Improve Your Bottom Line Through the Power of Feed Testing

Now that cattle feed is harvested or being harvested, it’s time to start thinking about testing that feed. While visual assessment can help separate the good quality feed from the poor-quality feed, it is not going to help you determine the energy and protein content – only a feed test can accurately provide this information.

For the most accurate results, it is best to test your feed shortly before cattle consume it or when management decisions are to be made, but you’ll need to leave adequate time for the results to come back so you can plan for supplemental feed if it’s needed.

For example, if you harvested your feed at the end of August and sent the sample off mid-September, then you should have your results back by the end of September at the latest, giving you between then and when you start winter feeding to source any supplemental feed you might need.  

Why feed test?

1. Develop appropriate rations that meet the nutritional needs of different classes of beef cattle and stages of production.
2. Identify nutritional gaps that may require supplementation including trace minerals that are often deficient in cattle across Canada such as copper and selenium.
3. Prevent or identify potentially devastating problems due to toxicity from mycotoxins, nitrates, sulfates or other minerals or nutrients.
4. Avoid production problems, such as reduced conception or poor gain caused by mineral or nutrient deficiencies or excesses.
5. Economize feeding and possibly make use of opportunities to include diverse ingredients such as fruit and vegetable waste.
6. Accurately price feed for buying or selling.

How to collect feed samples 

Any feed type that will be used to feed beef cattle can and should be analyzed at a lab to ensure the nutritional needs of livestock are being met. This includes silage, baled forages and straw, by-products, baleage, grain, swath grazing, cover crops and corn.

The amount of sample to send to a lab will vary based on lab specification. Typically, a one-quart, zip-style plastic bag is enough sample. However, more may need to be sent depending on the number of tests requested.

For baled forages, group the forage to be sampled into lots, which could be based on forage maturity, variety, harvest date, a single field or a single cutting.

Use a forage probe to acquire the minimum recommendation of 20 cores for each forage lot you wish to submit. Once you have the sample collected, put it in a plastic zip bag and clearly label it. Samples should be stored in a cool location, such as a refrigerator or cooler with ice packs, until shipping to the chosen lab.