Current Forage
Quality-Last Updated May 27 How to use this information:
This information is being provided to help you make first cutting
harvest date decisions.
NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber) is by far the best predictor available to
determine forage quality for lactating dairy cows. Remember, the data here represents
individual fields in
different geographic locations. Your location may be ahead or behind
these
fields in maturity.
NDF content in the
field is best
predicted by using alfalfa height for
both alfalfa and grasses. For
grasses the goal
is an
NDF level (on a dry matter basis) is 50%. Tallest
alfalfa height will be 16-17 inches. For alfalfa the goal is an
NDF
level of 40%. Tallest
alfalfa height will be 28-30 inches. For
a mixed stand of 50% grass and 50% alfalfa the goal is an NDF level of
43%. Tallest alfalfa height will be 22-23 inches.
To achieve the desired NDF level for
all of your haycrop you may need to start harvesting before the
indicated height. For more info on how to use alfalfa
height to predict NDF on your farmClick
Here!
Typically NDF increases about 0.5 to 0.7/day for alfalfa was and about
0.8 to
1.2/day for grass. Expect the lower end of that range in cooler
weather
and the higher end in warm.
Begin harvest early enough so that most of your crop is harvested by
the
"ideal" range.