Dry Weather, Slow Changes
With continued dry weather this week, grass and legume growth was variable, some fields had no change in height while others gained 8 inches. Many grasses are heading, but some fields are maturing a little more slowly than expected, alfalfa is bud stage. Even with slower growth we would expect grasses be rapidly heading and legumes to continue to early bloom stage this week.
Grasses and mixed stands are past prime dairy quality this week. Legumes are arriving at peak quality and will likely pass prime this week as well. All fields are at target quality for growing yearlings and lactating beef cows. Producers looking for forage for mature dry beef cows should wait at least another week.
Grass fiber content changed at a more normal pace this week, advancing about ¾ point per day, legume fiber increased more slowly. Fiber digestibility (NDFD) continued a steady pace downward decreasing another 4½ points during the week.
Estimated days from 5/30 to reach target quality for classes of cattle
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Beef |
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| Dairy | Growing Calf | Growing Yearling | Lactating Cow | Mature Dry Cow | |
| Grass | Past | Past | NOW | NOW | 7-10 Days |
| Mixed | Past | Past | NOW | NOW | 7-10 Days |
| Legume | NOW | Past | NOW | NOW | 7-10 Days |
The Table below has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, and lists the species sampled, average height, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD), and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). We have sampled grass, legume and mixed legume/grass fields across the county and at elevations from 1070 to 2240 feet. Look for locations with similar forage type and elevation to your farm.
| Delaware County Scissor Cuts Results | May 23, 2023 | May 30, 2023 | |||||||||
| Farm | Town | Elev | Species | Ht | aNDFom | NDFD | TDN | Ht | aNDFom | NDFD | TDN |
| Darling | Andes | 1505 | Red Clover | 22 | 30.2 | 52 | 66 | 24 | 33.1 | 50 | 68 |
| Eisele | Andes | 1412 | Orchardgrass | 21 | 45.4 | 68 | 68 | 22 | 50.7 | 63 | 67 |
| Evans | Andes | 2240 | Mixed Grasses | 13 | 48 | 65 | 66 | 13 | 55 | 60 | 66 |
| Gladstone | Andes | 1960 | RClov(35%)Grass | 13/22 | 41.4 | 56 | 68 | mowed | 40.7 | 60 | 67 |
| Mattson | Colchester | 1080 | Alf(60%)Tfesc | 29/32 | 42.6 | 54 | 63 | 35/38 | 44.4 | 49 | 65 |
| Frisbee | Delhi | 1380 | Mixed Grasses | 29 | 49.8 | 60 | 68 | 34 | 53.1 | 61 | 66 |
| Mushkoday | Delhi | 1340 | Alfalfa | 25 | 36.3 | 54 | 65 | 28 | 35.2 | 44 | 66 |
| Rama | Delhi | 1400 | Clov(25%)Grass | 17/27 | 51.3 | 67 | 66 | 20/35 | 56.2 | 60 | 63 |
| Scobie | Hamden | 1490 | Mixed Grasses | 13 | 43 | 62 | 69 | 12 | 48 | 58 | 69 |
| Hillriegel | Hardenburgh | 1670 | Orchardgrass | 19 | 50.9 | 65 | 67 | 21 | 53.3 | 60 | 67 |
| DeDominicis | Meredith | 2100 | Orchardgrass | 15 | 42.9 | 73 | 66 | 17 | 48.2 | 66 | 64 |
| Johnson | Sidney | 1070 | Alfalfa | 28 | 39 | 46 | 64 | 35.6 | 44 | 66 | |
| Hanselman | Stamford | 1488 | Alfalfa | 21 | 37.3 | 55 | 64 | 25 | 36.4 | 51 | 65 |
| Ryan | Stamford | 1800 | Mixed Grasses | 17 | 44.3 | 67 | 66 | 12/21 | 48.1 | 61 | 67 |
| LaTourette | Tompkins | 1210 | Clov(25%)Grass | 18/22 | 50.2 | 65 | 65 | 20/28 | 53.8 | 54 | 66 |
| Av Grass | 19.5 | 48.8 | 64.7 | 66.5 | 24.1 | 50.9 | 62.0 | 67.0 | |||
| Av Mixed | – | 46.7 | 61.3 | 65.8 | – | 48.8 | 55.8 | 65.3 | |||
| Av Legume | 23.6 | 38.7 | 51.6 | 65.6 | 25.3 | 35.1 | 47.3 | 66.3 | |||
We report several measures of forage quality. Different types and groups of cattle have different demands and each measure tells a slightly different story. If harvesting for dairy forage, we suggest harvesting based on NDF, for beef choose an appropriate TDN target or the animals you will be feeding
NDF – Neutral Detergent Fiber is a measure of the structural fiber in a feed sample. NDF correlates well with how much forage a cow can eat (gut fill). Earlier cut hay = lower NDF = higher dry matter intake = higher performance.
NDF goals for Dairy Cattle Forage: Grass hay and silage – 48 – 55%, MMG hay & silage – 40 – 50%, MML hay & silage – 38 – 45%, Legume hay & silage – 36 – 42%
NDFD – NDF Digestibility As forage plants mature, the fiber percentage increases, and at the same time the digestibility of the fiber decreases. NDFD measures the digestibility of fiber by rumen fluid. We report 24hr NDFD as an indicator of forage digestibility. Higher digestibility = more energy available from a forage. Grasses inherently have a higher NDF digestibility than legumes.
TDN – Total Digestible Nutrients The sum of the digestible fiber, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate components. TDN is a measure of energy available from forage and is related to digestible energy. TDN is useful for beef cow rations that are primarily forage. Higher TDN values indicate higher energy available, cattle groups with higher energy demands require higher TDN intakes.