International
Veterinary Information Service
(IVIS) is a not-for-profit
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provide information to veterinarians,
veterinary students and animal
health professionals worldwide
using Internet technology.
The IVIS website provides
free access to original, up-to-date
publications organized in
electronic books each edited
by highly qualified editors,
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education (lecture notes,
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Nitrate
Testing for hay
DairyOne http://www.dairyone.com/Forage/services/Forage/forage_Price_List.htm
Base fee is $6
Nitrates test is $6
Forage NIR test is $14
Wet chem minerals (for traces)
is $10
Even if you're not concerned
about sugar/starch, it's interesting
to do - oat hays have been tested
as high as 30% NSC (sugar/starch
combined). And you'll find out
if you hay is providing a good
Ca:P ratio, and if it has good
levels of protein, calories
(DE), major and trace minerals.
The"horse" section, http://www.equi-analytical.com/default.htm provides similar testing at
a slightly higher price (the
reports have more horse oriented
information and do some of the
math for you). Test 601 - Equi-Tech
$29, plus $8 for nitrates.
http://www.equi-analytical.com/InterpretingResults/Glossary.htm
Nitrates (N03) - can become
a problem when fed in high amounts.
Nitrate accumulator plants include
sorghum, sorghum sudangrass,
sudangrass, weeds and small
grain forages. Drought, frost,
fertilization and manure application
practices are factors that can
lead to high nitrate levels.
When nitrate is converted to
nitrite, it impedes the uptake
of oxygen by the blood resulting
in death due to lack of oxygen.
Blood becomes brownish in color
and exterior membranes may become
bluish in color.
http://www.agry.purdue.edu/ext/forages/Forage_issues.htm
Purdue has some interesting
info on nitrates, soil acidity,
etc (type "nitrate"
in the search box).
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