PROFITABILITY OF ESTABLISHING BASIN WILDRYE FOR WINTER GRAZING

This study examined the economic viability of establishing basin wildrye for winter grazing. Mixed integer-programming models were developed that minimized cow feed costs. Estimated basin wildrye establishment costs were $154 per acre. Break-even basin wildrye yields were approximately 2.6 and 2.3 AUMs/acre for March and May calving scenarios, respectively.Livestock Production/Industries,

OPTIMAL FEED COST STRATEGIES ASSOCIATED WITH EARLY AND LATE CALVING SEASONS

Integer programming models were used to examine optimal monthly feeding strategies and costs for March and May calving alternatives. Body condition scores were allowed to fluctuate throughout the year except for calving and breeding periods. The May calving strategy decreased annual feeding costs by $20 per cow.Livestock Production/Industries, Research Methods/ Statistical Methods,

Forage Sorghum and Corn Silage Response to Full and Deficit Irrigation

There is limited information on forage sorghum and corn silage yield response to full and deficit irrigation in Kansas. The objective of this study was to generate information on forage sorghum (brown mid-rib hybrids (BMR and non-BMR)) and corn silage yield response to different levels of irrigation as influenced by irrigation capacity in southwest Kansas. Preliminary results indicate the effect of irrigation capacity on forage yield was significant (P = 0.0009) in 2014 but not 2015, probably due to high growing season rainfall received in 2015. Corn silage produced significantly (p \u3c 0.05) higher biomass at all irrigation capacities compared to forage sorghum hybrids in 2015. BMR forage sorghum produced significantly lower biomass compared to non-BMR hybrid in both 2014 and 2015 (P \u3c 0.05). The highest amounts of forage produced for corn silage, BMR, and non-BMR forage sorghum were 24.6, 17.4, and 21.1 tons/a adjusted to 65%, moisture respectively. Water productivity ranged from 1.0 to 1.4 dry matter tons/a/in. More research is needed under normal and dry years to quantify forage sorghum and corn silage yield and forage quality response to full and deficit irrigation

Effects of Altering Supplementation Frequency During the Pre-Partum Period of Beef Cows Grazing Dormant Native Range

Spring-calving beef cattle that are grazing low-quality (\u3c 7% crude protein) dormant forage typically are unable to meet their maintenance requirements for protein. Providing a protein supplement (\u3e 30% crude protein) is recommended to decrease losses of body weight and body condition. Nutrient supplementation when forage quality is poor or limited is one of the largest expenditures for forage-based beef cattle operations. The expansion of the ethanol industry has afforded many producers in corn and sorghum-producing regions an alternative to traditional oilseed-based protein supplements. The availability and nutrient profile of distiller’s grains with solubles (DDG) has made it popular as a supplement for cows that are grazing dormant lowquality forages. Decreasing supplementation frequency reduces costs for labor and fuel. Previous research has shown no difference in body weights or body condition scores of cows supplemented with distiller’s grains daily, once every three days, or once every six days; however, the proportion of cows that ate hay during the 60 minutes immediately after supplementation was less on the day of supplementation for cows supplemented once every six days compared to cows supplemented daily. The observed decrease in hay consumption following supplementation could potentially decrease total organic matter intake during late gestation. More frequent supplementation may increase organic matter intake and improve performance during the month before parturition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effects of altering frequency of supplementing distiller’s grains during the last 28 days of gestation with respect to performance of spring-calving beef cows consuming low-quality dormant native range

Performance of Beef Replacement Heifers Supplemented With Dried Distillers Grains With Solubles Versus a Mixture of Soybean Meal and Finely Ground Sorghum Grain

Costs of feed, labor, and equipment to develop heifers in a traditional confined feeding system are relatively high. Producers can greatly reduce input costs by developing heifers on dormant native range; however, heifers are unable to consume sufficient protein from the forage base. Suboptimal protein intake will reduce forage digestion and result in poor performance. Supplemental protein is required during these times to increase forage intake and digestion. The most efficient way of providing supplemental protein to heifers consuming lowquality (\u3c7% crude protein) forage is by feeding high-protein supplements (\u3e30% crude protein). Producers traditionally have used high-quality oilseed meals to supplement the necessary protein, but expansion of the ethanol industry has made dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) a potentially less expensive supplement option for producers in corn- and sorghum-producing areas. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily supplementation of DDGS vs. a mixture of soybean meal and finely ground sorghum grain on performance of replacement heifers grazing low-quality dormant native range

Effects of Altering Supplementation Frequency During the Pre-Partum Period of Beef Cows Grazing Dormant Native Range

