If a bale probe is not available, two or three handfuls should be removed from each sample bale or stack. Ration formulation is an art and a science . Two forage production practices show promise for extending the grazing season and reducing the need to feed costly, mechanically harvested forages in central Missouri. Ag Connection discuss these issues further. Hot new research on a cool, cool season grass may provide a valuable source of winter feed.
Annual ryegrass is cheaper and easier to grow than some of the more exotic options.
It can produce a large amount of high quality feed during a time when most forages are dormant. The work on annual rye grass is part of a larger study of seasonal forage production by University of Missouri researchers. The plots are located at the Southwest Center, Mount Vernon, and the Agronomy Research Center, Columbia. Annual ryegrass is popular in New Zealand and also is used as a winter forage along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Until recently the varieties available have not been hardy enough to survive Missouri winters.