Bulletin USAMV-CN, 63/2007 SAMPLING TESTING FOR FORAGE QUALITY

Key words: sampling, alfalfa hay, statistic parameters Abstract: The identification of the suitable sample size and adequate sampling place when alfalfa hay was chemically analyzed in order to determine its nutritional value was the aim of our test. Two loads of alfalfa hay were used for collecting samples, two sizes each (15 and 10 subsamples, variant I and II, respectively). The crude protein content was determined using AOAC protocol. By assessing the statistic parameters of the crude protein content of the forage, function of the sampling place and sample size, we observed the influence of the sampling technique on the accuracy of the determinations. The highest coefficient of variability was recorded when samples were collected from the base of the load in each case. Only the crude protein content differences between the samples collected from the other parts of the load and base of the load (variant I, in both loads) were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Within the same load, no significant differences (p> 0.05) were recorded. Even notable differences were not obtained in crude protein content determination function of sampling place or sampling size, the need and care in sampling should be considered