There have been some notable trends in fall and winter feed test results to date.

Environmental factors during the growing season such as temperature available moisture and soil nutrients all contribute to the nutrient levels in forages. When conditions are warm and water is available, plants grow quickly, accumulating fibre and advancing in stages of maturity. If water becomes limited, the rapid rate of growth is slowed significantly, and the plant moves resources from more mature areas to less mature areas. Often this results in leaves dropping off the lower stem, leaving lower quality forage to be harvested.

Dwayne Summach is a livestock feed extension specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in Outlook.

For more information regarding collecting and submitting feed samples for testing, contact your local livestock and feed extension specialist or call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.

(Photo: courtesy of Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture/X)