Spring-calving beef cattle that are grazing low-quality (\u3c 7% crude protein) dormant forage typically are unable to meet their maintenance requirements for protein. Providing a protein supplement (\u3e 30% crude protein) is recommended to decrease losses of body weight and body condition. Nutrient supplementation when forage quality is poor or limited is one of the largest expenditures for forage-based beef cattle operations. The expansion of the ethanol industry has afforded many producers in corn and sorghum-producing regions an alternative to traditional oilseed-based protein supplements. The availability and nutrient profile of distiller’s grains with solubles (DDG) has made it popular as a supplement for cows that are grazing dormant low-quality forages. Decreasing supplementation frequency reduces costs for labor and fuel. Previous research has shown no difference in body weights or body condition scores of cows supplemented with distiller’s grains daily, once every three days, or once every six days; however, the proportion of cows that ate hay during the 60 minutes immediately after supplementation was less on the day of supplementation for cows supplemented once every six days compared to cows supplemented daily. The observed decrease in hay consumption following supplementation could potentially decrease total organic matter intake during late gestation. More frequent supplementation may increase organic matter intake and improve performance during the month before parturition. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate effects of altering frequency of supplementing distiller’s grains during the last 28 days of gestation with respect to performance of spring-calving beef cows consuming low-quality dormant native range

Performance of Beef Replacement Heifers Supplemented with Dried Distillers Grains or a Mixture of Soybean Meal and Ground Sorghum Grain

The feed, labor, and equipment costs of developing heifers in a confined feeding system are relatively high. High Plains beef producers can reduce input costs by developing heifers on dormant native range; however, heifers are typically unable to consume sufficient crude protein (CP) from the low-quality (\u3c 7% CP) forage base. Insufficient dietary protein reduces forage digestion and performance potential of growing heifers. Supplementing protein when forage quality was poor has previously been reported to increase forage intake and forage digestibility, which resulted in acceptable levels of performance. An efficient means of supplying supplemental protein to heifers consuming low-quality forage is through the use of supplements with relatively high crude protein concentrations (\u3e 30% CP). Traditionally, producers have used oilseed meals in this capacity, but with the expansion of the ethanol industry, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDG) have become widely available as an alternative protein source for producers in corn and sorghum-producing regions. Adequate heifer body weight and body condition score at first breeding are essential to minimize age at first calving and to increase lifetime productivity. Therefore, the objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of DDG or an approximately isonitrogenous mixture of soybean meal and ground sorghum grain on growth and reproductive performance of replacement heifers grazing low-quality, dormant native range

Evaluation of Calcium Hydroxide-Treated Stover (Second Crop) in Receiving and Growing Diets and Effects on Cattle Performance

Production of ethanol from corn as an alternative fuel source has significantly affected the pricing landscape for corn as an energy source for livestock. As ethanol usage has become more prevalent, corn prices have become more volatile, especially in critical corn-growing areas that have been affected by drought. Consequently, many beef cattle feeders have become interested in alternative energy sources in an effort to control cost of gain. Second Crop (ADM Corp., Decatur, IL) is a process in which calcium hydroxide is added to fibrous crop residues, such as wheat straw and corn stover. When applied to low-quality roughages, calcium hydroxide disrupts the chemical bonds between lignin and hemicellulose, thus improving digestibility of the fiber by ruminal microbes. Treatment of low-quality forage with the Second Crop process could improve the energy value of forages, effectively decreasing reliance on cereal grains as sources of supplemental energy

Effects of Frequency of Protein Supplementation on Performance by Beef Calves Grazing Dormant Native Range

Stocker calves that graze forages before entering a feedlot account for more than 75% of the beef calves raised in the United States each year. A large proportion of those will be calves born in the spring and weaned in the fall. Modest growth rates are expected when the quality of fall and winter forages is poor. Growing calves in confinement systems during fall and winter typically allows for greater average daily gain (ADG) than graz­ing low-quality forages; however, modest overall costs associated with grazing perennial, dormant forages may be competitive during times when feed prices are relatively high. Providing supplemental protein to beef cows grazing dormant, warm-season, native for­ages (i.e., ≤ 6% crude protein [CP]) has been demonstrated to increase body condition score (BCS), body weight (BW), improve dry matter digestibility (DMD), and for­age dry matter intake (DMI). Furthermore, beef cows grazing low-quality forages and supplemented with protein either daily, every third day, or every sixth day had similar BW and BCS. Reducing the frequency of supplement delivery can reduce labor costs and equipment depreciation without negatively affecting animal performance; however, this practice has variable success when used with growing beef cattle. In previous research, steers supplemented with cottonseed cake 3 times weekly had similar BW gain during win­ter compared to steers supplemented daily. Conversely, in another study, steers graz­ing winter range and supplemented with dried distillers grain daily had greater ADG than steers supplemented 3 times weekly. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of young, lightweight stocker calves grazing dormant, native tallgrass pastures and supplemented protein either daily or 3 times weekly throughout the winter