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Expert
Posts: 1409
 
Location: Oklahoma | Who has tested? Was it worth it? |
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 "Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
Location: Bennett, CO | We test- I’m an extension agent and advise folks to test so they know what they are feeding- but I’d start by asking what your needs are? |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
 
Location: Willows, CA | Testing only makes sense if you buy hay in large volume. In most cases, if you don't buy a lot at one time, you will be off to another lot before you get results. There are a number of sites online that tell you the proper way to collect a proper sample. If you do not follow these guidelines, you will probably not get accurate results. As to the original question, yes, it is worth doing, but need to be done properly. |
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Expert
Posts: 1409
Location: Oklahoma | Thanks, I was thinking bout the pasture more so the hay. The hay: I get a round bale and is stored inside and I pull off as needed. I buy from the same person, it is Bermuda. I only get one bale at a time. The alfalfa hay comes from Arizona and no point testing that bc not sure if it comes from the same field every time. So I was leaning more towards the pasture. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 823
Location: East Texas | It is worth it, and it is cheap to do. Our local college will do a protein test for ten bucks and a complete test for $20. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | You need to test pasture in the proper way. Throw out your rings and get clipping in areas that the animals graze often. Of course doing this four times a year is going to tell you what is going on in the pasture. That way you'll know if you need protein vs energy blocks. Or what type of hay to supplement with. |
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testing forage and hay