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Sampling For Feed Quality

Stockfeed - why test for quality and how to get the most out of it?

By Department of Primary Industries - 24th September 2004 - Back to News

Knowing the quality of feed is important when deciding if supplementary feed is required and how much of what is needed.

Planning for supplementary feeding should not be left until the last minute. Information required to aid in making a decision on supplementary feeding includes the quality of available pasture as well as the quality of any supplementary feed.

The Department of Primary Industries’ FEEDTEST service based at DPI Hamilton measures the quality of livestock feeds. This service can give information needed to assist in working out a feeding program.

To ensure the results you receive provide maximum benefit to your feeding program, samples sent to FEEDTEST need to be representative of the feed. The results are of little or no use if the sample is not representative.

Sampling Pasture

Walk through the paddock at random and take cuts at regular intervals with a pair of hand shears. This can be done by walking diagonally across the paddock from one corner to another or by zig-zagging across the paddock.

Cut a sample near the toe of your boot to ground level every 10 to 15 steps. Do not include dirt or dung in the sample. Take at least 15 samples across the paddock and combine these samples into one and mix thoroughly.

Sampling Grains and Mixed Feeds

Select a handful from at least six locations or bags that make up the complete batch. Combine samples into one and mix thoroughly to obtain a final quantity not exceeding 500 grams.

Sampling Hay

Representative hay samples can only be obtained with a probe or core sampling device. Results for samples taken without using a corer may not be reliable.

Between 10 and 20 small square bales should be selected at random for sampling. Take one core from each bale near the centre of the butt end and at right angles to the surface.

For large bales, randomly select five to ten bales for sampling. Take one core from each side of the selected bales probing at right angles to the surface at different heights.

Combine the random samples into a single sample and mix thoroughly. It is best if the final sample does not exceed 500 grams.

Sampling Silage

Silage is best sampled at least three weeks after it has been ensiled and as close to the time of feeding as practical. The use of a corer is again recommended to obtain the best representative sample.

Pit or bunker silage can be sampled using a long coring device that extends deeply into the pit or bunker. Random handfuls can be taken from at least 10 locations across a freshly cut face although this may not provide as good a representative sample.

Wrapped baled silage should be sampled similar to hay. Select five to ten large bales at random and core in the same manner as for large baled hay.

Again combine the samples into one and mix. Final sample should not exceed 500 grams.

FEEDTEST kits are available from most DPI offices.

RIRDC Rural Women's Award 2005

Rural women are encouraged to apply for the RIRDC Rural Women's Award 2005.

The RIRDC Rural Women's Award 2005 supports women with a strong and positive vision for the future of rural Australia and is open to all women involved in agriculture, including forestry and fisheries, natural resource management and service-related industries.

The Award provides a bursary of $15,000 for each of the seven states and Northern Territory winners and a development award of $5,000 for one runner up in each state and territory. It also provides the opportunity for all state and territory winners to attend the prestigious Australian Institute of Company Directors' course.

The award is an initiative of RIRDC, in partnership with the Australian Government, and state and Northern Territory governments.

Applications close on World Rural Women's Day, 15 October 2004.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com