Scissor Cut Results 6/1/2021

Past Peak

Wet weather this week has slowed hay harvest across the area.  17 fields remained unharvested and were sampled this week. Grasses heads are fully emerged in all but the latest heading species.

Fields grew another 5 inches taller and continued to increase in fiber content and decrease in fiber digestibility.  Legume fields, on average, crossed the 40% NDF  dairy quality target and grass and mixed stands have significantly passed dairy quality.  All fields sampled meet the target TDN for growing yearling and lactating beef cattle.  TDN values are on a steadily declining trend and we would estimate that some fields will fall into the low 60’s TDN this week.  NDF digestibility (NDFD) fell into the lower 50’s this week for grasses and legumes to the low 40’s.

Second cut grasses reach dairy quality targets at about 30 days of regrowth, for legumes we recommend a slightly longer harvest interval of 40-45 days.   Forages that grows in the longer hotter days of summer are often higher in fiber than ones that grow in the cooler shorter days of spring and fall, longer cutting intervals will result in lower digestibility.

Storing by Quality

Hay harvested now will be higher in fiber and lower digestibility than earlier first cutting.  Storing forages in a way that allows grouping and access to these varying qualities will facilitate allocating the right feeds to the right group of animals at the best times.  Consider ways to mark your forages by type and harvest date, so its easy to sample and make feeding decisions.  Matching forages to the right group of animals at the right time is one of the keys to efficient and profitable production.

Sample Results

The Table below has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, and lists the species sampled, average height, Neutral Detergent Fiber (aNDFom), Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD), and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). Look for fields with similar species and elevation to your farm, and consider your target NDF/TDN for the animals you will be feeding. Growing beef animals can benefit from high TDN/lower fiber forage, and mature dry beef cows will do best on high fiber/lower TDN hay.

Summary by Week

The chart below summarizes weekly average height and quality measurements by forage type.  Height consistently increased through the whole sample period, after remaining steady from May 4 to May 11, NDF increased and NDFD decreased steadily, while TDN held steady until May 25 then began to decline.