A Discussion of Forage QualityA Discussion of Forage Quality

Dennis HancockExtension Forage Agronomist

The University of Georgia

Dennis HancockExtension Forage Agronomist

The University of Georgia

What is quality?What is quality?

The Plant CellThe Plant Cell

PectinsHemicelluloseCelluloseLigninSilica

ProteinOilMineralsSugarsOrganic Acids

Easily Digestible

Neutral Detergent Fiber

The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Fiber (NDF) Level

Inta

ke

Intake toMeet Needs

Intake is Physically Limited

Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Dig. Energy Intake

Differences in the Major Types of Forage SpeciesDifferences in the Major Types of Forage Species

What is high quality forage?What is high quality forage?

• Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) and large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI).

= High Quality Forage

• Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23

• Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) and large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI).

= High Quality Forage

• Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23

Crude Protein and Hay QualityCrude Protein and Hay Quality

• Crude Protein is the most overrated measure of quality!

• Tells you very little about energy content• Tells you nothing about the form nitrogen is in

Protein (AA), Bound Protein, Nitrates etc.

• Protein requirements are (typically) easily met• Somewhat related to maturity• Important- just overemphasized

• Crude Protein is the most overrated measure of quality!

• Tells you very little about energy content• Tells you nothing about the form nitrogen is in

Protein (AA), Bound Protein, Nitrates etc.

• Protein requirements are (typically) easily met• Somewhat related to maturity• Important- just overemphasized

So… How should we evaluate hay? So… How should we evaluate hay?

• “Quantitatively, energy is the most important item in an animals diet, and all feeding standards and ration formulation are based on some measure of energy with additional inputs on protein…” (Church, 1991)

• Problem: Energy is difficult to measure accurately

• “Quantitatively, energy is the most important item in an animals diet, and all feeding standards and ration formulation are based on some measure of energy with additional inputs on protein…” (Church, 1991)

• Problem: Energy is difficult to measure accurately

Where are we now?A broad overview of GA hay marketing

Where are we now?A broad overview of GA hay marketing

• Presently, hay is marketed predominantly on a per bale basis Weight and quality are rarely accounted for

• Occasionally hay marketed by the ton (usually out-of-state hay imported for horse market)

• Producers who price based on quality – rare! Quality-based pricing is the rule, instead of the

exception, in the Midwest and West

• Presently, hay is marketed predominantly on a per bale basis Weight and quality are rarely accounted for

• Occasionally hay marketed by the ton (usually out-of-state hay imported for horse market)

• Producers who price based on quality – rare! Quality-based pricing is the rule, instead of the

exception, in the Midwest and West

Why should we be concerned about quality-based marketing?

Why should we be concerned about quality-based marketing?

• “Typical” $3.50 square bale $3.50 for 45 lb bale

$183 per dry ton $3.50 for 60 lb bale

$137 per dry ton

• “Typical” $50 round bale $50 for 850 lb bales

$138 per dry ton $50 for 1000 lb bales

$118 per ton

• “Typical” $3.50 square bale $3.50 for 45 lb bale

$183 per dry ton $3.50 for 60 lb bale

$137 per dry ton

• “Typical” $50 round bale $50 for 850 lb bales

$138 per dry ton $50 for 1000 lb bales

$118 per ton

52% TDN

62% TDN

Importance of pricing hay based on quality

Importance of pricing hay based on quality

• Flat rate ($50 for 850 lbs) $138 per ton and 52% TDN

$0.133 per lb of TDN

• Flat rate ($50 for 1000 lbs) $118 per ton and 62% TDN

$0.095 per lb of TDN

• BUYER unknowingly paid a 40% Markup per lb of TDN

• OR SELLER priced hay at a 29% discount

• Flat rate ($50 for 850 lbs) $138 per ton and 52% TDN

$0.133 per lb of TDN

• Flat rate ($50 for 1000 lbs) $118 per ton and 62% TDN

$0.095 per lb of TDN

• BUYER unknowingly paid a 40% Markup per lb of TDN

• OR SELLER priced hay at a 29% discount

Digestible

Indigestible

Digestible

Indigestible

Digestible

Indigestible

Digestible

Indigestible

442 lbs

620 lbs

• A 1000 lb round bale with 15% crude protein $10.80 per bale N $1.15 per bale P2O5 $4.08 per bale K2O Total fertility exported

