Hay, straw and silage deliveries must also be inspected immediately following weighing and prior to unloading. Collect a representative sample of each load of all roughage by either inserting an arm or hay probe deep into the load. Acquire at least five (5) samples representing the front, middle and back of the truck. Place these five samples into a bucket, mix and obtain a representative composite sample. Perform moisture analysis on the composite sample as outlined in the Forced Air Oven Procedure for moisture determination. Follow all established rejection reporting and recording procedures. Note all ‘off-odours’, improper colour, and/or texture, including particle length. Record all load details and inspection results on the Ingredient Receival Record Meals and Other Feedstuffs.

As with other ingredients, roughages are also subject to price and quality adjustments based upon delivery standards to assist in quality control. Assume that a contract for 100T of baled alfalfa hay @ $70.00/T is stipulated a minimum of 17% crude protein and a maximum of 34% acid detergent fiber (ADF)(on dry matter basis), with a 14% moisture allowance in accordance with the Southwest Alfalfa Trading Standards. Quality adjustments for crude protein and ADF are 3 times the stipulated minimum and maximum percentages. Moisture adjustments are made independent of quality adjustments with a premium given for hays within the 10 to 14% moisture range and a discount assigned between 14 and 20%. The buyer reserves the right to reject hay with over 20% moisture, greater than 20% foreign material or with any injurious foreign material, objectionable foreign odour, heating, heat damaged, and/or moulds. Analytical data on this alfalfa hay indicate a 15% moisture content (85% dry matter), 16.2% crude protein and 30% ADF. Calculations required to implement these adjustments are as follows.

Both crude protein and ADF values must be converted to 100% dry matter. The crude protein analysis of 16.2% divided by 85% dry matter x 100 = 19% crude protein on a dry matter basis. Likewise, adjusted ADF content becomes 30% divided by 85% x 100 = 35% ADF on a dry matter basis.

Moisture content of this hay was 1 percentage unit over the standard (15% - 14% = 1%) which carries a corresponding reduction in the purchase price, or $0.70/T (1% x $70.00 = $0.70). Crude protein was 2 percentage units over the minimum requirement (19% - 17% = 2%) and represents a premium of 6% (2% x 3 = 6%). ADF was 1 percentage unit over the maximum allowance (35% - 34% = 1%) and represents a discount of 3%. The quality adjustment for price is a plus 1.5% obtained by averaging the numerical difference between premiums and discounts (subtracting the negative 3% from 6% equals 3%. 3% divided by 2 = 1.5%) Therefore, the quality adjustment for the price of this hay represents a premium of $1.05/T ($70/T x 1.5% = $1.05/T).

Payment price for this 100T of hay represents a premium of $0.35/T (a negative $0.70/T discount for moisture + $1.05/T premium for quality factors). Adjusted price becomes $70.35/T ($70.00/T + $0.35/T). Final payment is then $7,035 ($70.35 x 100T = $7,035) for this delivery of alfalfa hay.

For each of the above outlined feedstuffs, store a sample of each load received with other samples to form a composite sample for subsequent analytical analysis as outlined in the Analytical Laboratory Schedule.