Total digestible nutrients of the hay increased in a fairly uniform manner from 41 percent to 56 percent as the protein content of the hay increased from about 3 percent to 6 percent.Likewise, crude fiber digestibility increased from 56 percent to 69 percent while the apparent digestibility of protein increased from negative values to 41 percent. Cooler environments will produce forages with higher levels of CP as compared to warmer months. J Anim Sci. “For cool-season grass hay samples, the average crude protein content was 11.5%. The performance of livestock grazing grasses is directly related to the quantity and quality of grass on offer. "Different types of hay can have very different levels of protein and energy because of the type of plant, the stage of growth the plant was in when cut, and if the hay has deteriorated because of exposure to the environment," said Kansas State University veterinarian Bob … Therefore, it takes less hay to meet a horse's nutrient needs when feeding alfalfa hay. Crude protein values can be as high as 18 to 19 percent. Prairie products contain no artificial colours or preservatives and no herbicides or pesticides are used in the growing process. and prairie dropseed at the mature stage. The protein and fibre levels help to keep the gastrointestinal tract functioning properly. Alfalfa hay is high in good-quality protein. Farms in Kansas grow a variety of hay, from legumes to grasses, and storing and preserving that hay is important. Considering all factors, the average expectancy for this type of hay is: Crude Protein 6 – 9% …. During fall and winter in most regions of the country, mature forages are low in protein, yet many ranchers try to extend grazing as long as possible because winter feeding is the most expensive part of raising cattle. It is frequently assumed that weeds have low nutritive value and livestock will not eat weeds, so expensive and time-consuming measures are often used for their control.12 Some weeds are toxic or poisonous to livestock, and certain weeds are unpalatable – causing a reduction in total intake.9 Several weed species have th… Protein supplementation to cattle consuming low-quality prairie hay improved hay intake and digestibility, as well as nitrogen balance. Cutting native hay in August or by the ton), core samples from several bales should be taken, composited and analyzed for nutrient content… For TDN, the average was 54%, but the range was from 47% to 67%,” he says. Alfalfa Hay Ideal dietary supplement for young small animals due to its high-protein and high-calcium content. Performance was improved substantially by feeding blocks. If you wait until August to cut, protein might drop down as low as 5 percent and TDN as low as 45 percent. When the ration was supplemented with 1.75 lbs of cottonseed meal, retention time of the forage was reduced 32% which resulted in an increase in feed intake of 27%. That is really good, but the range was 6.5% to 19.9%. But as your grass get older and develops seedheads and stems, its forage quality will decline. Delaying harvest to obtain higher yield affects more than hay quality. Too much protein can cause hoof problems and founder. Premium Early maturity, i.e., pre-bloom in legumes and pre head in grass hays, extra leafy and fine stemmed-factors indicative of a high nutritive content. protein and available energy levels decline with in-creasing maturity, and after early July the nutritional value of prairie hay drops rapidly. 16% crude protein; an average for grass hays is 8% CP. Right now they would need a diet that is about 58% TDN. The apparent digestibility of prairie hay of variable protein content, with some observations of fecal nitrogen excretion by steers in relation to their dry matter intake. In particular, the higher protein content block improved forage intake and reduced weight loss compared to … ay . Protein Supplements - Many Options. Timothy Hay should be fed as 'free-choice' food daily, By mixing with Bermuda grass, this gives livestock a variety of hay with high protein content yet prevents them from getting too much at once. Heifers fed prairie hay with no alfalfa actually lost weight, indicating that the hay had limited energy content. Two pounds of a pelleted 30 to 40 percent protein supplement per head daily with free-choice prairie hay was an adequate receiving ration for calves going to … Prairie hay cut early, in Nebraska in late June, might have over 10 percent protein and 65 percent TDN. As with protein content, the cool-season grasses were higher in phosphorus at growth stages up to jointing time than were warm-season grasses at correspond- ing growth stages. In many instances, fertilizer treatments increased the phos- phorus content … The total winter feeding cost if using hay, therefore, would … By Heather Smith Thomas. For horses with high protein needs, Bermuda hay is not the best option. 4.823 92.67 100.00 100.00 2.76 100.00 100.00 Crude protein (N X 6.25) Percent 3.56 42.50 43.62 Material: Legume or Mixed Hay Item Abbreviation Unit Result Method1 Dry Matter DM % as fed 69.79 WC Moisture % as fed 30.21 C Protein Fractions Crude Protein CP % DM 10.83 NIR Soluble Crude Protein SCP % CP NA Rumen-Undegraded Protein RUP % CP 41.94 NIR Rumen-Degraded Protein RDP % CP 58.06 C Acid Detergent Fiber Crude Protein ADF-CP % DM 1.34 NIR It has a rather low protein content compared to, for instance, alfalfa hay. Because it was harvested when it was green and since it is a forage, it had more than double the crude protein and about 10 percent more energy. Timothy Hay is high in fibre and low in protein which is a combination critical to the health of rabbits and other small animals. Prairie hay Cottonseed meal Peanut meal Soybean meal . The energy value of the hay is probably lower than that required to maintain systems. Clover has a similar protein content as alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is an ideal dietary supplement for young