ARS | Publication request: Beyond Rfv/q: What Are You Missing with Your Hay Quality Tests?

Submitted to: Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: November 16, 2005
Publication Date: December 12, 2005
Citation: Hall, M. 2005. Beyond RFV/Q: What are you missing with your hay quality tests? 2005. In: Proceedings of the 35th California Alfalfa & Forage Symposium, December 12-14, 2005, Visalia, California. p. 231-250.

Technical Abstract: A variety of measures including Relative Feed Value (RFV), Relative Feed Quality (RFQ) and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) have been the main measures by which the quality of alfalfa hay for sale has measured. However, components or characteristics of alfalfa in addition to these measures may prove useful in determining the real market and feeding value of alfalfa compared to other feeds. Evaluation of the comparative value of feeds based on measurable nutrient components such as starch, protein, sugars, and physically effective fiber appears to be preferable to comparing them on the basis of predicted energy content.