Intensive Rotational Grazing of Steers on Highly Erodible Land at the Adams County CRP Project, 2002

The CRP Research and Demonstration Project was organized by the Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee to study alternatives to row crops on highly erodible land. The steer grazing enterprise has been studied since 1994

Operative versus nonoperative treatment of acute Achilles tendon ruptures: A pilot economic decision analysis

Background: The operative treatment of Achilles tendon ruptures has been associated with lower rerupture rates and better function but also a risk of surgery-related complications compared with nonoperative treatment, which may provide improved outcomes with accelerated rehabilitation protocols. However, economic decision analyses integrating the updated costs of both treatment options are limited in the literature. Purpose: To compare the cost-effectiveness of operative and nonoperative treatment of acute Achilles tendon tears. Study Design: Economic and decision analysis; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: An economic decision model was built to assess the cost-utility ratio (CUR) of open primary repair versus nonoperative treatment for acute Achilles tendon ruptures, based on direct costs from the practices of sports medicine and foot and ankle surgeons at a single tertiary academic center, with published outcome probabilities and patient utility data. Multiway sensitivity analyses were performed to reflect the range of data. Results: Nonoperative treatment was more cost-effective in the average scenario (nonoperative CUR, US$520; operative CUR, US$1995), but crossover occurred during the sensitivity analysis (nonoperative CUR range, US$224-US$2079; operative CUR range, US$789-US$8380). Operative treatment cost an extra average marginal CUR of US$1475 compared with nonoperative treatment, assuming uneventful healing in both treatment arms. The sensitivity analysis demonstrated a decreased marginal CUR of operative treatment when the outcome utility was maximized, and rerupture rates were minimized compared with nonoperative treatment. Conclusion: Nonoperative treatment was more cost-effective in average scenarios. Crossover indicated that open primary repair would be favorable for maximized outcome utility, such as that for young athletes or heavy laborers. The treatment decision for acute Achilles tendon ruptures should be individualized. These pilot results provide inferences for further longitudinal analyses incorporating future clinical evidence

Fall-Calving Beef-Cow Herd Grazing Demonstration at the CRP Research and Demonstration Farm Near Corning, Iowa—2006

The CRP research and demonstration project is managed by the Southern Iowa Forage and Livestock Committee to study alternatives to row-crop production on highly erodible land. This was the second year to demonstrate rotational-grazing with fall-calving beef cows as one of those options. This report details the process and results of the 2006 demonstration and compares it with the production and experience in 2005

Rotational Grazing Demonstrations with Beef Cows on CRP Land in Adams County, 2001

Two rotational-grazing systems have been demonstrated on CRP land near Corning, Iowa, annually from 1991–2001. This report summarizes the 2001 production data. A 13-paddock intensive-rotational grazing system and a 4-paddock rotational grazing system were established in 1991 to show economically feasible grass alternatives to row crops and CRP for steeply sloping (9%–14% slope), highly-erodible land (HEL)

Rotational Grazing Demonstrations with Beef Cows on CRP Land in Adams County

Two grazing systems have been demonstrated on CRP land near Corning, Iowa annually from 1991 to 2002. This report summarizes the 2002 production data. A 13-paddock intensive-rotational grazing system and a 4-paddock rotational grazing system were established in 1991 to show economically feasible grass alternatives to row crops and CRP on steeply sloping (9-14% slope), highly-erodible land (HEL)

Rotational Grazing Demonstrations with Beef Cows on CRP Land in Adams County, 2001

Two rotational-grazing systems, a 13-paddock and a 4-paddock, have been demonstrated on CRP land near Corning, Iowa since 1991 and this report summarizes the 2001 production data. Establishment of this project was to show economically feasible grass alternatives to row crops and CRP for steeply sloping (9% - 14% slope), highly-erodible land (HEL). Stocking rates were 1.57 and 1.72 acres per pair on the 13- and 4-paddock systems, respectively. In a 119 day grazing season calves gained 2.23 and 2.27 lbs/day for the 13- and 4-paddock systems, while cows gained 51.4 and 113.4 lbs, respectively. While some system hay growth was utilized to stave off drought conditions, there was a net hay gain of 11 and 5.5 bales of hay for the 13- and 4-paddock systems, respectivel

Intensive Rotational Grazing of Steers on Highly Erodible Land at the Adams County CRP Project, 2001

A steer grazing demonstration was conducted in 2001 at the CRP Research and Demonstration Project farm near Corning, Iowa. Steers were purchased between February 28 and March 9, 2001, at sale barns near Corning. They were vaccinated for IBR, PI3, BVD, and BRSV at the barns before delivery to the Iowa State University Armstrong Research Farm near Lewis, Iowa for backgrounding. Ninety-five steers were delivered to the Adams County CRP farm on April 27, 2001. They were weighed, revaccinated, wormed, implanted with Component TE-G/Tylan® , then held in dry lot for 2 days to become accustomed to electric fences. In the lot, they were fed grass hay. After the steers went to pasture, they received no supplementary feed other than a free choice mineral that supplied both macro-minerals and micro-minerals and the additive Gain Pro® . Mineral consumption averaged 2.82 oz/head per day

Intensive Rotational Grazing of Steers on Highly Erodible Land at the Adams County CRP Project, 2001

A steer grazing demonstration was conducted in 2001 at the CRP Research and Demonstration Project farm near Corning, Iowa. Ninety-five steers were delivered to the Adams County CRP farm on April 27, 2001. The steer pasture at the CRP farm was 76 acres, divided into 33 paddocks with electric fence. Cattle were moved 101 times to a fresh paddock during the grazing season. Most of the moves (79.2%) followed 1 day of grazing in a paddock. No paddock was grazed for more than 3 days in succession. Rate of gain on pasture (2.12 lbs./animal/day) was higher in 2001 than in any previous year in the 8-year steer grazing project at the CRP farm. The 95 steers gained a total of 21,056 pounds on pasture, and the cost of the gain on pasture was $51.30/cwt. The 2001 steer grazing project showed a small profit above all costs. The net profit was$4.12/steer or $5.15/acre. Large profits and large losses are possible, primarily depending on the difference between the buying and selling prices