Forage analysis guide
How to take a forage sample
An analysis is only as accurate as the sample you send. Follow these steps to collect a representative sample of your hay, haylage or grazing and get it to us safely.
The short version
No kit needed, start straight away- Sample 6 to 10 large bales, 12 to 20 small bales, or walk your field in a W.
- Send 50 to 100 g per analysis: a fully filled, A5-sized bag. For grass, send more.
- Send a separate sample for every analysis you have ordered.
- Label each bag with your name, order number and the analysis type.
- Post it as a small parcel at the Post Office, early in the week.
Sampling methods
How to sample your forage
Take lots of small samples from across your forage and mix them into one. The bag you send stands in for several tonnes of forage, so it needs to represent all of it, not just one bale.
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Large round bales
- Take a core at waist height on the round side, 20 to 30 cm deep, or burrow into the round side by hand.
- Sample at least 6 to 10 different bales.
- Haylage: reseal each hole with patches or haylage tape from a farm supplier. A dry wrap reseals without spoiling.
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Large square bales
- Take a core 20 to 30 cm deep through the centre of one end, or open the bale and hand-grab from the centre.
- Sample at least 6 to 10 different bales.
- Haylage: reseal each hole with patches or haylage tape.
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Small square bales
- Take a core 20 to 30 cm deep through the centre of one end, or open the bale and hand-grab from the centre.
- Sample at least 12 to 20 different bales.
- Haylage: reseal each hole with patches or haylage tape.
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Grazing
- Walk the field in a W shape and cut a sample at each point of the W.
- Cut 2 cm above the soil with stainless steel scissors, so no soil contaminates the sample.
- Grass is mostly water, so collect far more than you think you need and fill the bag as full as you can.
A corer gives the most consistent bale samples. We sell a hay and haylage corer probe if you do not have one.
Step by step
From field to lab
We do not send a physical kit. That means you can sample as soon as you order and get your results sooner. You post the sample to us yourself.
Watch the video
The short video guide shows the whole process. It takes a few minutes and avoids the most common mistakes.
Collect and mix
Collect your samples using the method for your forage above, then mix them thoroughly before filling your bag.
Fill one bag per analysis
Send approximately 50 to 100 g: at least an A5 envelope-sized bag, fully filled. For grass, fill the bag as full as possible.
Each analysis needs its own sample. If you ordered a mineral and a nutritional analysis, send two bags.
Label every bag
Write your name, your order number and the analysis type on each bag. If you are sending more than one sample, add the field name or a description so we can tell them apart.
Post it as a small parcel
Take it to the Post Office and send it as a small parcel, Monday to Wednesday if you can, so it does not sit in the post over a weekend.
Tell us about your horse
Complete the analysis information form, once for each horse. We use it with your results to write your feed recommendations.
Look out for our email
We email you as soon as your sample arrives. If you have not heard from us within a week of posting, contact our team.
Labelling and posting
Where to send your sample
Forageplus Ltd10 Broncoed Business Park
Mold
Flintshire
CH7 1HP
United Kingdom
Please do not use a postbox
A sample with a stamp in a postbox is often underpaid and never arrives, which delays your results. Book it in at the Post Office as a small parcel, not a letter.
- Name
- Jane Smith
- Order number
- 123456
- Analysis
- Nutritional sample
- Field
- Top paddock
Add the field name only if you are sending more than one sample.
Outside the UK
Sending a sample from abroad
The process is the same, with two extra steps so your sample arrives in good condition and clears customs.
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Dry grass before posting
Grass samples take longer to reach us from abroad, so dry them in a very low oven before you post them. If you would like to calculate the dry matter content of your grass, ask us for instructions.
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Label it clearly for customs
On the parcel and the customs declaration, describe the contents as "Hay (or grass) sample for laboratory analysis. Not for sale. No commercial value."
Watch the guide
See how to collect and return your sample
A short demonstration of sampling bales and grazing, and packing your sample for the post.
- Coring and hand-sampling bales
- Sampling grazing in a W pattern
- Packing and labelling your sample
Why it matters
An analysis is only as good as the sample
Sampling is the first and most important step in the analysis, and the one most often rushed.
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One bale is not enough
Forage varies from bale to bale and across a field. Many small samples mixed together give a true picture of what your horse eats.
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It shapes the whole diet
Your results tell us which minerals your forage supplies and which are missing or in excess. Your feed recommendations are built on them.
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A poor sample costs you
An unrepresentative sample can lead to over- or under-supplementing, which wastes money and leaves the diet unbalanced.
Common questions
Forage sampling: your questions answered
- Do you send a sampling kit?
- No. We email you sampling instructions as soon as you order, so you can take your sample straight away without waiting for a kit in the post. You pay the postage to send your sample to us.
- How much forage do I need to send?
- Approximately 50 to 100 g for each analysis: at least an A5 envelope-sized bag, fully filled. Grass holds a lot of water, so for grazing send as much as you can fit in the bag.
- I ordered two analyses. Can I send one sample?
- No. Each analysis needs its own sample. If you ordered a mineral and a nutritional analysis, send two separately labelled bags.
- Can I post my sample in a postbox?
- Please do not. Samples posted with a stamp are often underpaid and never reach us. Take it to the Post Office and send it as a small parcel.
- My haylage is very wet. What should I do?
- Drying very wet haylage in a very low oven before you post it is recommended, so it does not spoil on the way.
- How will I know my sample has arrived?
- We email you as soon as it arrives. If you have not heard from us within a week of posting, please contact our team.
- How long do I have to send my sample?
- Please use your analysis within six months of purchase. Laboratory prices rise over time, and older orders may incur an extra charge.
Ready to test your forage?
Choose your forage analysis
Mineral, nutritional and mycotoxin analysis for hay, haylage and grazing, with feed recommendations based on your results.