Relative feed value - Articles

Relatively speaking, is it RFV or RFQ?

RFV and RFQ were created to help compare forage quality, but decades after RFQ’s introduction, many producers still default to what they know. The two indexes use different equations and assumptions, which is why their numbers don’t always tell the same story.

June 16, 2026

Ralph Pearce

RFQ was designed to fix RFV’s blind spots – so why are producers still split on which number to trust?

Forage tests: Which values are pertinent to your goals?

Forage tests reveal the true nutritional value of hay, haylage or silage – numbers you can’t see in the field.

June 15, 2026

Sawyer Fonnesbeck

Forage tests turn laboratory numbers into harvest decisions by showing which quality values match your goals.

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.

Keeping feed value in the stack

Ongoing Idaho research shows uncovered hay loses quality faster, while tarped or shed-stored hay maintains nutrition, reinforcing the value of protecting baled forage over time.

February 25, 2026

Sawyer Fonnesbeck

Reducing the exposure of hay to the rain, snow and hot sun certainly aids in protecting the visual integrity of the baled forage. However, what does the weather, elements and time do to the nutritional integrity of these same bales?

South Central: Understanding your hay test report

October 24, 2025

Jason Banta

A good hay test can prove valuable when designing a winter feeding program. There can be a lot of information on a hay test, and knowing which numbers to focus on may not always be clear.

Is it grunt work or just unpleasant work?

Unpleasant tasks vs. true grunt work: A workplace debate.

June 16, 2025

Rebecca Kern-Lunbery

What was once "grunt work" is now a critical piece of the puzzle, handled by a team that knows its impact.

It’s not too early to evaluate hay and forage levels

May 30, 2022

Robin Cox

Hay season will soon be upon us; how will your forage perform? This question is on the mind of growers who raise, feed and sell this precious commodity.

The dictionary behind forage analysis

By understanding your forage tests and the lingo they use, you can make more educated decisions on how you want to utilize the feed in your operation.

April 30, 2022

Louisa Koch

With spring just around the corner, you may be starting to think about your forage plans for your operation. Whether you are ready to put your cows out on pasture or begin a new harvest of haylage, it’s important to know what you are feeding your animals.