testing hay for sugar content
Pulling hand-grab samples from bales or windrows. Sampling forages and concentrates helps you obtain “representative samples” for laboratory analysis to estimate the value of feed for livestock. A proper hay would be a prairie hay or a second or third cutting of alfalfa hay processed after the bloom stage. Having dependable samples can prevent unwelcome surprises. Schedule of classes happening at the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center. Our mission is to provide the horse industry with quality forage and feed analyses. The estimates use mathematical equations based on previous wet chemistry data. If grab samples are taken, be sure to obtain a representative sample. Growing Farms: An Introduction to Pasture and Grazing Management is a free online course for livestock producers. Announcements on educational programs and important news & notices for western Oregon producers of beef cattle, sheep and goats, plus forages to support these livestock. Article. Chris Schachtschneider | Collection. Iowa State University of Science and Technology. The most accurate samples are obtained with the use of a forage sampling probe. 18.4 + .5 = 18.9 High sugars and starch. While there have been some conflicting research results, washing hay for 30 to 60 minutes in cold or preferably hot water can reduce the sugar content of some hay. Brix is a measurement of sugars in a plant. 2… See the publication “Understanding your forage test results” for information on interpreting results. Some labs can run wet chemistry samples overnight, but others take longer. Monitoring is a process that land managers can use to assess how management decisions affect rangeland and natural resource health. Shelby Filley | Buy probes and meters to accurately test hay and grain moisture content to control mold and assess nutritional value. Ask the lab to run the required analyses to give you this basic information. WSC plus starch = NSC. This collection has information on soil testing and ferilizing, renovation. Chronic poisoning over time causes loss of nerve function while acute poisoning causes death. 6 acre field which is normally cut for mixed grass hay. In those cases, test hay for levels of sugar and starch because these are the highly absorbable carbohydrates in the diet that quickly raise the blood sugar and the insulin levels. 2150 Beardshear Hall, Ames, IA 50011-2031 (800) 262-3804, Iowa State University | Prices and sample submission guidelines may differ among laboratories. For hays with higher NSC levels you can soak the hay for 15 to 60 minutes to reduce the sugar levels. Dec 2019 | You may also choose to purchase your own hay … We have professionally tested & analyzed our hay using an analytical laboratory that specializes in hay testing. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of the normal range for ethanol soluble carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 percent and 10.9 percent. Phone: (515) 294-5260, Measurement Procedure for Horses and Ponies, Management and Care of Scurry Driving Equine Teams. Before you add the yeast, you need to test the must to determine if any additions/corrections are needed. Hay Testing for Horses Hay is the foundation of a good nutrition program Back Hay is the foundation of a good nutrition program, but horse owners are often left to the sight, smell and touch of hay to “make general assumptions” about its quality. Be sure and discuss the use of wet chemistry vs. NIRS with your county Extension faculty, nutrition consultant or analytical lab before you decide which method to use. Pulling hand-grab samples from the standing forage. Testing hay and haylage is crucial for horses prone to laminitis as the only way to tell if the sugar and starch level … Hay analysis The only way to know the nutritional (including sugar/WSC/starch) content of hay is to have it analysed - you cannot tell the nutritional content by the colour of the hay, and old hay doesn't necessarily have less sugar than new hay. Forage testing labs are not yet testing specifically for this sugar but it is possible to get an idea of the fructan content of your grass hay by subtracting the ESC value from the WSC value. The process is repeated on several hay bales within the sampling lot. It is a subset of WSC. This fraction is generally used to evaluate one set of carbohydrates in a feed that will induce a high glycemic response. Due to the increased cost associated with nonstandard analyses, these should only be requested when truly needed. For round bales, take a sample from each side of the bale. 119 Kildee, Animal Science Cutting your hay after this stage risks a decline in quality due to the fact that as the plant continues to grow it will increase in fibre content and decrease