Taking a Feed Sample

1. The purpose of a feed sample is to use it to make livestock rations.  Feed samples should be a sample for each feed type not based on number of stacks.  Purchased feed should have a feed test with it.  Ideally hay from separate fields should be sampled separately.  However, first cut hay from various fields can be sampled and the samples combined and then sub-sampled.  The field should be sampled in proportion to the volume of hay and the sub-sample should then be a good average of all your first cut.  If you have averaged(sub-sampled) your fist cut, you will not be able to make rations using individual fields.  Traditionally wet chemistry was used to analysis forages, However, NIR (Near Infa-Red Spectroscopy) is commonly used today.  NIR is faster and less expensive to run and gives the same results when compared to wet chemistry.
2. Silage, Hay or Haylage will be sampled with different probes, but the handling of the samples is the same. 
3. Silage
1. Fresh samples– a set of samples can be taken during filling of the silo, these samples should be marked and put directly into the freezer. These samples will have the correct TDN and Protein, but the pH will be too high and not show the fermentation that takes place after filling and sealing the silo.  Your nose will tell you if the silage ensiled correctly.  Grab samples at the time of filling the silo will not give an accurate picture if the silo heats excessively or if liquid seeps from the silo.
2. Bagged or tubed silage – This silage can be sampled with a “hay corer”.  (See below for a picture of a hay corer)  Samples should be taken every 15’ along the side of the bag or tube.  Remember to reseal all your holes.  Put your sample in a marked zip-lock bag or the bag provided and put in the freezer.
3. Bunker silos – The Ministry has bunker silage probes (1 ¼” x 108”), which can be borrowed.  The probe will take a core of 1 ¼ “ in diameter by nine feet long from the top of the bunker to the bottom. A couple of cores will yield a litre of material to make up a sample. Put your sample in a marked zip-lock bag or the bag provided and put in the freezer.  
4. Hay – Hay should be sampled with a hay corer. Grab samples either over estimate the stems or the fines of your hay, whereas, a corer cuts the hay giving an accurate picture of the stems and leaves from the outside of the bale to the center. The corer consists: the handle, the shaft, the cutting tip and the cleaning rod. See below for a picture of the hay probe. Hay probes can be borrowed from most BC Agriculture Offices.