Chariton Valley Beef Initiative

Chariton Valley Beef Industry Initiative (CVB) was started by producers seeking to improve their herd management skills and simultaneously look into value- added markets. Individualized computer analysis of past carcass data is a key product supplied to CVB members

Implementing an ISU Extension Master Grazier Certification Course

Producers interested in honing their skills as graziers and pasture management specialists were able to attend classes in five Iowa locations over a three-year period. The courses were taught by ISU Extension specialists, Natural Resources Conservation Service staff, producers with experience in grazing management, and other experts

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

Use of Wet Distillers’ Grains with Solubles Mixed with Ground Hay and Bunker Stored in a Heifer Development Program

A total of 124 Angus heifers split into treatment and control groups with three replicates were utilized to compare a bunker stored mixture of wet distillers’ grains with solubles and ground hay to a normal growing ration for developing heifers. Heifers receiving the mixture gained slower, were less efficient in feed conversion and had numerical lower reproductive rates than those on a control ration consisting of corn, haylage, soybean meal and a mineral balancer. However, neither the control or treatment ration mixtures achieved goals set out at the beginning of the trial for growth, efficiency and pregnancy rates

Grass-fed and Organic Beef: Production Costs and Breakeven Market Prices, 2008 and 2009

Higher prices offered for grass-fed and organic grassfed beef appear attractive, but production costs, in many cases, are also higher than for conventional beef. With accurate costs of grass-fed beef production beef producers and potential producers can use these tools to make better informed decisions about entering this specialty beef production stream, establishing breakeven selling prices and determining the necessary selling price for economic sustainability of the enterprise. These data suggest that in in 2008 and 2009, after adjustments are made for cull cow sales, these producers would need to receive $209/hundredweight of live market animal produced to breakeven

Stocking System Effects on Soil and Forage Characteristics, and Performance of Fall-Calving Cows Grazing Cool-Season Grass Pastures (A Progress Report)

The effects of stocking densities of fall-calving Angus cattle grazing cool-season pastures on cow and calf performance; forage mass, quality, and botanical composition; soil carbon content and compaction; and grazing selectivity of cattle were evaluated. Two blocks of three 10-acre cool-season pastures, divided into 1-acre paddocks, were grazed by 10 fall-calving Angus cows by one of three stocking systems: rotational stocking (RS, low stocking density), strip stocking (SS, moderate stocking density), and mob stocking (MS, high stocking density). Pastures were grazed from mid-May through late September in 2010 (yr 1) and 2011 (yr 2). Cattle received a daily live forage dry matter (DM) allowance of 4.0 and 3.2% of cow body weight (BW) in yr 1 and 2, respectively. Cattle in RS pastures were moved to new paddocks after initial forage sward height, measured with a falling plate meter (8.8 lb/yd2), was reduced by 50% by measurement (yr 1), and after the estimated intake at 3.2% of cow BW/day (yr 2). Cattle in SS and MS pastures received strips containing 100 and 25% of the daily forage allowance one and four times per day, respectively. Cow BCS did not differ between treatments in any month of either year. Cow BW was greater in MS than RS and SS pastures in June of yr 2 and greater in RS than MS pastures in August of yr 2, but did not differ in any other months of either year. Birth weight and average daily gain (ADG) of live calves at the end of the trial did not differ between treatments in either year; however, there were fewer calves per cow in MS pastures at the termination of the trial in yr 2. Forage sward height did not differ between treatments in any month of either year. Rotational stocking decreased forage disappearance in yr 2 compared to strip or mob stocking. Forage disappearance was lower in RS than SS and MS pastures in May and June of both years and was greater in RS than SS pastures in September of yr 1, but did not differ in any other months. Forage botanical composition prior to grazing each year did not differ between years, but dead forage as a percent of total forage DM was lower in RS than SS and MS pastures in yr 2. Soil bulk density from 0-3 inches in yr 1, water infiltration rate into the soil in either year, and penetration resistance at depths of 0 and 3 inches in yr 2, did not differ between treatments in any month. Soil penetration resistance at 6 inches was greater in SS than RS and MS pastures in May, and was greater in MS than SS pastures in August. Grazing selectivity did not differ between treatments in yr 1. Results suggest that, at constant forage allocation, mob stocking does not affect cow or live calf performance, but may reduce the proportion of surviving calves. Mob stocking also does not affect forage mass, botanical composition, or soil compaction measures within the first two years of implementation

2010–2011 Beef Forage Summary—Cutting Dates and Quality Results

Delayed harvest and subsequent advances in maturity decrease quality as does rain leached hay that has been cut. Both situations result in increased hay fiber content relative to available energy and protein. Quality of first cutting grasses tends to be more affected by advanced maturity. Legume or legume mixed forage may tend to have a greater quality reduction from rain leached windrows

2010–2011 Beef Forage Summary

Forage is the most common and most variable input for beef production. NIR analysis allows a convenient means to evaluate the feedstuff input and facilitate balancing of an adequate ration. In years with extended periods of unfavorable harvest conditions, feed evaluation may be of more importance due to the greater chance of feed variability and reduced quality

Pasture Supplementation of Dakota Bran (TM) Pelleted Distillers Product to Growing Heifers in Southern Iowa

Sixty-six fall born Angus heifers were used in a grazing study to evaluate supplementation of Dakota Bran TM pelleted distillers grain product supplemented on Southern Iowa pastures. The levels of supplementation were two groups of none (CONT) and two groups fed 1.5 percent of body weight (TRMT). Stocking rates were increased 29 percent for the treatment groups compared to controls. Daily gains were 0.79 lb. per day for the controls and 1.48 for the treatments during the supplementation period. Calculations based off of sward height measures for both groups indicate supplemented heifers had a 26.8 percent reduction in pasture dry matter intake. At current costs for Dakota Bran TM treatment groups extra gain slightly outweighed feed costs while higher stocking rates and pasture extension increased value of the product

Modified Distillers’ Grain with Solubles Stored for an Extended Period in a Silo Bag Used to Develop Breeding Heifers

Developing breeding heifers were fed two levels of modified distillers’ grains with solubles (MDGS), 17.7 and 32.7% of ration dry matter, in combination with haylages over a 122 day period. Heifers that received 32.7% MDGS in their diet started on feed significantly slower and gained significantly less during the first 46 day period. However, during the remainder of the test the 32.7% MDGS heifers gained significantly faster while consuming less feed than either the controls or the 17.7% MDGS treatment group. After 122 days on trial there were no significant difference in ADG or dry matter conversion between the control or treatment groups, but the 32.7% MDGS group consumed significantly less dry matter per day. There were no significant differences between treatment groups for either synchronized AI pregnancy rate or overall pregnancy rate