Brix scoring is important because it tells us how much sugar content is in our forages and the nutrition density in our dry matter. Plants high in brix are more resistant to drought, cool temperatures, pests, and disease.

The higher the brix, the higher the quality of the forage you're feeding livestock. A refractometer is used to determine the sugar levels in pastures. Watch our video on using a refractometer.

• Select different species in the paddock. Look for the plants livestock are actually grazing in your sample.

• Do not include stems or overmature fescue which cattle won't eat.

• Roll the plants into a ball and work it in your hands until your hands are slightly damp.

• Place the plants in a press and squeeze the syrup onto the refractometer widow.

• Point the refractometer into the sun and note the brix reading.

Each percent increase in brix gives you an additional .1 pounds of ADG for livestock. Increasing our brix through soil health and soil biology helps livestock gaining at a productive level.