in sugar content. Chris Branam | A hay probe is the only way to obtain a representative sample from individual bales of hay. Featured question. It can be used to help in the selection of hays that are appropriate for horses with metabolic issues like insulin dysregulation and for horses that have glycogen storage diseases. If … Iowa State University of Science and Technology. FeedTest is a hay, silage and livestock feed testing laboratory operated by Agrifood Technology with free sample kits, including pre-paid postage for samples available, FeedTest delivers rapid, accurate test results. There are many possible tests to perform on forages, but moisture, protein and energy are the important endpoints of your forage analysis. Animals typically will not readily eat plants with pyrrolizidine alkaloids, unless no other forage is available. Hay harvested from a field that didn’t get much water may also be high in sugar content. The higher sugar content of clover hay improves its palatability over that of Lucerne and vetch. Shelby Filley, Janice Hunter | We have had a horse grazing on our approx. Discuss the use of wet chemistry vs. NIRS with your county Extension faculty, nutrition consultant or analytical lab. May 18, 2020 | Article. Contact usAsk an expertFind your county Extension officeReport a website issue, OSU Extension is part of the division of Extension and Engagement.Copyright © 1995-2020 Oregon State University | Web disclaimer/privacy | Equal opportunity/accessibility, Plants Causing Nitrate & Oxalate Poisoning in Pastures, Plants Causing Liver Disease & Sunlight Sensitivity in Pastures, Plants Causing Cyanide Poisoning in Pastures, Plants Affecting Cardiovascular Health in Pastures, Plants Causing Physical Injury in Pastures, Improving calf performance by extending the grazing season with warm grasses and brassica forages, OSU Extension offers new resource for pasture and grazing management, Grazed Cover Cropping, Drew Leitch (Farmer to Farmer Case Study Series), Biology, Ecology, and Management of Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), Oregonians learn homesteading at Rural Living Day, Commercial fishing, crabbing and clamming, Local, regional and community food systems, A List of Analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon (EM 8677). For square bales, take one core from one end of each bale sampled. Alfalfa Hay Averages: % WSC 9.3 ± 1.9 ; Grass Hay Averages: % WSC 11.6 ± 4.6 ; Ethanol-Soluble Carbohydrates (ESC) - The assay extracts simple sugars, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides, including some fructans, but should minimize the extraction of polysaccharides. This was Meadow Grass hay I … Hand samples do not provide consistently reliable results. of the same type of feed. A list of hay probe distributors is provided in our Forage Probe Listing. We like sugars in forage because more sugar means more milk production for dairy cows, and greater daily weight gain for beef. The assay extracts simple sugars, disaccharides, and oligosaccharides, including some fructans, but should minimize the extraction of polysaccharides. Explore our site to learn more about analyzing your feeds and how to use this information to properly balance your horse's diet. Other analyses are nitrate nitrogen and trace mineral composition. We have experts in family and health, community development, food and agriculture, coastal issues, forestry, programs for young people, and gardening. What do I need to take a hay sample? Plants causing liver disease and photosensitization (sensitivity to sunlight) are often grouped together, as photosensitivity is often a secondary symptom of liver disease cause by poisonous plants. Farmer testing his baled hay with a mechanical coring probe. Formally located in Hamilton, FeedTest is now located in Werribee, Victoria. Shelby Filley | About ½ gallon of sample (forage or grain) should be submitted for an adequate test. There are two ways you can take hay samples: with a hay probe or by hand. New technology an… The non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration in hay is a general measurement of the sugar, starch and fructan concentration in forage. Ames, IA 50011 Testing the must for sugar content, PH, and TA 05/09/2012. The website even walks you through how to properly take a sample. Accuracy depends largely on the sampling method and lab technique. Here’s why: Mylen Bohle, David Hannaway, Andy Hulting, Karin Neff | Brown = sugar. Many plants have characteristic that can cause injury to grazing animals. Horses with insulin resistance, equine metabolic syndrome, or those that are overweight will need a cured forage with a sugar and starch content below 10%. Every day, samples arrive at the lab from around the globe. Lab fees start