The Beef & Forage Committee of Austin County encourages beef cattle producers to turn in a sample of their hay for analysis at this year’s Austin County Hay Show. In the coming months, hay samples will be accepted at different locations throughout Austin County. The analysis will be done by the Texas A&M Forage testing lab and results will be available after the Annual Fall Forage Seminar at the Austin County Fairgrounds on October 6 or mailed directly to the producer following the program. Each location will have entry forms and directions for collecting samples. Collection boxes will be provided. In addition, the analysis is offered free of charge to anyone growing or feeding hay to livestock.
The analysis will give producers very useful information about the quality of the hay they are feeding to their livestock, and the test will help them determine what additional level of supplement may be needed during the winter. The test will show the crude protein level, total digestibility, and acid deter- gent fiber (ratio of leaf to stem).
The testing campaign and Hay Show is open to any hay producer from Austin or surrounding counties.
Producers may submit as many samples as they wish for analysis in each of the following categories are Improved (Hybrid) Bermudagrass (Except T-85) (e.g., Coastal, Jiggs, Alicia), Other Bermudagrasses (e.g., Common Bermudagrass, Tifton 85), Warm Season Annual Grasses (e.g., Rice Straw, Hay Grazer, Sudan Crosses, Sorghum Alum), Other Warm Season Perennial Grasses (e.g., Eastern Gamagrass, Bluestem, Johnsongrass, Kleingrass, Bahiagrass), Cool Season Grasses (e.g., Wheat, Oats, Cereal Rye, Ryegrass), Legumes (e.g., Clover, Peanut, Cowpea), Legume/Grass Mixtures (e.g., Rye/Clover, Oats/Vetch), and
Collision Repair Auto Painting Frame Work NEW this year. All other Mixed Grasses (e.g., Bermudagrass/Bahia, Bermudagrass/Johnsongrass). Please refer to the Austin County Hay Show Guidelines available online at https://austin.agrilife.org/ hay-show/.
For more information on submitting a forage sample for analysis, or on supplementation of beef cattle, contact the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service of Austin County at (979) 865-2072 and speak with the Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent Stacie Villarreal.
