University of Missouri Extension will host a series of educational programs this fall titled “Baled Late, Fed Smart,” designed to assist livestock producers in managing and utilizing lower-quality hay effectively.
A free session is offered at the Rolla Technical Institute in Rolla from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 27. MU Extension and the Dent-Phelps County Cattlemen’s Association sponsor the event with Rolla FFA as hosts. FCNB Bank will provide the meal.
“Although there was a bumper crop of hay put up in many areas, a lot of this hay was harvested late and will have low feed value,” says Eric Meusch, MU Extension livestock field specialist. The same rainfall pattern that created good conditions for forage growth, also made it difficult to harvest the crop in a timely fashion.
A lot of hay was harvested in mid-to-late June this year when the cool season grasses were too mature and had decreased nutritional value, says Meusch.
He says hay tests have confirmed this with many samples showing lower than usual levels of protein and energy. The nutritional quality of hay is determined by stage of growth the plants are at when harvested. Late-harvested hay has more fiber and less of digestible nutrients required to meet livestock’s needs.
The sessions will address the following topics:
• Testing your hay inventory
• Supplemental feeding, filling nutritional gaps
• The value of hay and cost of feeding
Presenters include MU Extension field specialists: Eric Meusch, specialist in livestock; Gatlin Bunton, specialist in agronomy; and Rachel Hopkins, specialist in ag business
