Evaluation of Low Test Weight Corn for Finishing Lambs

The floods of 1993 caused the corn crop to be low in test weight. The following study was conducted to determine the relative feeding value of low test weight corn. The ability to feed this discounted corn to lambs could be a means of adding extra value to the discounted crop and lower the cost of lamb gain. Performance parameters indicated that low test weight corn was of equal value to normal test weight corn

Is the meat goat enterprise profitable and sustainable?

Additional tools are needed to help producers successfully produce and market meat goats in Iowa. The project helped revise or create on-line tools to help producers monitor their operations more carefully

An Economic Comparison Of Year Round vs Conventional Grazing Systems In Iowa

Year round grazing systems that utilize stockpiled forage and/or crop residue are often promoted as a way for Northern and Western cow-calf producers to reduce winter feeding costs and improve overall profitability. This study compared the profitability of a conventional spring calving/summer grazing- winter drylot herd to a year round system that utilized both spring- and fall-calving herds with weaned calves retained as stockers. Forage supplies in the year round system were derived from stockpiled forage and corn crop residues. We developed a model that randomly generated production values with parameters based on the results of a 3-year study conducted at the Iowa State University McNay Research and Demonstration farm near Chariton, Iowa. The simulated production values were combined with livestock and forage prices prevailing from 1993-2001 to estimate income per head generated by each system. Average income over the nine- year period was equal. However, the year round system was economically superior in 3 years, equivalent in 1 year, and inferior in 5 years.

Storage Project of Wet Distillers Grains

On October 18, 2006, one load of wet distillers grains from Pine Lake Corn Processors LLC, Steamboat Rock, IA was delivered to the ISU McNay Research Farm southwest of Chariton, IA via walking-bed semi-truck. The analysis of that product is given in Table 1

Effects of stocking rate and corn gluten feed supplementation on bred second-calf heifers grazing stockpiled tall fescue-red clover pastures

A winter grazing experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of bred 2-year old second-calf heifers grazing stockpiled forage at two stocking rates and two levels of supplementation during winter. Two 30- acre blocks containing \u27Fawn\u27 endophyte-free tall fescuered clover were each divided into four pastures of 6.25 or 8.75 acres. Hay was harvested from the pastures in June and August of 2003 and N applied at 40 lb/acre to initiate stockpiling in August. On October 22, 2003, twenty-four Angus-Simmental two-year old heifers, pregnant with their second calf, were allotted by weight and body condition score (BCS) to strip-graze for 147 d at 0.48 or 0.34 cow/acre and eight similar second-calf heifers were allotted to two drylots and fed tall fescue-red clover hay. Corn gluten feed was fed to maintain a mean BCS of 5 or 4.33 (9-point scale) for the high and low supplementation levels, respectively, or when weather prevented grazing. Mean initial forage yield was 3188 lb/acre and decreased 12.2 lb/acre/d in grazed areas of the pasture over 147 d. Mean seasonal concentrations of CP and IVDMD were greater (P \u3c 0.05) in hay than stockpiled forage, while the concentration of ADF was greater (P \u3c 0.05) in stockpiled forage. At the conclusion of winter feeding, animals grazing at the low stocking rate had greater (P \u3c 0.1) BW than those grazing at the high stocking rate, and the BCS of grazing animals was 0.42 lower (P \u3c 0.05) than animals maintained in the drylot. Animals in the drylot were fed 5944 lb/hd of hay. Mean amounts of corn gluten feed fed was 189.6, 19.1, 278.5, 16.9, and 5.2 lb DM/hd for the high stocking rate-high supplementation, high stocking rate-low supplementation, low stocking rate-high supplementation, low stocking rate-low supplementation, and drylot treatments, respectively, but did not significantly differ (P \u3e 0.1)

Effectiveness of Mixing Wet Distllers’ Grains and Hay with a Mixer Wagon or a Front End Loader for Long Term Storage

Long term storage of wet distillers’ grains is important in order for small beef producers to effectively utilize these feeds due to their short shelf life. Many smaller beef producers do not have access to mixing equipment to produce mixtures of wet distillers’ grains and forages. This study measured the variation in feed mixtures mixed with a mixer wagon or a front end loader. Variation was reduced by approximately one half by mixing though a mixer wagon. Using the front end loader to mix the feeds resulted in variation that would be considered acceptable for many production situations

A Summary of Monthly Nutrient Values for Stockpiled Forages in Iowa State University Research Studies

It appears from this summary of previous Iowa State University research results that protein and energy levels in forages stockpiled starting in August will for the most part have sufficient protein and energy to maintain a beef cow during the middle and last part of their pregnancy. Tall fescue-alfalfa stockpiled forage had two months that would not meet protein and energy requirements, but it is important to realize that selective grazing in that forage type would likely overcome those deficiencies. However, it is important to realize that sufficient forage accumulation is imperative to meeting the total nutrient demand of the beef cow

A Summary of Monthly Nutrient Values for Research Pastures in the Growing Months

This analysis shows that research pastures contain sufficient protein and in most months energy to maintain a beef cow during the lactation phase of the yearly beef production cycle. Crude protein in comparison to the needs of a 1400 pound lactating beef range from 113 percent to 220 percent of the requirement. Energy in comparison to the same need ranged from 87 percent to 118 percent. Eleven of 36 months evaluated were below energy needs. However, previous research has demonstrated that cattle will have selected forage intake that is 3 percent higher in digestible dry matter