1 Forage Management

Hay is expensive to produce given the cost of labor, machinery, fuel, and fertilizer prices. However, it is an important crop providing feed for cattle, horses, and sheep when pasture is not available. Hay and haylage provide a means of preserving forage for use during drought and winter and for sale off the farm as a cash commodity. The value of hay is based on its nutritional quality. To make producing hay profitable the hay’s nutritional quality needs to be greater than its cost of production. The nutritional requirements of the animals hay is fed to determine the quality of hay required or the need for additional supplemental feeds. The animal’s nutritional requirements are determined by its species, age, size, and production level. Young animals need nutrients for growth. Lactating animals need nutrients for milk production. After water, digestible energy is the nutrient needed in the greatest abundance and its availability is dependent on the forage’s digestibility. The animal’s need for protein is related to the animal’s energy intake and its type and level of production. For high producing animals fed cool season forages, energy will usually limit production. When feeding energy supplements with hay, if the supplements are fed in excess to the availability of crude protein (CP) in the forage, protein supplements will also b