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Collect a Representative Sample

bale_probe

Use a Bale Probe

A bale probe is critical for taking a representative sample.  Without one, it's nearly impossible to get an accurate sampling of leaves and stems. 

If you don't have a bale probe:

  • Contact your local feed mill or extension. Most will have one on hand for you to borrow or rent.
  •  Order one from your preferred online retailer. Many models are available and can be shipped to you in 2-3 days. 

 

When sampling with a bale probe, always start from the shortest side of a square bale or the round side of a round bale.  Bale probes are designed to cut across the grain of hay stems.

hay_variation

Mix at Least 12 Sub-Samples

Even bales harvested from the same field vary from one to the next.  Collecting a representative sample requires sampling multiple bales and mixing the sub-samples before sending to the lab. 

 

Mixing sub-samples from at least 12 bales will reduce sampling error by almost 75%.

1) Use a Bale Probe

2) Mix at Least 12 Sub-Samples

Choose a package that fits your use case

CNCPS

$330

Select

$308

Basic

$2316

Equine Choice

$33149

CNCPS

Select

Basic

Equine Choice

Applications
Dairy formulation
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Beef formulation
Hay brokering
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Equine formulation
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Quality indexes included
RFV
RFQ, DOMI, Milk per ton
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Equine DE, NSC
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Nutrients included
Moisture, CP, ADICP, ADF, NDF, Fat, Ash, Lignin
Sugar (WSC, ESC), Starch
NDFD30
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NDFD (12, 30, 240), fatty acids, amino acids
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Test with confidence

Every Dairyland Laboratory is certified by NFTA (National Forage Testing Association), which sends participating labs 5 alfalfa hay and 1 grass hay sample per year.  Labs are then graded pass/fail on their results for CP, ADF, and NDF. 

In addition to NFTA, Dairyland participates in additional 3rd party testing programs including AAFCO (American Association of Feed Control Officials) and NAPT (North American Proficiency Testing Association). 

Understand quality indexes

End users prefer different indexes depending on their:

  • application
  • geography
  • nutritional priorities

Understanding what drives these indexes can clarify what's limiting quality in your samples. 

  Inputs
RFV ADF, NDF
RFQ (alfalfa) CP, NDF, NDFD (24, 30, or 48), NDICPss, Ash, Fat
DOMI uNDFom30, Ash
California TDN ADF

 

While each index uses different inputs, all are driven by the amount of fiber (aNDFom) and penalize samples with high soil contamination (ash > 12%).

Hay indexes

 

grass

Equine, Small Ruminant, & other Species

Learn about our packages for each species

grain

Dairy & Beef Nutrition

Learn about our packages for cattle

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