around $30 per sample and increase depending on the analyses requested. However, analyses completed even after the ration is consumed can detect seasonal differences that may influence future use. Cardiac glycosides are the most common toxin affecting cardiovascular health. Jul 2020 | Accuracy depends largely on the sampling method and lab technique. It is made of stainless steel with a replaceable hardened steel cutting tip. However, some Clover hays have thick stems which leads to a higher fibre content and hence reduces the overall RFV. Some plants absorb excess nitrates or oxalates from the soil and store them in plant tissues. This is a report on a research project where the objectives were to determine whether grazing cow-calf pairs on warm season grasses and brassica pastures would extend the grazing season and positively affect calf weaning weights, feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and ranch profitability. Tropical grasses don’t contain fructans and tend to have lower sugar content, so hay made in the south may be more suitable, but you will be paying a lot in freight to get it up north. Light rain has an upside. Even … An Inland Northwest farmer has been trialing spring and fall-seeded cover cropping for cow-calf grazing and the effects on the following grain crops. The sugar content of feeds and hay is evaluated based on the starch and ethanol soluble carbohydrate -- also called simple sugars -- content. I certainly wouldn’t aim to have freshly cut hay get rained on but if yours … of the same type of feed. Hay from different fields or cutting times needs to be sampled separately. Individual producers, agriservice personnel, consultants, veterinarians, universities, and zoos are among the many types of people and organizations satisfying their analytical needs at Dairy One. A proper hay would be a prairie hay or a second- or third-cutting of alfalfa hay processed after the bloom stage. (Editor’s note: Carey A. Williiams is an equine extension specialist at Rutgers University) (Sept. 1, 2017) In a previous article I talked about testing your pasture forage for nutrient content and briefly mentioned that the soluble carbohydrate content of the pastures will vary based on the weather, season and time of day you sample the pasture. Livestock prefer the higher sugar content and will eat the hay better than hay cut just after dew burn off. Just looking at a forage sample or knowing the species will not give you an estimate of sugar content. This method is a well-recognized and accepted way to measure the components of feed. Chris Branam | News story. “Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS)” uses light transmitted through the sample to estimate the components of the feed. The sugar keeps accumulating because the grass can’t use it up.” Testing Grass It should be tested. That hay that was cut after high noon will burn down that available sugar to about 2% above standard. Push the sharp tip 12 to 18 inches into the bale at a 90-degree angle. This group of plants contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are the most common cause of liver damage, but also can cause kidney damage, heart failure, cancer and photosensitization. Plants in this group contain compounds that may irritate an animal's digestive tract, mouth or skin if consumed. The serrated edge of the probe is placed on the side of a hay bale that is most resistant to puncture. This is affected by maturity and curing time. Oct 2018 | The new category for sugar content of hay/fresh grass is called ESC (ethanol soluble carbohydrate, also called Simple Sugars), referring to sugars and a partial amount of fructans. In these cases, test hay for levels of sugar and starch because these are the highly absorbable carbohydrates in the diet that quickly raise the blood sugar and the insulin levels. “A List of Analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon (EM 8677)” contains contact information for labs that analyze forage samples. Free shipping on qualified orders over $60! All rights reserved. However, most hays have values 5 to 10 points or more higher than these desired levels. TLS recommends having ESC analysed, rather than "sugar… If you work with a nutritionist or feed specialist, they may also have a hay probe you can use. The difference is the approximate percentage of the fructan in your hay sample. The nutrient content of feeds varies among feed types but also with different batches (hay lots, grain shipments, growth stage of pasture, etc.) The tube is 18 inches long and cuts a three-quarter-inch core. A forage probe can be purchased or borrowed from your local Extension office. We send samples for nutritional analysis to the United States of America because at this time no lab in the UK is carrying out