I've been looking into testing some round bales of hay to see what the quality was, I originally looked into this back in the summer when the hay was bailed. I swore everything I read at the time said wait until it's time to feed the bales then send off for a test to get more accurate results.
Well I've started putting bales out and thought well I might as well send a sample off, I went to the labs website and found the following information below.
****Sampling Procedures******
To obtain a sample, we suggest the following guidelines:
Take samples at or during hay harvest or delivery. Once hay is stacked inside a barn, it is difficult to obtain a representative sample. For small rectangular bales, set aside three or four bales from each load. These bales can then be grouped and sampled by lot at a later time. Large bales can be sampled in the field prior to removal.
I over think alot of things..... Are they just suggesting to sample while putting the hay up because its easier and you can get a better sample?
Also I called our local extension office and they don't have a hay sampling probe.. any other suggestions? I can grab some from the bales as I put them out but would like to walk down each row of bales and get some core samples.
Well I've started putting bales out and thought well I might as well send a sample off, I went to the labs website and found the following information below.
****Sampling Procedures******
To obtain a sample, we suggest the following guidelines:
Take samples at or during hay harvest or delivery. Once hay is stacked inside a barn, it is difficult to obtain a representative sample. For small rectangular bales, set aside three or four bales from each load. These bales can then be grouped and sampled by lot at a later time. Large bales can be sampled in the field prior to removal.
I over think alot of things..... Are they just suggesting to sample while putting the hay up because its easier and you can get a better sample?
Also I called our local extension office and they don't have a hay sampling probe.. any other suggestions? I can grab some from the bales as I put them out but would like to walk down each row of bales and get some core samples.