The as-received basis includes the water or moisture the feed contains. Nutrients expressed on this basis represent the nutrient content of the feed when it was received at the lab. Dry matter basis means all moisture has been removed. The nutrient concentration is that which is contained in the dry matter portion of the feed. Values reported on a dry matter basis are always larger than the as-received values.
Moisture is the amount of water in the feed.
Dry matter is the amount of dry matter in the feed. It is the percentage of feed that is not water. The crude protein value provides no information about amino acid composition, availability of protein, or the amount which will bypass the rumen. Excessive moisture in hays or too little moisture in haylages may result in heating, caramelization or browning of the forage. Heat damaged forages are characterized by a brown to black color and a sweet caramel-tobacco aroma.