Sample Management Center

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  • DAIRYLAND LABORATORIES INC. PURCHASES FEED ANALYSIS LABORATORY FROM WAYPOINT ANALYTICAL
    3-3-2023

    Dairyland Laboratories announces that it has purchased the feed laboratory from Waypoint Analytical in Leola, PA. Waypoint will continue to provide other services at the Leola, PA location.
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  • DAIRYLAND LABORATORIES INC. PURCHASES FEED AND FORAGE TESTING SERVICES FROM DHIA LABORATORIES
    4-25-2022

    Dairyland Laboratories announces that it has purchased feed and forage testing services from DHIA Laboratories in Sauk Centre, MN. DHIA Laboratories will continue to provide milk and testing independe...
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  • DAIRYLAND LABORATORIES INC. AND NORTHWEST LABS LLC COLLABORATE ON FEED AND FORAGE TESTING AT JEROME, ID LOCATION
    5-14-2019

    Dairyland Laboratories Inc. is excited to announce our new collaboration with Northwest Labs, LLC, to provide feed and forage testing services from Northwest Lab’s Jerome, Idaho location. Northwest La...
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Sample Management Center

Nitrates

Printable PDF

Sampling tips:

Standing forage

  • Variability of Nitrate levels within a field can be very high

  • Cut at least 15 whole plants taken at random

  • Cut plants at the same height as the chopper

  • Chop plant to at least 1 inch lengths and mix well

  • Remove about 0.5lbs for testing

Silage

  • Collect several samples from the silo face or during unloading

  • Mix well and remove about 0.5 lbs for testing

Pasture

  • Pasture is extremely difficult to sample because animals will selectively consume plants

  • If high nitrates are expected cautious management is recommended

  • Corn stubble can effectively be sampled by collecting 15-20 random samples from the field, chop to at least 1 inch lengths, mix thoroughly, and remove about 0.5 lbs for testing

* For fresh forages it is recommended to deliver samples directly to the lab, or freeze samples for 24 hours prior to shipping and ship in an insulated container.  Fresh forage in a sealed bag will begin to ferment which reduces the Nitrate level of the sample.

Sources

Allison, C.D., 2010. Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock. New Mexico State University Cooperative ExtensionService Guide B-807

Crowley, J.W. 1985. Effects of Nitrate on Livestock. American Society of Agricultural Engineers. PaperNumber 80-20026.

Faulkner and Hutjens. Nitrates in Livestock Feed. University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

Vough, Lester, Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock: Causes and Prevention. University of MarylandCooperative Extension Fact Sheet 426

Vough, et al. Nitrate Poisoning of Livestock: Causes and Prevention. South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service.

ExEx4015 Dairy Science.

Undersander, et al. Nitrate Poisoning in Cattle, Sheep, and Goats, University of Wisconsin Extension Service.

www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/pubs/nitrate.htm

 

For more information call Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. at 608-323-2123 or contact us here.