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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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Oklahoma State University Stillwater, OK |
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Oklahoma Alfalfa |
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ALFALFA BUYER SURVEY: PREFERENCES FOR SELECTED QUALITY FACTORS In another article, I discussed results from analyzing HAYMARKET data to determine the importance of various quality-related alfalfa variables. In another article, I indicated the preference of buyers for having certain kinds of quality-related variables. This article presents some additional information on what buyers prefer for crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative feed value (RFV). Dairymen surveyed in 1993 were asked to identify the minimum CP, TDN, and RFV content for alfalfa hay they preferred, both for high producing cows and dry cows. Tables 1-3 provide the average responses for dairymen in Texas and Oklahoma. As expected, the quality of alfalfa buyers prefer for high-producing cows is above the quality they would purchase for dry cows. Generally, there was not very much difference between dairy producers in Oklahoma vs. those in Texas. The figures in the tables provide quality targets for Oklahoma producers. Remember that these figures were minimum acceptable values. Therefore, dairy producers would like higher quality alfalfa. And studies at OSU and elsewhere indicate dairymen will pay more for better quality. Table 1. Average Minimum Acceptable Crude Protein (CP) for Alfalfa Hay Purchased, By Location of Dairy.
Table 2. Average Minimum Acceptable Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN) for Alfalfa Hay Purchased, by Location of Dairy.
Table 3. Average Minimum Relative Feed Value (RFV) for Alfalfa Purchased, by Location of Dairy.
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E. Ward, Extension Economist Department of Agricultural Economics Oklahoma State University |
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