= $16.03 per bale (no lime included)

• A 1000 lb round bale with 15% crude protein $10.80 per bale N $1.15 per bale P2O5 $4.08 per bale K2O Total fertility exported

= $16.03 per bale (no lime included)

What are we removing?What are we removing?

Cost Per Ton Of HayBreakeven Cost: $60.38

$20.17

$1.33

$7.50

$2.17

$18.81

$10.40Fertilizer and Lime HerbicideMachinery LaborInterest Fixed Cost

Why haven’t we adapted quality-based marketing?

Why haven’t we adapted quality-based marketing?

1. The present system is easy• Decreases need to educate customers

• Eliminates need to keep hay lots separate

• Eliminates need to sample and test hay lots

2. Consumers currently don’t appear to care• Is it possible to get a premium?

• Most beef producers look for cheapest bales

• Most horse customers want “high-quality” haygreen, weed-free and fine-stems

3. Past hay quality definitions have been difficult to understand, relatively inaccurate, and therefore difficult to price

1. The present system is easy• Decreases need to educate customers

• Eliminates need to keep hay lots separate

• Eliminates need to sample and test hay lots

2. Consumers currently don’t appear to care• Is it possible to get a premium?

• Most beef producers look for cheapest bales

• Most horse customers want “high-quality” haygreen, weed-free and fine-stems

3. Past hay quality definitions have been difficult to understand, relatively inaccurate, and therefore difficult to price

The Ultimate Hay Quality TestThe Ultimate Hay Quality Test

Not all fiber is created equal…Not all fiber is created equal…• Not all fiber is equally digestible.

Legumes > Cool season grasses > Warm season grasses

• We need some way to segregate different fiber types and digestibility.

• Researchers needed to look at each species and variety within species to calibrate current methods

• John Andrae, Paul Vendrell, and Ann Blount (UF) began looking at this for southern forages

• Not all fiber is equally digestible. Legumes > Cool season grasses > Warm season grasses

• We need some way to segregate different fiber types and digestibility.

• Researchers needed to look at each species and variety within species to calibrate current methods

• John Andrae, Paul Vendrell, and Ann Blount (UF) began looking at this for southern forages

Current Commercial Lab EquationsCurrent Commercial Lab Equations

• Developed in the 1970’s and based on cool season species

• Rely heavily on fiber concentration As fiber concentration increases, hay energy content

decreases Fiber is constructed differently in cool season forages

• Absolutely no consideration given to fiber quality• What about Tifton 85??

• Developed in the 1970’s and based on cool season species

• Rely heavily on fiber concentration As fiber concentration increases, hay energy content

decreases Fiber is constructed differently in cool season forages

• Absolutely no consideration given to fiber quality• What about Tifton 85??

Fiber content and digestibility of bermudagrass (Hill et al., 2000)

Fiber content and digestibility of bermudagrass (Hill et al., 2000)

Variety NDF % Predicted Digestibility*

ActualDigestibility %

Coastal 66.4 60.2 57.3

Tifton 85 69.2 58.4 61.1

Had to use fiber in past- rapid, cheap, and relatively accurate. NO PRACTICAL WAY TO MEASURE DIGESTIBILITY*Eq. 10 from Moore et al. 1998

Quality AssuranceQuality Assurance

• Developed calibrations using forages grown in Georgia• Continually update these calibrations• Daily check samples and standards are run internally• Externally, our lab is certified by the National Forage

Testing Association (NFTA) and we have passed a quality review by the NIR Consortium

• Developed calibrations using forages grown in Georgia• Continually update these calibrations• Daily check samples and standards are run internally• Externally, our lab is certified by the National Forage

