By James Rogers, Forage crops production specialist

NDSU Extension

I am not much on New Year’s resolutions. I have tried making some in the past and failed. I think the big reason they don’t work out for me is that they never become a habit. Nevertheless, it is a new year, and it is resolution season, so here goes.

My resolution this year is for us to look at forages as a valued commodity and feedstuff, not just as a source of bulk in a total mixed ration. Many already do this. They value forages as a source of nutrients that can meet animal nutritional demand and rumen function. They value growing, harvesting and preserving good-quality forage and how it can contribute to lowering cow herd production costs. To those folks out there, resolve to keep up the good work!

What led me down this path was when I received a call from someone with livestock. Their problem was refusal by the livestock to consume the hay on offer. There can be myriad reasons as to why this might be happening, and I started down the path of asking what class of livestock, what type of hay, feeding method, livestock condition, etc. Finally, I requested that hay samples and any available forage tests be sent to me.

A few days later, a pillow-shaped package arrived with three bulk hay samples. I opened the first one and was met with the odor of dust and mold. It contained grasses that were mature, coarse and dark colored. There was a forage test, and, looking at the numbers, the first thing that caught my eye was a crude protein content of 5%. There was an adjusted percentage of crude protein value of 4.6%, indicating that not only was this “forage” baled mature, it was probably also baled too wet, resulting in heating that bound some of the protein to carbohydrates (through the Maillard reaction) and a lower available protein value. A crude protein content of 7%-8% is needed for complete rumen fiber digestion. The reasoning for livestock refusal became pretty evident with the visual inspection and hay test results.

From there, I thought it would be a good idea to compile all the forage test results I have received over the last couple of years and get a feel for where we are in producing quality hay. These data included samples of alfalfa, alfalfa mixes, cereal grain and warm-season annuals. The average percentage of crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN) was 8.9% and 54.8%, respectively. The average relative feed value (RFV) was 98, and the estimated percentage of body weight intake was 2.0%.

Initially, these numbers, on average, will meet nutritional requirements of second- and third-trimester mature cows, but they will need supplementation postcalving to support milk production and rebreeding. However, we know that an average can be deceiving. Looking a little closer at the numbers, 51% of the samples had a crude protein content of 8% or less, and 44% had a TDN value of less than 54. This tells me that these samples came from forage that was harvested too mature. On the other side of the scale, the alfalfa and alfalfa mixes had consistently higher nutrient content values. 

On another producer call, they had four forage tests with crude protein values above 11% and TDN values above 54%. This was an easy call. Their forage tests’ values were high enough to meet livestock nutrient requirements with no additional supplementation, and we just slightly adjusted what they are feeding to match their feed inventory.

Don’t overlook the value that forages can contribute to your feeding program. Make it a resolution to always produce high-quality forage and keep feed costs low. If you need assistance in interpreting forage test results and producing high-quality forage, don’t hesitate to reach out.

(James Rogers is a North Dakota State University Extension forage crops production specialist at the North Central Research Extension Center near Minot, North Dakota.)

NDSU Agriculture Communication – Jan. 22, 2026

Source: James Rogers, 701-857-7682, james.rogers.1@ndsu.edu

Editor: Dominic Erickson, 701-231-5546, dominic.erickson@ndsu.edu