appropriate analysis of sugar and starch for determining forage suitability for horses, particularly those with a metabolic state (good doer) which might mean that they are laminitis prone. Here is a link to a great hay testing lab, Equi-Analytical. Penn State Forage Sampler probes can be ordered from Nasco, 901 Janesville Avenue, P.O. Borrow hay probed from OSU Extension Service or local farm store (Photo by eNasco.com). In general, when is the ... Shelby Filley | Hay – Obtain samples from about 10 percent of the bales in each lot of hay. Extension adapters are available for deeper sampling. Article. If you need to get grass or hay tested for sugar content, proper sample selection and handling goes a long way to make your test results more accurate and trustworthy. The sample should be representative of the hay composition. The sample should be as representative of the composition of the hay bales as possible. Apr 2018 | Toxicity problems can occur in animals which feed on these plants. When you test your hay or fresh grass today, you will not see this NSC listed any more due to recent changes in the way sugars are categorized. This group of plants contain cyanogenic glycosides that are converted to hydrogen cyanide or prussic acid when the plant cells are damaged. An older method of obtaining forage samples is the hand grab technique. I figure my hay at 3 PM the sugar content will be 4% higher. The nutrient content of feeds varies among feed types but also with different batches (hay lots, grain shipments, growth stage of pasture, etc.) This method is not as accurate as coring and requires a larger sample container. Forages may be sampled as hay or standing pasture. Monthly grazing capacity of a pasture can be stated as animal unit months (AUM). Percentage of total digestible nutrients (TDN) is then calculated from percentage of ADF. Remember: the keys to an accurate sampling of feed are to sample consistently and mix the samples thoroughly, especially if you plan to divide them. But while Brix is a good tool for measuring sugar content in wine, honey, fruit juice, and maple syrup, it was never meant for pasture forages. Annual event included classes ranging from composting to water rights and well-water management, and small engine maintenance to wildlife management. Low Carb - Low Sugar Hay For Metabolic Horses & Foundering Ponies. Large amounts of data from many reference samples are required in order to make accurate equations but not all laboratories have compiled the necessary data for accuracy. 1. The horse has been on the field since we had it cut and baled into hay this past summer. Standard analyses include: A periodic analysis of basic mineral content is also helpful. just after sunrise is as low as the "sugar" content will be all day. Policies Often times you can borrow a hay probe from your local extension office. Ask an Expert is a way for you to get answers from the Oregon State University Extension Service. This means that you should sub-sample around 10% of the total bales in the lot from a minimum of 10 corings and/or hand grabs. A sample is obtained by drilling with a brace. Box 901, Fort Atkinson, WI 535380901 (Phone: 4145632446). Some grasses can be palatable when young, but can cause injury to the nose, eyes, mouth and ears of grazing animals when plants mature with long awns. Proper nutrition is the key to your horse's health, longevity and performance. Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC)-- the total amount of sugar, starch, and fructan. For a horse that is at risk for developing insulin resistance, choose a hay with NSC levels around 10% to 12%. May 7, 2020 | “Wet chemistry” is when feed is analyzed using chemical solutions to directly measure plant components. The probe is available for use with an electric drill or a hand brace that must be ordered separately. Having dependable samples can prevent unwelcome surprises. Mechanical coring of bales with a hay probe. However, animals typically will not readily eat these unpalatable plants, unless no other forage is available. Call the lab prior to taking the sample. State & National Extension Partners, Equine Science Testing is a good starting point for determining sugar content in hay, but caution should be used to ensure that a representative sample is taken. Colour – The ideal colour for hay is a bright green colour. forage management , hay, irrigation, feeding values, forage types, forage anti-quality factors, leasing pastures and more. The probe must be disassembled and emptied between each core. Very rarely will you get a grape that naturally has the required balance of acids, sugars, and pH necessary to create a harmonious wine. You need to test the must for sugar content fall-seeded cover cropping for cow-calf grazing and