So to keep the quality of your forage high, maintain legumes in hay, harvest hay at the optimum stage of maturity and protect hay during storage. That's when you turn to concentrate supplementation. The option you select is based on economics. Here are some suggestions to aid in making decisions about the most appropriate supplement for cattle. Base supplement need on a forage test.
Forages vary widely in quality.
The best time for testing forages is shortly after you harvest hay. That way you can take quality into account as you store bales for winter feeding. Depending on the forage and the nutrient requirements of the cattle, you may need an energy or protein supplement or a balanced combination. One supplement doesn't fit all situations. This is why a forage test is critical.