Forage Analysis

You're feeding forage that you assume has certain nutritional value, but how do you actually know what's in it? Hay from the same field one year to the next can be wildly different nutritionally based on weather, harvest timing, and handling. Two different hay suppliers' timothy hay might look similar but have completely different protein content and mineral balance. You're making feeding decisions based on assumptions, when actual forage testing would give you real information to feed on.

Forage analysis tells you exactly what you're feeding. It measures protein content, digestibility, minerals, and other nutritional components so you know what your hay actually contains rather than guessing. This information lets you adjust your supplementation or grain feeding appropriately. You might discover your hay is much higher in protein than you thought, meaning you can reduce grain. Or you might find it's deficient in specific minerals, meaning you need targeted supplementation. Either way, you're feeding based on facts instead of guesses.

The cost of forage testing—roughly twenty to thirty dollars per sample—pays for itself by allowing you to optimize feeding and eliminate unnecessary supplementation. You might be over-supplementing minerals because you assume your hay is deficient when it actually isn't. Or you might be feeding inadequate minerals because you don't realize your hay doesn't contain what you think it does. Testing eliminates that guesswork.

Forage analysis becomes even more important when you have horses with special dietary needs. A horse prone to laminitis needs to know the sugar content of their hay. A hard keeper needs to understand whether their forage is nutritious enough or whether additional supplementation is necessary. A senior horse with metabolic concerns needs to know if minerals are appropriate. A foal being grown requires precise knowledge of mineral content. Special needs horses benefit enormously from forage testing.

This guide will explain what forage analysis measures, how to submit samples for testing, what the results mean, and how to use that information to adjust your feeding program. You'll learn that forage testing is practical, affordable, and valuable information that improves feeding decisions. Most importantly, you'll understand that basing feeding on actual forage composition rather than assumptions eliminates feeding mistakes and optimizes nutrition.

Forage analysis measures crude protein content, which tells you how much protein your hay contains. This is useful because protein needs vary among horses and you want to know whether your hay provides adequate protein or whether you need supplemental grain to meet protein requirements. A hay testing 8 percent protein is lower protein than one testing 12 percent, which changes how much grain a horse needs. Knowing the actual percentage lets you calculate exact supplementation needed.

Digestibility measurements, often reported as total digestible nutrients or TDN, tell you how much usable energy is in the hay. Higher digestibility means more energy available; lower digestibility means the horse gets less energy from the same amount of hay. This is critical because low-digestibility hay requires horses to eat more bulk to meet energy needs. Foals and hard keepers particularly benefit from higher-digestibility forage.

Fiber measurements including acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber tell you how much indigestible plant material the hay contains. Higher fiber content means more bulk but potentially less digestibility. Lower fiber might indicate higher energy density. Horses with specific needs might require different fiber levels. A horse prone to laminitis might benefit from lower-digestibility forage; a hard keeper needs higher digestibility.

Mineral content measurements are critical for horses with specific mineral needs. Testing shows calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, trace minerals including copper, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum. A horse requiring specific mineral ratios can have its hay tested to determine whether supplementation is necessary. For example, high molybdenum hay interferes with copper uptake; knowing this in advance lets you supplement copper appropriately.

Relative feed value measures hay quality comprehensively, combining digestibility and crude protein into a single number that allows hay comparisons. Higher RFV indicates better-quality hay. This helps you compare different hay sources and make informed purchasing decisions.

Nitrate content testing is available for forage, which matters if you're concerned about high-nitrate forage that can harm horses. Horses on nitrate-rich forage can develop problems. If you suspect high-nitrate conditions (drought, excessive nitrogen fertilization), testing gives you information about safety.

Submit hay samples for testing early in the feeding season. Don't wait until late winter when you've already been feeding without knowing what you're working with. Test multiple bales from different areas of your hay supply to get an average reading, not just one exceptional bale. Ten to twelve sample bags taken from different bales and mixed together represent your hay supply accurately.

Use university or certified forage testing laboratories for accurate results. Many universities offer forage testing programs at reasonable cost with credible results. Commercial labs also provide testing. Send samples in moisture-proof containers with detailed information about the forage—type, harvest date, field conditions if possible.

Once you have results, compare them to your horse's requirements. Nutritional tables for horses show what different types of horses need for protein, minerals, and energy. Compare what your forage provides to what your specific horse needs. This comparison tells you whether supplementation is necessary or adequate.

