The Countdown Begins

May 2, 2023

Welcome to the first Scissors Cut sampling report for 2023.  We will be tracking hay growth and quality each week at 43 sites across our region on all sorts of fields at a range of elevations.  You should find several sites that are similar to your farm.

The charts below show grass and legume heights measured the first week of May from 2006 – 2023.  Grass and legumes are right at the average, so maybe this year will be “normal”, whatever that is.  Warm weather can push the hay fields to change quickly, so keep watch for next week’s results to make sure you are prepared.  Over the years grass fields have hit dairy quality target fiber content about May 16. Now is the time to get everything shined up and ready for go time.

The Table at the bottom has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, and lists the species sampled, average height, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF), Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD), and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). We have sampled grass, legume and mixed legume/grass fields across the region and at elevations from 1070 to 2240 feet. Look for locations with similar forage type and elevation to your farm.

We will be reporting several measures of forage quality. Different types and groups of cattle have different demands and each measure tells a slightly different story. If harvesting for dairy forage, we suggest harvesting based on NDF, for beef choose and appropriate TDN target or the animals you will be feeding.

We will be reporting several measures of forage quality.  Different types and groups of cattle have different demands and each measure tells a slightly different story.  If harvesting for dairy forage, we suggest harvesting based on NDF, for beef choose and appropriate TDN target for the animals you will be feeding.
NDF – Neutral Detergent Fiber  is a measure of the structural fiber in a feed sample. NDF correlates well with how much forage a cow can eat (gut fill). Earlier cut hay = lower NDF = higher dry matter intake = higher performance.
NDFD – NDF Digestibility As forage plants mature, the fiber percentage increases, and at the same time the digestibility of the fiber decreases.  NDFD measures the digestibility of fiber by rumen fluid.  We report 24hr NDFD as an indicator of forage digestibility.  Higher digestibility = more energy available from a forage.
TDN – Total Digestible Nutrients The sum of the digestible fiber, protein, lipid, and carbohydrate components. TDN is a measure of energy available from forage and is related to digestible energy.  TDN is useful for beef cow rations that are primarily forage.  Higher TDN values indicate higher energy available, cattle groups with higher energy demands require higher TDN intakes.
Special thanks to Dairy One for providing the sample analysis

Delaware County Scissor Cuts Results			May 32, 2023
Town	Elev	Species	Ht	aNDFom	NDFD	TDN
Andes	1505	Red Clover	11	27.7	58	72
Andes	1500	Mixed Grasses	10	39.3	79	67
Andes	1412	Orchardgrass	12	40.7	79	67
Andes	2240	Mixed Grasses	7	39.7	73	67
Andes	1960	RClov(35%)Grass	6/10	35.7	72	68
Colchester	1080	Alf(60%)Tfesc	14/13	34.9	64	67
Davenport	1285	Alfalfa	16	30.1	66	68
Delhi	1380	Mixed Grasses	10	47.1	73	67
Delhi	1340	Alfalfa	18	27.2	71	68
Delhi	1400	Clov(25%)Grass	7/13	42.9	77	67
Delhi	1610	Mixed Grasses	13	41.8	73	67
Delhi	1425	Orchardgrass	12	46.3	73	65
Franklin	1260	Alf(50%)Orch	11/17	35.9	76	67
Franklin	1650	Mixed Grasses	16	36.2	83	69
Franklin	1720	Mixed Grasses	11	43.3	78	68
Halcott	1730	Orchardgrass	15	43.3	76	67
Hamden	2100	Clov(50%)Grass	5/9	38.5	72	67
Hamden	1490	Mixed Grasses	6	39.3	75	69
Hardenburgh	1670	Orchardgrass	10	45.7	71	67
Kortright	2000	Tall Fescue	11	38.9	84	70
Kortright	1860	Orchardgrass	14	46.4	71	67
Meredith	2230	Orchardgrass	7	32.8	80	72
Meredith	2100	Orchardgrass	7	40	74	68
Meredith	1600	Tall Fescue	10	43.1	77	66
Middletown	2060	Orch/Rcanary	14	41.9	77	67
Middletown	2020	Reed Canarygrass	15	42.5	79	66
Neversink	1420	Tall Fescue	10	38.4	92	70
Neversink	1700	Mixed Grasses	4	42.1	74	67
Roxbury	1950	Mixed Grasses	11	43.9	75	69
Roxbury	1890	Orchardgrass	10	44	75	67
Roxbury	1980	Mixed Grasses	8	41.7	71	66
Roxbury	1830	Orchardgrass	15	42.5	75	66
Sidney	1070	Orchardgrass	14	40.2	76	70
Sidney	1070	Alfalfa	13	28.8	70	67
Stamford	1510	Orchardgrass	9	42.7	74	68
Stamford	1488	Alfalfa	10	29.7	69	67
Stamford	1560	Alf(40%)Orch	10/14	35.9	71	66
Stamford	1800	Mixed Grasses	9	42	69	69
Stamford	2080	Mixed Grasses	10	43	75	68
Tompkins	1210	Clov(25%)Grass	6/12	45.3	74	67
Tompkins	1235	Clov(35%)Grass	7/13	46.3	78	66
Walton	1170	Alf(40%)Orch	11/15	42.2	72	67
Walton	1240	Clov(30%)Grass	10/14	39.6	79	68
		Av Grass Ht	9.5
		Av Legume Ht	11.3