The Sidney herald., 1958-01-02
Travelling with IL.
Agent
BY Dean Davidson, County
Extension Agent, and Harley
w. Roath, County Agent
at-Large
Quality of Hay Determines
Supplement Needs


Quality of Hay Determines
Supplement Needs
In fattening livestock, the quail
ity of the hay used in the ration
is the usual guide for determining
what additional supplements are
needed other than cereal grains
When barley, oats, and dried mo-
lasses beet pulp are the concen-
trates being used, ample Vitamin
A and protein must be supplied
by the hay being fed to insure
fast gains.
A need for additional protein
experimentation is determined by
the quality of the hay being fed.
For example, alfalfa hay cut af-
ter being fully bloomed out will
contain only 10 to go digestible
protein, whereas the same kind
of hay cut in the 1-10th bloom
stage and which has retained a
maximum percentage of leaves
and is not stack burned will run
up to 1870 or 1870 digestible pro-
tein. 1t is easy to see that a 400
pound calf which requires around
1870 digestible protein in its diet
will not obtain the needed amount
from a ration of 8 pounds of poor
quality hay and 2 to 3 pounds
of oats per day even though oats
run quite high in protein usually.
Remember that the leaves contain
twice as high a percentage of
protein as the stems in alfalfa
hay. AS for other roughages, early
cut grass hay lis comparable to
alfalfa hay in feed value except
that the protein content will be
lower and some protein supple
mentation will be necessary in
feeding young, fast growing ami
mails. Corn silage is very low in
protein and when fed in liberal
amounts, protein experimentation
is usually needed wen though
good quality alfalfa hay makes
up a portion of the ration.
Vitamin A must come from the
hay except when corr is included
in the ration. Hay that has any
grasses whatsoever is usually
high enough in carotene to sup
ply the vitamin A needs of live
stock being fattened Real stack
burned hay, however, might be
deficient in this nutrient and a
stabilized form of vitamin A
be added to the ration.
AS for stack burned hay, we re-
alize that it is quite palatable, and
livestock often relish it. This,
however, is due to the fact that
It has a sweet taste to the ami
nal. The protein and vitamin A
content of stack burned hay will
both be lower than comparable
lay that has not heated in the
tack.
In ~fattening livestock, we can
generally feel that the necessary
nutrients, outside of common
ats, are being supplied in ade-
Iuate amounts when good quality /
lay is being fed with home grown
ereal grains. However, when al /:
alta is of poor quality, protein I
experimentation should certainly |
considered. f
arm Record Books y
With Social Security, income /
AK, gas tax refunds, taxes, in t
- all this and more too
= the farmer becomes a business r
ian plagued with problems at
lis time of year. How difficult g
r how simple these problems are h
!, solve depends to a large extent o
n how well the records have
cen kept throughout the year. s
he Montana Farm and Ranch Ii
ecord book was revised in Janu- b
ry of 1857 to fit present day il
eeds. 1t provides forms for re- (.
farm income, farm ex- v
enses, inventories, farm mort RI
ages, notes and bills payable, d
otes and bills receivable, a fl s
summary and net worth 81
atement. 1t has a page for So w
al Security records. This book, al
properly kept will furnish a
easure of your financial worth u;
i'd the value of your farm bus w
ess. 1t will show what progress HI
III are making from year to tr
ar. 1t will provide a record of g
op and livestock production as fe
basis for future plans. 1t will
Divide information needed to en-
.et state and federal income tax .y
whether computed on 70
cash or on an accrual basis. ,1
Copies are now available at 81.
st at the Richland County Ex- hs
1sion office. or
IL Tests 1T the ~
unity Office 80
The soil testing laboratory in -.
: County Extension Office has w.
en- utilized during the past sew 81
al days. All soil samples SUBJ
tied have been tested for phos- -
ate and organic matter con- NJ
1t. The salt content and aka
ity is also checked on problem
Is. Recommendations will be M;
ivered to farmers within the tai
vt few DAVIS Tests are shoW- ed