small animals due to its high-protein and high-calcium content. The crude Protein content of prairie hay, for example, will average between 5 and 10 percent; hay cut in early July will routinely run as high as 9 percent. It provides very good fibre content and is a thick, coarse hay. Crude Fiber 28 – 31% …. In contrast, legume hays are typically higher in protein, averaging 14-16% CP. Total pounds of crude protein removed from a meadow are higher in July than in August or September. This hay is typically a good and less expensive alternative to orchard or timothy hay grass hay. Distillers would be an excellent choice in this situation because it is a good energy and protein … When the ration was supplemented daily with 1.75 lbs of cottonseed meal (41% crude protein), retention time of the forage was reduced 32% which resulted in an increase in feed intake of 27%. For sudangrass, the moisture content when sampled in the windrow ranged between 50 and 60 percent, crude protein ranged from 12 to 20 percent, and TDN ranged from 60 to 68 percent. Post-extraction algal residue (PEAR), the co-product of algal biofuel production, has potential to be incorporated as an ingredient in ruminant diets.… DO NOT FEED ALFALFA (unless for protein, see below), a legume hay which contains too high of calcium and protein content. The prairie hay used in this study was less than 5% crude protein. Add to this the cost of additional feed supplementation, if the hay is not high enough quality to meet the cow’s nutritional requirements. Calcium 0 – .5%. It has the same long-strand fiber found in grass hays, only it has more protein, energy and calcium. It is also lower in nutritional value but has good amounts of vitamins A and D, calcium, and phosphorous. Alfalfa Hay Alfalfa Hay is a high-fiber legume hay. Weeds constantly invade crop fields and pastures; therefore, it is important to know the potential quality of individual weed species in making management decisions concerning weed control. Roughages such as corn cobs, alfalfa hay or corn silage gave similar results in these 60 percent concentrate rations. - Native Prairie grass hay from areas east and northeast of the Texas Panhandle - typically this hay has a relatively low protein content and will need to be supplemented with protein supplement. Protein 28.52mixture 42.512 6.73 Ration: Hay and cottonseed meal.. Hay and peanut meal Hay and soybean meal Hay 2.58and protein mixture 2_ Dry Crude matter fiber 90.35 92.37 41.37 93. Prairie hay cut in late June or early July might have over 10 percent protein and 60 percent TDN. But as grass gets older and develops stems and seedheads, its forage quality will decline. Crude protein also decreases as the forage ages and fiber content increases, and in excessively rainy conditions where nitrogen is leached out after the forage has been cut. The Total Digestive Nutrient content of prairie hay averages 50 to 60 percent. However, the high-energy content may lead to overfeeding and to a fat horse. It has 120 percent more energy per unit in weight than oat hay. The use of high-protein feeds by hvestock feeders to supplement the protein of many common roughages for beef cattle is a general practice based on sound nutrition principles. We carry a variety of high quality alfalfa, grain hay and grasses for all of your pet and livestock feeding needs. The prairie hay used in this study was less than 5% crude protein. If hay is purchased in large quantities (i.e. This hay is grown in fields which overlie a unique combination of sandstone and limestone formations. If I use average values for the prairie hay, the heifers are likely deficient in both protein and energy as they get closer to calving. Decreases in crude protein levels by as much as one-half percent per day after heading have been recorded. Protein supplements, as a rule, effect a marked increase in the feed intake of animals on fibrous rations. Depends on the quality of the grass hay. Otherwise, this variety is high in fiber, generally easily to digest, and tends to have a higher vitamin content that the other grass-varieties of hay. Prairie Alfalfa Hay is harvested at optimal conditions and moisture to guarantee a fresh and palatable product of supreme quality that your small animal will enjoy. “With those extremes, average or even … Prairie dogs are selectively herbivorous which means that they will only consume the nutritionally viable portion of a strand of grass or hay and may not eat all you provide in its entirety. If you wait until late August to cut, protein might drop down below 5 percent and TDN as low as 45 percent. 1. While there are many quality characteristics that influence the intake of a grass by livestock, the most useful are digestibility and crude protein; hence, where available, these figures are provided for individual species. 1948 Feb;7(1):110-6. Crude protein levels in well fertilized hay harvested at early heading range from 10 –18 percent, but drop rapidly after heading. Medium to low quality roughages such as straw and late cut prairie hay are less palatable than higher quality forages. This hay is harvested in the spring from the Late May - … Crude protein concentration does vary by season and maturity. 50 25.07 92. ] Grain straw can substitute satisfactorily for good quality hay when included up to 20 percent of the ration with only modest reduction in rate of gain when included in ground and mixed growing or backgrounding rations. Since prairie grass is usually cut only once a year, specifying the time of cut (i.e., early, mid, or late, cutting season) should provide additional information on the hay quality. If using average quality hay [8% crude protein (CP) and 50% total digestible nutrients (TDN)], feeding 20% protein range cubes ($250 per ton) as a supplement would add $46 to the per-cow feed costs. Gets older and develops stems and seedheads, its forage quality will.... 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