Sheridan County, wrote the new MontGuide.
"Understanding forage analysis is important in determining how to balance livestock rations. Forage should be the basis of any livestock or equine diet, and as such, should be sampled to better achieve required daily nutrient intake. The utility of an analysis begins with proper forage sampling," said Glunk.
Authors Glunk and Van Emon collaborated with another MSU Extension agriculture agent, Rose Malisani from Cascade County, to write a second MontGuide, Collecting a Forage or Feed Sample for Analysis. The second MontGuide defines how to properly collect a forage or feed sample for analysis to obtain the best overall estimate of forage or feed nutrients.
"The proper equipment, timing and placement of samples helps to ensure that you get
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the best description of feed and forage quality," said Glunk.
Both MontGuides be found on the MSU Extension publications website, http://store.msuextension.org/ . Search “forage” to find the guides.
For additional information on forages, visit the Forage Extension website at http://animalrangeextension.montana.edu/forage/ .