Use results to adjust grain feeding and mineral supplementation. If your hay tests low in protein, add protein-rich grain or supplement. If it tests high in protein, you might need less grain. If minerals are imbalanced, adjust mineral supplementation specifically. Let actual test results drive feeding decisions rather than guessing.

Test pasture if you're relying on pasture for primary nutrition. Pasture forage varies seasonally and by location. Spring pasture is typically higher protein and lower fiber than summer or fall pasture. Testing at different times of year tells you how pasture nutrition changes and how to adjust supplementation accordingly.

Repeat testing periodically—at least annually. Hay from different years or different fields will vary. Knowing what you're feeding year to year lets you adjust as needed. For horses with critical nutritional needs, testing each load of hay might be worthwhile.

Easy keepers benefit from forage testing that reveals exactly how much energy and protein their hay contains. High-energy hay for an easy keeper might require reduced grain supplementation or pasture restriction. Low-energy hay allows more generous feeding. Testing prevents over-feeding energy to easy keepers that don't need it.

Hard keepers need forage testing to ensure they're getting adequate energy and protein. If their hay tests low in digestibility or protein, supplementation can be adjusted appropriately. Hard keepers often benefit from higher-quality hay, and testing tells you whether that investment is being made or whether you need to change hay sources.

Metabolically challenged horses including those prone to laminitis or with insulin resistance need forage testing that specifically measures sugar and starch content (non-structural carbohydrates or NSC). High-sugar hay can trigger laminitis in susceptible horses. Testing allows you to identify whether your hay is safe or whether you need lower-sugar forage.

Senior horses might need higher-digestibility forage due to reduced digestive efficiency. Testing can reveal whether their forage is digestible enough for their changing needs, or whether more supplementation is necessary as they age.

Performance horses need adequate energy and protein for work. Testing forage tells you whether supplementation needs to increase for horses doing heavier work, or whether their current forage provides adequate base nutrition.

Assuming hay quality without testing leads to feeding mistakes. You think your hay is a certain quality but it might be different. Feeding too much supplementation because you assume your hay is poor quality wastes money. Feeding too little because you assume adequate hay quality creates nutritional deficiency.

Sampling incorrectly or testing unrepresentative bales gives results that don't actually reflect what you're feeding. Taking samples from only the top bales or best-looking portions skews results. Taking samples only once from a large hay supply might miss variation. Proper sampling takes multiple samples from different areas and mixes them for an average.

Not understanding how to use test results means information isn't helpful. You get results but don't know how to interpret them or how to adjust feeding based on them. Taking results to your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist for interpretation ensures you understand implications and can make appropriate feeding adjustments.

Testing forage and then ignoring the results wastes the testing expense. Testing is only useful if you actually use the information to adjust your feeding. If you test hay and then continue feeding exactly as before without regard to what testing revealed, you've wasted money.

Over-relying on testing without practical observation creates problems. Testing tells you what's in hay, but observation tells you how your horse responds to it. A horse might do poorly on forage that tests acceptable, or thrive on forage with less-than-ideal composition. Let testing inform decisions, but combine it with observation of your actual horse's condition and response.

Start with forage testing as a way to understand your baseline. If you've never tested your hay, test it. Get a baseline understanding of what you're feeding. Then you can make informed decisions about any adjustments needed.

Use forage testing most urgently for horses with special dietary needs. A metabolically challenged horse should have their forage tested. A foal being grown should have their forage tested. A hard keeper struggling to maintain weight should have forage tested. Standard horses on average hay might benefit from testing but special-needs horses absolutely should be tested.

Keep testing records. Save your forage analysis results and note which hay samples they represent, when the forage was harvested, and what supplements you used with that forage. Over time, you'll develop understanding of your hay sources and what works for your operation.

Share forage analysis with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist. Ask them to interpret results in the context of your specific horse's needs. They can help you understand what adjustments are necessary.

Use forage testing as a basis for purchasing decisions. If you buy hay from different sources, test from each source so you know what you're getting. This helps you negotiate price based on actual quality and choose hay sources based on nutrition, not just availability or price.

Consider forage testing annual practice if feeding is a significant part of your operation. The cost is minimal compared to the information value and feeding optimization that results.