Robyn Stewart
As we’ve discussed the past two weeks, the UGA Soil, Plant, and Water Laboratory provides testing services and expert recommendations for resource management to Georgia residents. Soil and water testing is essential for homeowners and producers alike, but there are a variety of other tests that Lincoln County Extension can provide. Additional testing services include but are not limited to forage, feed, and plant pathology testing.
Livestock producers should be concerned with the quality of feeds and forages they are providing to their stock, as feed costs are often the highest expense associated with production. Forage quality is often determined based on qualitative measures such as appearance (stem to leaf ratio, presence of seed heads), contents (weeds, foreign materials), and other visually determined characteristics. However, qualitative assessment of forages is not always representative of the actual nutrition available to the animal. A simple forage test can provide valuable information such as Relative Feed Value, protein, non-structural carbohydrate, structural carbohydrates, and nitrate levels in a sample. Having a representative forage sample can allow producers to make the most educated decisions when matching different quality forages with different classes of animal. For example, lactating brood cows have the highest energy requirements and will require a different level of nutrition than dry cows will. Forage testing and subsequently matching forage quality with nutrient requirements allows producers to maximize their inputs and minimize their feeding costs.
In times when forage supply is short, such as this year with the drought, producers may look at alternate feedstuffs to maintain condition of their cattle through winter. Different growing conditions and regions can produce products with significantly different nutrition. When considering alternate feedstuff options, it can be helpful to submit a feed sample for testing in order to determine the actual nutrition of the product. While textbook values are a great starting point for ration balancing with common feeds, a feed sample taken from the actual product you receive will ensure that rations are balanced accurately for things like RFV and protein. Feed testing for different molds and toxins can also be essential for determining the safety of a feedstuff for livestock. When livestock producers have to feed alternative feedstuffs, the added expense can have a drastic impact on their bottom line. Feed and forage testing is essential for managing input costs to maximize profits.
An additional testing service of use to homeowners and livestock owners alike is plant pathology. Plant pathology allows us to identify pathogens that may be causing illness and injury to plants. This service can be used on turfgrasses, pastures, trees, vegetables, fruits, home gardens, and more. There are a multitude of fungal diseases, root rots, leaf spots, and other pathogens that can hurt and kill plants. The Lincoln County Extension Office can help work with you to identify what pathogen you are dealing with, whether it be pest related, environmental, or a pathogenic concern, and how to best manage and treat it.
Hopefully this three-week series has helped to identify some of the testing services that Lincoln County Extension provides to its residents. Soil, water, feed, forage, and plant pathology compose the majority of our samples that we send to the lab, but are not the only tests we can provide. If you have need for additional testing services, please contact us at 706-359-3233 or uge3181@uga.edu.
Question of the week: Is it necessary to provide supplemental copper to goats?
Answer: All livestock should be provided a complete, balanced mineral in addition to their forage program. So long as they are consuming the mineral at the appropriate level (check the feeding instructions on the packaging) they should not need additional supplementation.
