These levels drastically decrease if an animal is pregnant. Whether or not a particular forage will be safe to feed will depend upon what other materials are present in the animals' diet. The nitrate content of the hay is listed on the forage analysis report in percentage points. If it is higher than the recommended limits for the animals being fed, the hay or forage should not be fed without diluting the nitrate with other feedstuffs. In some instances, the level of nitrate in the forage may be high enough to prevent feeding it safely at all.
Animals can adjust to higher than recommended levels of nitrates if they are introduced gradually.
Therefore, high-nitrate forages can be used to the producer's advantage if he or she is aware of how to use them safely. For more information on managing excessive nitrate levels, contact your county North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service. This page was created by Jackie Nix , Agriculture Extension Agent.