May 6, 2006
UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI EXTENSION
SOUTHWEST REGION NEWS SERVICE
Contact: Tony Rickard, dairy specialist
Headquartered in Barry County
Tel: (417)  847-3161
E-mail: rickardt@missouri.edu

Forage Tests Critical to Feeding Correct Fuel, Productivity

No one pulls into a service station and decides to purchase the lowest price fuel, regardless of 
whether it is gasoline or diesel fuel. Of course, the vehicle owner buys the appropriate type of 
fuel required by their specific vehicle.

“This should be the same approach for producers when feeding forages to their animals,” said 
Tony Rickard, dairy specialist, University of Missouri Extension. “If the forage fed does not 
contain the fuel required, production will suffer, whether it is daily gain or milk production."

An inexpensive forage test can furnish the basic information needed to determine whether forage 
will meet the requirements of the animal in question. 

This test will determine crude protein, acid detergent fiber (used in determining energy), neutral 
detergent fiber (used as an indicator of intake potential), energy levels and macro minerals. 

According to Rickard, by comparing the nutrients found in the feed with requirements, expected 
productivity can be determined.

“It is always a good idea to test, but particularly when forages are in short supply. Under these 
conditions many times we purchase anything that can be found and too often the cheapest 
available,” said Rickard.

The net affect of low quality forage is on the pocketbook, whether it is low productivity or 
increased reliance on grain supplements. 

“Typically we can purchase good quality forages for approximately six cents per pound of dry 
matter and grain supplements cost between seven and 12 cents per pound of dry matter, 
depending on what is required,” said Rickard.

So that means in many cases, according to Rickard, it is more economical to pay more for 
forages than typical as this would be a better buy compared to supplements.

“The old adage, ‘you can pay me now or pay me later,’ applies when we evaluate the forages we 
feed our cattle. Low cost and low quality will normally end up costing us more in productivity 
than the dollars we saved,” said Rickard.

University of Missouri Extension is your one-stop source for practical education on almost 
anything. Extension programs focus on the high-priority needs of people throughout the state. 
Each county extension center, with oversight by locally elected and appointed citizens, is your 
local link to these unbiased resources and programs.

Let MU Extension know whether or not this article was useful to you by completing a feedback 
survey at http://extension.missouri.edu/swregion/news/publicfeedback.shtml. 
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