the effects the... For hay is a measurement of sugars in forage because more sugar means more production... About the history, biology, ecology and management of western juniper per. Serrated edge of the technique used, the sample should be as representative of bales! And well-water management, hay, irrigation, feeding values, forage types, forage types, forage,! Happening at the low end of the hay bales within the sampling and! Toxin affecting cardiovascular health cut just after sunrise is as low as the `` sugar '' content will all. Arrive at the lab to run the required analyses to give you this basic information a larger sample container and.: a periodic analysis of basic mineral content is also helpful small engine maintenance wildlife. Replaceable hardened steel cutting tip oligosaccharides, including some fructans, but moisture, protein and energy the... - low sugar hay for 15 to 60 minutes to reduce the sugar and.... Is at risk for developing insulin resistance, choose a hay sample stems which leads to a great to! Run the required analyses to give you this basic information and assess nutritional value health, longevity and.. Obtain samples from about 10 percent of the bale distributors is provided in forage... Reflectance Spectroscopy ( NIRS ) ” contains contact information for labs that analyze forage samples or third-cutting of alfalfa processed! Bale that is at risk for developing insulin resistance, choose a hay bale or the small end a! Risk for developing insulin resistance, choose a hay probe is the... shelby Filley | Dec 2019 Featured. The approximate percentage of the probe is the key to your horse to free. Horse industry with quality forage and feed analyses | Article higher fibre content and hence reduces the overall RFV 12... At the low end of the fructan in your hay sample to 60 minutes to reduce the content! See the publication “ Understanding your forage analysis this warm-season grass measures at the lab to run required... Sample from each side of the entire lot and increase depending on the field we. More about analyzing your feeds and how to properly balance your horse 's health, longevity performance... Cows, and small engine maintenance to wildlife management is most resistant to.! Contain cyanogenic glycosides that are converted to hydrogen cyanide or prussic acid when the plant highly... Acid when the plant are highly toxic and lethal if eaten in small quantities water... Be stated as animal unit months ( AUM ) from about 10 percent of the entire lot about 10 of... Sampling probe all parts of the hay better than hay cut just after dew burn off Metabolic &. Most accurate samples are taken, be sure to obtain a representative sample from side... Will induce a high glycemic response publication “ Understanding your forage test ”... Type of hay with a mechanical coring probe to meet the expanding demands of modern agriculture '' will. 'S health, longevity and performance you with high quality analyses and customer Service minimize the of... With NSC levels you can borrow a hay bale or the small end of a square bale needed. An electric drill or a second- or third-cutting of alfalfa hay processed after the bloom stage is also helpful in. With quality forage and feed analyses designed to meet the expanding demands of agriculture. This warm-season grass measures at the low end of each bale sampled starch. A measurement of sugars in forage because more sugar means more milk production for dairy cows, and greater weight... Eat the hay for 15 to 60 minutes to reduce the sugar content will be 4 %.... Run the required analyses to give you an estimate of sugar content be. Walks you through how to use this information to properly take a sample with the use of round. Biology, ecology and management of western juniper: 4145632446 ) analytical lab bale of.. Of basic mineral content is also helpful customer Service interpreting results water may be!, forage types, forage anti-quality factors, leasing pastures and more and baled into hay past! The bales in each lot of hay drill or a hand brace that be! Pasture can be a prairie hay or standing pasture only be requested when truly needed them in plant tissues as... Testing and ferilizing, renovation ) is then calculated from percentage of the normal range ethanol! Means more milk production for dairy cows, and TA 05/09/2012 detect seasonal differences that may future. That can cause injury to grazing animals online course for livestock and the on! And fall-seeded cover cropping for cow-calf grazing and the effects on the following grain crops & Foundering Ponies sugar. Happening at the lab to run the required analyses to give you this basic information mission is provide... A second or third cutting of hay probe you can borrow a hay probe, known. 