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County Impact Statements - Franklin County
Hay Show Provides Nutritional Value of Forages, Reduces Winter Feed
Cost
Winter feeding is one of the largest expenses for our beef cattle
producers in Franklin County. Most of the producers feed hay or
purchased feed to meet the nutritional requirements of their cattle. The
County Hay Show provided them with the opportunity to have their hay
analyzed for nutritional value.
The main goal of the County Hay Show was to provide producers with an
analysis of their hay’s quality. Samples were collected for lab analysis and
display. Visual samples labeled with protein and TDN values were on display at
the North Franklin County Fair.
Franklin County beef cattle producers participated in the program. In 2001,
21 samples were entered in the Hay Show. Thirty-nine forage samples were entered
in the 2004 County Hay Show. Forage analysis reports were mailed to the
producers with notes on beef cattle requirements listed at the bottom of the
analysis report.
Producers will be able to balance rations according to hay quality. The
amount of feed supplementation this winter will be reduced for producers with
good quality hay. Producers whose hay quality was poor will improve the
condition of their cattle as they supplement their hay with feed or utilize
winter annual forages.
Hay Show at North Franklin County Fair
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Impacts
- In 2004, thirty-nine samples were entered in the hay show.
- Producers balanced rations according to hay quality.
- Poor quality hay will be supplemented with feed or winter annual
forages.
- Hay show was displayed at North Franklin County Fair.
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