Testing Association (NFTA) and we have passed a quality review by the NIR Consortium

RFQ Simplifies ComparisonsRFQ Simplifies Comparisons

• Relative Forage Quality Predicts energy based on fiber

quality and intake Combined into a single number

RFQ of 100 is roughly equal to full-bloom alfalfa

Could simplify marketing Allows hay to be easily

assigned to appropriate physiological stage

Relative Forage Quality should allow comparisons to be made across forage species

• Now included on all UGA reports

• Relative Forage Quality Predicts energy based on fiber

quality and intake Combined into a single number

RFQ of 100 is roughly equal to full-bloom alfalfa

Could simplify marketing Allows hay to be easily

assigned to appropriate physiological stage

Relative Forage Quality should allow comparisons to be made across forage species

• Now included on all UGA reports

Forage Quality Needs of Cattle by RFQ

Forage Quality Needs of Cattle by RFQ

Cattle Type Relative Forage Quality

18-24 mo heiferDry cow

100

12-18 mo heifer

Beef cow-calf pair

115-130

Dairy, last 200 days lact

3-12 mo heifers

Stocker cattle

125-150

Dairy, 1st 3 mo lactation 140-160Source: D. Undersander

Can we expect premiums?Can we expect premiums?

• We have tried to PUSH quality based hay pricing for years with no success.

• How do we get consumers to realize the value of (and pay for) quality hay?

• Encouraging pricing using this system will likely depend on the consumer (i.e., demand driven). Hopefully can educate hay consumers to ask for

nutrient analysis

• We have tried to PUSH quality based hay pricing for years with no success.

• How do we get consumers to realize the value of (and pay for) quality hay?

• Encouraging pricing using this system will likely depend on the consumer (i.e., demand driven). Hopefully can educate hay consumers to ask for

nutrient analysis

Will ‘branded’ categories be effective?Will ‘branded’ categories be effective?

• EXAMPLE: Could allow hay to be sold in categories dependent upon RFQ analysis RFQ >120 = Supreme or Prime RFQ 100-120 = Excellent RFQ 80-100 = Good

• May decrease education needed for consumers and speed adoption

• Free market would determine premiums for quality

• EXAMPLE: Could allow hay to be sold in categories dependent upon RFQ analysis RFQ >120 = Supreme or Prime RFQ 100-120 = Excellent RFQ 80-100 = Good

• May decrease education needed for consumers and speed adoption

• Free market would determine premiums for quality

How much premium is possible?

How much premium is possible?

• Premiums in Midwest US range from $0.83 to $0.91 per RFQ point per ton of hay (large bales)

• Based on these dairy premiums $17.40 per ton premium $8.70 per 1000 lb bale 6 ton bermudagrass yield x 20 point RFQ

increase = $104 per acre potential premium

• Premiums in Midwest US range from $0.83 to $0.91 per RFQ point per ton of hay (large bales)

• Based on these dairy premiums $17.40 per ton premium $8.70 per 1000 lb bale 6 ton bermudagrass yield x 20 point RFQ

increase = $104 per acre potential premium

What’s this going to cost me?

What’s this going to cost me?

Cost ComparisonCost ComparisonMeasurement NIR Wet Chemistry

CP, NDF, RFQ, TDN, NEm, NEg, NEL, Moisture

$8 $21

NO RFQ

+ Nitrate $10 $23

+ Minerals $20 $28

+ ADF No charge $38

+ Lignin No charge $53

RFQ will become the standard hay quality measure nationwide

RFQ will become the standard hay quality measure nationwide

• Used to judge hay quality contests Tri-state contest (FL, AL, GA) at Moultrie Sunbelt

Expo American Forage and Grassland Council National Hay

Contest Piedmont Quality Hay Contest Many others

• Used to judge hay quality contests Tri-state contest (FL, AL, GA) at Moultrie Sunbelt

Expo American Forage and Grassland Council National Hay

Contest Piedmont Quality Hay Contest Many others

For more information:

www.georgiaforages.com