Hay Testing & Forage Analysis for Tupelo Cattle Producers

Lee County producers invest heavily in hay—either purchasing at $50–$80 per ton or dedicating land and equipment to production. Yet most never test forage quality, leading to expensive supplement guesswork. Tri‑State Livestock LLC. provides fast, affordable hay testing that eliminates uncertainty and optimizes cattle nutrition.

Why Test Your Hay?

Visual inspection can't reveal protein or energy content. Two identical-looking bales can vary 4 percentage points in protein depending on cutting maturity and curing conditions. Without testing, you're either over-supplementing (wasting money) or under-feeding (limiting performance). Testing clarifies exactly what your cattle are consuming.

What Analysis Reveals

• Crude protein: Determines if supplementation is needed
• Energy (TDN): Indicates if grain is required for performance goals
• Fiber (ADF/NDF): Predicts intake and digestibility
• Minerals: Guides free-choice mineral program selection

Common Tupelo Hay Scenarios

Bermudagrass Hay

First-cutting May harvest typically tests 10–14% protein—adequate for dry pregnant cows. Later cuttings (28–30 day intervals) test higher (12–16%), often meeting lactation needs. Delayed cutting (40+ days) or rain damage drops below 8% protein, requiring significant supplementation.

Mixed Grass Hay

Lee County mixed stands (fescue, orchardgrass, annuals) vary dramatically. Boot-stage harvest tests well (12–15% protein); full-head cutting drops to 6–8% with poor digestibility. Testing prevents assumptions about "good-looking" hay automatically meeting needs.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

A $30 test can save thousands in misdirected supplements. Example: A Tupelo producer feeds 60 cows assuming low-quality hay, supplementing 3 lbs protein cubes daily ($0.30/lb). Over 120 days, that's $6,480 in supplements. If testing reveals adequate protein, eliminating unnecessary cubes saves $6,450—a 21,500% return on investment.

Tupelo Hay Testing Pricing

Standard forage analysis costs $25–$35 per sample including sampling, laboratory analysis, and feeding recommendations. Turnaround: 3–5 business days.

Sampling Guidelines

Core sample 10–15 bales from homogeneous groups (same field, cutting, curing). Mix thoroughly before packaging. We handle collection using calibrated core samplers for representative results.

Integration With Nutrition Management

• Pasture consulting to improve forage quality at production
• Soil testing to address fertility limiting hay quality
• Pregnancy checking to assess if nutrition supports reproduction

Service Area

Serving Tupelo, Lee County, and surrounding Northeast Mississippi regions.