National Forage Testing Association
Listing of Hay Probes

Dan Putnam, Dept. of Agronomy and Range Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616
Vance Owens, Ag Hall Box 2207A, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD 57007-1096
Tracy Ackerly, Dept. of Agronomy & Range Science, University of California, Davis 95616

Introduction

Choosing a proper hay probe is an important component of proper forage testing technique. The choice of either power-driven or hand-powered probes can be used in an integrated sampling program which includes taking at least 20 cores, sampling at 90o to the but ends of bales, sampling about 18 inches into the bale, and proper sample handling. There are a wide range of acceptable coring devises, each with advantages and disadvantages.  Probes should satisfy a number of criteria: they must fairly represent the leaf/stem ratio of the bales, they should sample deeply enough to represent the variation within bales, the tips should be kept sharp, and tips are recommended to be at 90o to the shaft (not cut at an angle).  No part of the sample (eg leaves or stems) should be lost when the probe is withdrawn from the bale (as it is with open augers).  Diameter should be between 3/8” an 5/8”. An extremely small diameter coring device may not cut or represent the leaf-stem ratio properly, and a very large diameter probe may obtain a too-large sample which is difficult for labs to grind properly.  Length should probe to 14-24" in the butt-ends of the bale.  On large bales, some studies has shown that it is not necessary to sample to a greater depth, though further studies are being conducted.   Long probes (greater than 24") or wide diameter probes have the disadvantage that very large samples are generated, which in itself is not a problem, but many labs as a result will not grind the entire sample, which defeats the purpose of careful sampling.   The purpose of good technique is to develop a sample of about 1/2 lb with at least 20 probed cores. 

New!!! SAMPLING AND HAY PROBE POSTERS BY NFTA (Click on poster to see larger image):

The NFTA has developed posters on sampling and on choosing a hay probe, Please click image above to view the poster. Click Here for Ordering Information for these poster which describes features of hay probes which are important.

Please note that there are several listed here that would NOT be highly recommended, since they have features which may tend to mis-represent samples. However, we are trying to provide information on the hay probes available. It is not intended to be exhaustive, and is not an endorsement of these probes or a disparagement of other probes by omission.  If readers have knowledge of other probes that are available, please contact us so that we can improve the completeness of this listing. Please contact dhputnam@ucdavis.edu with additions/corrections to this listing. (Updated June, 2002.

Hay Probe Listing

Colorado Hay Probe. Contact: UDY Corp., Phone: (970) 482-2060. www.udycorp.com 

Description: "PUSH TYPE" Aluminum alloy barrel, 5/8” diameter X 18” long, with stainless steel angled tip (>45 degrees, resharpenable). Collection chamber holds 10-15 cores. $135 each +$15 S&H.  Mastercard & Visa.

 Forageurs Hay Probe. Contact: Forageurs Corp. PO Box 564 Lakeville, MN 55044. Phone (952) 469-2596. 

Description: "DRILL TYPE" Stainless steel probe barrel, either 14” ($140) or 24” ($150) long, Ύ” outside diameter. Hardened steel cutting tip, 0.60” cutting diameter. Steel canister ring with hexagonal steel shaft, fits hand brace or drill. Canister: 100 cu. inches, holds 20-30 cores, 4” PVC body with clear plexiglass top.

 Frontier Mills 'Yankton' Hay Probe. Contact: Frontier Mills, Inc., 2002 South Dakota Highway 314, Yankton, SD 57078. Phone (605) 665-2441. 

Description: "DRILL TYPE" 30” long X 1” inside diameter conduit pipe shaft with round 7” long X 4” diameter canister.  External auger pulls the long probe into the bale.  Different ends allow use as hand brace or with drill. Comes with replaceable tip and wooden dowel for cleaning ($108). 

Hay Chec Hay Sampler. Contact: A.M. Hodge Products, Inc. PO Box 202005, San Diego, CA 92120.  Phone (619) 444-3147.

  Description: "PUSH TYPE" This is a 12" long hand probe with an internal diameter of 7/16 inch with a well-built stainless steel body and a clear plastic catch sample collection jar, and two foam-padded handles.  Probe has a sample clearing stick.  The body is weighted for helping to push into bales.  This is one of the shortest of the hay probes.

HMC Hay Probe. Contact: Hart Machine Co., 1216 SW Hart St., Madras, OR. 97741. Phone: (541)475-3107. 

Description:  "DRILL TYPE" Stainless steel barrels 12” ($185), 18”($195), 24”($205), or 30” ($215) long X Ύ”outside diameter and 5/8” inside diameter. Hardened smooth re-sharpenable tip, ½” diameter. Aluminum and steel collection canister holds 25-30 12” cores. Hub for brace or drill.

 Penn State Probe. Contact: Nasco Corporation, 4825 Stoddard Rd., Modesto, CA. 95356-9318. 
Phone: 1-800-558-9595.  Other retailers also may carry this probe.

Description: "DRILL TYPE" Stainless steel 1 1/8” diameter X 18” long. Available with 3/8” round shank adapter for use with electric or breast drill ($94.65) or square shank for use with hand brace ($101.55). Replaceable cutting tip. Comes with dowel plunger to remove sample. 

Sierra Hay Probe. Contact: Sierra Testing Service, 9450 E. Collier Rd., Acampo, CA 95220.   Phone (209-333-3337).

Description: "PUSH TYPE" golf club type probe.  This is a 16 1/2" stainless steel golf club shaft that cuts a 1/2" core.  The shaft has a 7 1/2" x 1 7/8" tube handle attached at 90o at the end of the golf club shaft.  The probe is self-unloading and provides for easy continuous sampling of baled hay.  The probe has a clean out rod that aids in cleaning out the probe when the sample is completed.  The rod also protects the cutting edge during storage.  Approximate price: $37.00.  

 Star Forage Probes. Contact: Star Quality Samplers, 5719-114A Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6H 3MB. Phone (780) 434-3367. http://www.starqualitysamplers.com/

Description: "PUSH TYPE" Star Multi-Forage Sampler: Stainless steel 5/8” diameter probe barrel, 18” long. 3”($145) or 4” ($160) diameter PVC canister is the handle used to push probe, with a plastic bag attachment. Star Uni-Forage Sampler: Stainless steel 1 1/8” diameter X 18” long ($150). Spring clip fastens the handle to the sampler and core poured out.  Star Standard Cutting Tip ($50) fits Uni-Forage Sampler and is a replacement for most wood brace samplers (eg. the Penn State sampler).

Stearns DHIA Hay Probe. Contact: Stearns DHIA Laboratories 825 12th St. So., P O Box 227, Sauk Centre, MN 56378-0227 320.352.2028 800.369.2697 Email: stearnsdhialab@stearnsdhialab.com

Description: "PUSH TYPE" Stainless Steel 'T' Shaped Probe.  This is a 1" outside diameter stainless steel tube cut at a 45 degree angle from the shaft.  The shaft is 13" long, with another tube handle shaft attached at the end at a 90 degree angle. See their website: for details. Price: $35.00 + 5.00 Shipping & Handling.