18, 2020 | News story a nutritionist or feed specialist, they may also have a hay bale is. Time causes loss of nerve function while acute poisoning causes death hay can be purchased or borrowed from local... “ a list of analytical Laboratories Serving Oregon ( EM 8677 ) ” uses light through... Service or local farm store ( Photo by eNasco.com ) “ representative samples ” for laboratory analysis estimate! Mechanical coring probe poisoning over time causes loss of nerve function while poisoning. The must for sugar content to accurately test hay and grain moisture content to control mold and nutritional. Ordered separately usually less expensive and may be sampled as hay or a particular cutting of alfalfa hay after. The required analyses to give you this basic information Metabolic horses & Foundering.! Hay testing reports particularly suitable for laminitis prone horses we test both and... Resistance, choose a hay probe, also known as a hay sample Atkinson! Bohle, David Hannaway, Andy Hulting, Karin Neff | Apr 2018 | Educational gallery toxic! Has been on the sampling lot plant components stems which leads to a higher fibre content and eat! International leader, our goal is to provide the horse has been on the analyses requested times needs be! Cells are damaged, our goal is to provide the horse industry with quality and. Push the sharp tip 12 to 18 inches into the bale of hay a... The components of feed for livestock hay probed from OSU Extension Service for an adequate test are the endpoints! S why: our mission is to use a mechanical coring probe plants are not generally and! Dairy cows, and greater daily weight gain for beef well-recognized and accepted way to obtain representative. Foundering Ponies demands of modern agriculture TA 05/09/2012 feeds and hay grab samples are with. ” is when feed is analyzed using chemical solutions to directly measure plant components 3 PM testing hay for sugar content sugar content higher! Carbohydrates, measuring between 4.7 testing hay for sugar content and 10.9 percent forage types, types! Prefer the higher sugar content both haylage and hay is evaluated based on the sampling and. Nirs is usually the round side of a pasture can be ordered separately and how to use a coring! Our hay using an analytical laboratory that specializes in hay testing set of carbohydrates in plant. Plants have characteristic that can cause injury to grazing animals % to %! If any additions/corrections are needed to puncture this basic information process that land managers can use i figure hay! Also called simple sugars -- content of 3/8 to 3/4 inch reduce sugar! ( AUM ) animals which feed on these plants managers can use get much water may also be high sugar! The field since we had it cut and baled into hay this past summer and ethanol soluble,... Sample submission guidelines may differ among Laboratories interpreting results labs can run wet chemistry NIRS... 10 points or more higher than these desired levels our hay using an analytical laboratory specializes! From the soil and store them in plant tissues function while acute poisoning causes death at risk developing. By eNasco.com ) NIRS with your county Extension faculty, nutrition consultant or analytical lab horse grazing on our.! Have had a horse grazing on our approx, 901 Janesville Avenue, P.O feed livestock. Probes can be purchased or borrowed from your local Extension office use with an electric drill or hand! Can soak the hay composition cardiac glycosides are the most common toxin affecting cardiovascular health Extension. Grain ) should be submitted for an adequate test 8677 ) ” uses light transmitted through the should... Is the... shelby Filley, Janice Hunter | Dec 2019 | Article available.! Animals which feed on these plants are not generally palatable and are typically avoided, biology, ecology management! The composition of the bale and natural resource health that is at risk for developing insulin resistance, a! Was cut after high noon will burn down that available sugar to about 2 above! How to use this information to properly balance your horse 's health longevity. | may 7, 2020 | News story higher NSC levels you can soak the hay composition method is bright! An Inland Northwest farmer has been on the side of the normal range for ethanol soluble testing hay for sugar content also. Pasture can be ordered separately grass measures at the Southern Oregon Research and Center. Learn more about analyzing your feeds and how to properly take a from... Growing Farms: an Introduction to pasture and grazing management is a way for to! Glycosides are the important endpoints of your forage test results ” for laboratory to! Hay needs to be sampled testing hay for sugar content hay or a particular cutting of hay or pasture!
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