High moisture feed samples from total mixed rations, pastures, pit silage and round bale silage, always require some different handling to your drier hay and grain rations for feed testing. Silage based samples will commence a secondary fermentation when disturbed and air is introduced. Pasture samples will also deteriorate once they are cut.
We will step you through the processes to ensure the high moisture samples you send in for testing can give you the most accurate analysis.
What to Sample
The key to accurate forage analysis is taking a good representative feed sample for analysis. When your nutritionist looks to balance the ration for your stock, the feed analysis you provide them is critical in getting the best performance out of your animals.
Whatever you sample needs to be representative of the crop being grazed or ensiled. If there are 2 very different paddocks to be grazed or silage pits to be fed out then you should submit 2 separate samples. With 2 feed analyses, your nutritionist can manage the difference by giving you a second diet to use when feeding the poorer feed.
How to Sample
Excluding air from the samples and providing prompt refrigeration is the key to a high quality sample being collected for feed analysis.
Pit Silage
Sampling silage for testing can be done at harvest time.
- Collect 5 handfuls of silage from a truck unloading in the pit and place in a plastic bag; squeeze out excess air and put into fridge.
- Repeat this process 3 times throughout the day.
- At the end of the day, remix the samples in a clean bucket; take 1 sample to put in a plastic bag for testing and store in fridge.
Silage can be tested at harvest time to give you an indication of the quality of the product being harvested. This will help in determining your broad feeding program and ensure you have the required additional commodities on hand to build your ration. Alternatively, and the most common practice, is to sample the silage pit after fermentation and prior to feed out.
A new sample will need to be taken for testing if the silage made is too wet or too dry. If the ensiling process is a good one, the key nutrient elements such as crude protein and fibre fractions, (NDF, ADF), should remain stable.
A crop cut too wet for ensiling will have seepage occurring where valuable nutrients will be lost. If the crop is ensiled too late and subsequently too dry, then heating will occur and a change in the nutritional profile will also occur.
Sampling silage pit prior to feed out.
- Use a long coring probe that can reach deep into the pit or bunker; take 10+ samples
- Alternatively, take grab samples from 10+ areas randomly across a newly cut face of the pit or bunker. Do not take samples from an old pit face or a pit face that is already loose as the silage will have commenced secondary fermentation.
Round Bale silage
Sample from 10% or more bales randomly with a corer as similar to round bales of hay. Any holes made in the plastic must be immediately re-sealed.
Standing Crop / Pasture
Randomly sample from multiple points throughout the paddock, cutting samples at grazing height. Avoid collecting soil or manure with these samples. Remember to sample what the animals will be eating.
Mixed Rations
Collect from freshly blended rations. Take 10 or more handfuls of the mix from multiple, random locations, mix and supply a sample of the composite. While it is good to know the analysis of the final mixed ration to confirm the diet you are feeding the stock, it is just as important to know the analysis of the base ingredients that make up the overall total mixed ration. So you may want to send in base ingredients samples such as hay, grain and silage for individual testing.
Sending High Moisture Samples off for Testing
- Handling of high moisture feeds is critical to getting an accurate feed test.
- When bagging your sample, aim to exclude as much air from the sample as possible. This may be achieved by vacuum sealing, or with a ziplock bag, rolling the sample to exclude air and taping securely shut.
- Keep cool by refrigeration
- Deliver high moisture sample as soon as possible to prevent sample degradation
- Samples can be dropped off at the Laboratory or express posted
- Avoid mail delays by posting your sample at the beginning of the week, refrigerating samples over the weekend if required.
- Cooler bricks can be put into sample boxes for extra cooling.
If you have any question or would like to discuss what is the best testing option for your needs, our team is always available on 1300 669429.
