Crude protein - Articles

Propionic acid effects on bermudagrass silage

Jiggs bermudagrass is a key Southeast forage, yet its composition often weakens fermentation and increases spoilage risk. This summary reviews whether propionic acid and microbial inoculants can improve bermudagrass silage quality.

May 13, 2026

Joao Vendramini

Jiggs bermudagrass delivers strong yields, but its high moisture and low sugars make reliable silage tough to achieve.

Don't stop at RFV and RFQ

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

May 10, 2026

Katelyn Goldsmith and Jackie McCarville

RFV and RFQ give a fast way to rank forage lots, but both reduce a complex feed to a single number. A full forage analysis is essential for understanding true feeding value.

South Central: Forage species and grazing management impact animal performance

April 22, 2026

Jason Banta

Understanding and managing forage quality is important for cow-calf and stocker operations that rely on forage as the main component of the diet.

South Central: Improving animal performance with better forage

March 24, 2026

Jason Banta

This article will focus on the factors that affect forage quality to help producers improve animal performance and produce better-quality hay, which can reduce or eliminate winter supplementation needs.

Nitrogen needs for pasture yield and quality

Pastures rely on a steady supply of plant‑available nitrogen to support fast growth and recovery after grazing. Nitrogen enters the system through soil organic matter, legumes, manure recycling and fertilizer. Plants use it to build the molecules that capture sunlight and turn it into forage.

February 17, 2026

Karl Wyant

Understanding how N becomes available – and how plants convert it into usable energy – helps producers get more from every acre.

Spring small-grain forages: Timing your cut for profit and quality

Across forage barleys and oats, researchers tracked yield, quality, regrowth and economics under irrigation in southern Idaho. The results reveal clear trade-offs: Earlier cuts boost protein and regrowth, while later harvests maximize tonnage and energy.

January 29, 2026

Jacob Bevan, J. Reed Findlay, Janhvi Pandey, Joseph Sagers, and Jared Spackman

Harvest timing in small grains isn’t just a detail – it’s the difference between profit and loss. New University of Idaho research shows how barley and oats stack up when cut at boot, heading/milk or soft-dough stage.

Positioning 2025 feed for success in 2026

The 2025 growing season featured regional contrasts that shaped forage quality and overall crop performance. Katie Raver highlights what those patterns mean for interpreting 2025 feed and planning rations into 2026.

January 27, 2026

Marian Viney

Producers may not have harvested a perfect crop in 2025, but thoughtful pairing, management and a focus on gut health can still set rations up for success.

West: Optimizing late-gestation nutrition for a successful calving season

December 24, 2025

Carmen Willmore

Cow nutrition remains one of the most important management concerns for producers heading into calving.

Unwrapping the bale: Look, smell, flake

A forage test will quantify crude protein, fiber fractions, mineral balance, digestibility and sugar levels – essential benchmarks for ration formulation. Smell, texture, flake integrity, dust and the presence of mold or foreign material are equally decisive, and in a competitive hay market, buyers demand forage that tests well and passes a rigorous sensory check.

December 23, 2025

Carmen Willmore

Hay test results provide critical insight into forage quality, but numbers alone don’t capture the full picture.