Maintaining feed quality is the name of the game for livestock feeders this winter.

“Weather this past summer was less than ideal for harvesting hay and silage, and subsequently there was a lot of forage put up that is less than ideal quality,” says Erika Lundy, Iowa State University (ISU)  Extension Beef Specialist with the Iowa Beef Center.

Likewise, weather conditions this fall impacted grain and cornstalk harvest.

“It’s more important this year than ever to have any feedstuffs analyzed before feeding,” she said.

Adding to issues of forage quality going into...