News
Optimizing Hay Nutrition: Strategic Insights for Hay Farmers
Dec. 1 Hay Inventory Compared to 5-Year Average - Percent Change
- Increases in Inventory: Minnesota, Texas, and Wisconsin saw significant increases in hay inventory in 2024 compared to the five-year average, with 42%, 25%, and 55%, respectively.
- Decreases in Inventory: Georgia, Kansas, and Missouri experienced the most substantial decreases, with inventory reductions of 30%, 28%, and 14% respectively.
10 Points on Hay Nutrition
What hay is best for horses? This top 10 list should inform your hay purchasing decision.
Defining Hay Test Terms
This podcast episode features a discussion between Jon Paul Driver and Dr. Dan Putnam, Professor Emeritus at UC Davis, focusing on fiber digestibility in forage crops, particularly alfalfa. The conversation explores how forage quality is measured, including detailed explanations of NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber), ADF (Acid Detergent Fiber), and the importance of fiber digestibility in animal nutrition. Dr. Putnam emphasizes that traditional marketing metrics like color and basic feed tests don't fully capture important quality factors like fiber digestibility, and discusses how the industry needs to better value the functionality of fiber for rumen health.