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All beef cattle and hay producers are encouraged to turn in a sample of their hay for analysis at this year’s Austin County Hay Show scheduled for Oct. 3. Hay sample collection boxes and forms will be available at the following drop-off locations: Bellville Farm & Ranch, Linseisen’s Feed & Supply Inc, and Austin County Extension Office, all in Bellville; Steinhauser’s in Sealy; Bernardo Farm & Ranch in Cat Spring; 4M Feed & Ranch in New Ulm; Lindemann Store in Industry.
Samples will be accepted Aug. 1-31. Analysis of hay samples will be done by the Texas A&M Forage testing lab. Results will be available after the Annual Fall Forage Seminar at the Austin County Fairgrounds on Oct. 3 or mailed directly to the producer following the program. Each location will have entry forms and directions for collecting samples. In addition, the analysis is offered free of charge to anyone growing or feeding hay to livestock. Forage testing is sponsored by the Beef & Forage Committee of Austin County.
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 detergent fiber (ratio of leaf to stem). The testing campaign and Hay Show are open to any hay producer from Austin or surrounding counties.
