The function of carbohydrates in any animal’s diet is to provide energy, carbohydrates and forage quality go hand in hand. Simple Carbohydrates Some carbohydrates are more easily digestible and provide energy to the animal, or in the case of the beef cattle to the rumen microbes, more rapidly.  These carbohydrates are Non-Fiber Carbohydrates (NFC). Examples...Read More

When it comes to hay testing, producers common quarrels about quality, based on their observations and what the lab reported. Producers often have these concerns, because the RFV determines the price of a forage and how much customers are willing to pay.  An underestimated RFV can result in decreased profit for forage producers.  A couple...Read More

Integrated agriculture can benefit beef producers. Intensive, specialized crop production has several widely agreed upon downfalls.  These specialized systems tend to have stationary yields all while profitability is widely dependent on a global market over which we have little control.  Dependence on these practices  leads to reliance on fertilizers due to nutrient depletion  in the...Read More

Over the past year, when I receive phone calls from equine enthusiasts, all wondering how to interpret their hay analysis for horses. What do I need to analyze my hay for a horse that has been diagnosed with Equine Metabolic Syndrome, Cushing’s Disease, Equine Diabetes or is prone to Laminitis? While the pathology and causes...Read More