Sample Size and Preparation

Hay

• Use a bale core sampler to reduce error.

• Minimum of 15-20 cores per lot.

• A "lot" is defined as forage harvested within one day, from one field, for the same cutting and maturity, and is similar in amount of grass, weeds, rain damage, etc.

• Place cores in a clean plastic bag and label them properly.

• Do not divide or mix hay samples; this increases the separation of leaves and stems.

• Submit a 1-pint size sample for analysis.

Silages-Tower silos

• Take fresh samples, unless specifically testing spoiled material.

• Collect 15-20 handfuls from the silo unloader into a plastic bucket. Mix thoroughly.

• Submit a 1-pint to 1-quart sample in a clean freezer bag.

• Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.

Silages Bunker

• 1A. If feeding a TMR- load material into a TMR Mixer and mix well. Take several sub-samples, place them in a plastic bucket, and mix well. -OR- 1B. If not feeding a TMR- Collect several sub-samples from different vertical layers of the silo face. Take several handfuls from freshly exposed forage after the day'' feeding has been removed.

• 2. Combine sub-samples and mix well. Reduce sample size to 1-pint using quartering technique***

• Submit a 1-pint to 1-quart sample for analysis.

Mix TMR per normal routine.

• Place containers (buckets or garbage can lids) along the bunk. A minimum of three containers should be placed at the beginning, middle, and end of the bunk. Using more containers will increase the accuracy of the analysis. Unload the TMR.

• Mix the material collected in the containers on a tarp. Thoroughly mix the sub samples picking up one corner of the tarp and pulling toward the opposite corner of the tarp. Continue this procedure with each of the corners 3 times.

• Reduce the sample using the "quartering technique" listed below. Submit a quart-size sample for analysis.

***Quartering Technique***

• Sometimes when forages and rations are sampled, the total of the aggregate samples is too large to send to the laboratory. Quartering allows a reduction of the sample size and maintains the representative sample.

• Mix the entire sample thoroughly, then pour it into a pile of clean paper or plastic.

• Divide the sample into four equal parts (quarters), saving two opposite quarters. Be sure to save the fine material at the bottom of the saved quarter.

• If the sample is still too large, repeat the procedure.

• HAY SAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE QUARTERED, since leaf loss can drastically affect analysis results.

Sample Shipping and Handling

• Proper handling is important. Unstable silages can change without proper handling.
  
  

Remove as much air as possible and seal tightly.

• Cool sample until mailing.

• Send sample(s) the quickest means possible to the laboratory.

• Avoid mailing samples over the weekend and holidays.

• Pint-sized samples are adequate for most analyses.