6. “Feed Test Lab Reports: Just what on earth do all those numbers mean” - Part One

How many of you routinely collect feed samples and send them away for feed testing? Ever wondered what all those numbers mean? No worries – you are most certainly not alone! Listen in to this, the first in a two part series all about interpreting feed test results for a sample of pasture silage. New Zealand veterinarian and nutritionist Charlotte Westwood will step you through the various feed test results and explain what each number means. To make this more interesting, you’ll get to play detective as part of the process. This particular silage sample was collected because cattle refused to eat the silage. Why might these cattle not be so keen? Might the lab test numbers show us some clues? This, part one of a two part series, explores the first batch of numbers as typically reported for a full silage/baleage feed test by Hill Laboratories in New Zealand. In this episode, we’ll discuss the various macro and trace minerals for this particular sample of silage. We’ll compare the reported result against the “Medium range” or expected range, as reported by Hill Laboratories, that we’d normally expect to see for a pasture baleage or silage sample. (Thanks to Hill Laboratories for their permission for us to discuss these feed test results!) Tune in and see how your detective work goes assessing these results. The full table of these results are posted in the Facebook Group “The Rumen Room” that you can join here https://www.facebook.com/groups/376802106011728 for more info about all things ruminant. Part Two of this feed test series (posted shortly) will explore the second half of a typical Hill Laboratories report for a sample of baleage or silage including the crude protein, fibre, energy, ash etc content as well as the various silage acids reported in the Hill Laboratories full silage test results.