Limited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow-calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow-calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry-lot feeding) on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow-calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow-calf pairs wintered in the dry-lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry-lot

Bondurant, Robert G., Bondurant

Erickson, Galen E.

Gardine, Shelby E.

Hilscher, F. Henry

Jenkins, Karla H.

Klopfenstein, Terry J.

Warner, Jason M.

English

UNL | Libraries

University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department
2018
Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf
Performance
Shelby E. Gardine
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sgardine2@unl.edu
Jason M. Warner
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Robert G. Bondurant Bondurant
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, robby.bondurant@unl.edu
F. Henry Hilscher
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, henry.hilscher@unl.edu
Karla H. Jenkins
University of Nebraska - Lincoln, kjenkins2@unl.edu
See next page for additional authors
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr
Part of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, and
the Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health Commons
This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has
been accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
Gardine, Shelby E.; Warner, Jason M.; Bondurant, Robert G. Bondurant; Hilscher, F. Henry; Jenkins, Karla H.; Erickson, Galen E.;
and Klopfenstein, Terry J., "Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance" (2018). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 986.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/986
Authors
Shelby E. Gardine, Jason M. Warner, Robert G. Bondurant Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher, Karla H. Jenkins,
Galen E. Erickson, and Terry J. Klopfenstein
This article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/986
30 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
©  The Board Regents of the University of  
Nebraska. All rights reserved.
fined in a common pen within location 
during the summer calving season (mean 
calving date: ENREC=July 14; PREC=July 
15). A distillers and crop residue based 
diet was limit- fed to cow- calf pairs during 
this time.
The trial was initiated at the beginning 
of cornstalk grazing within each location 
(Nov 11 at ENREC and Nov 22 at PREC). 
Cow- calf pairs in the CS treatment were 
hauled to irrigated cornstalk fields, while 
cow- calf pairs assigned to DL treatment 
remained in dry- lot pens.
Dry- lot pairs within location were limit- 
fed a diet (Table 1) formulated to maintain a 
lactating cow in early gestation. Dry matter 
offered (range of 24.5 lb. to 29.5 lb.) per day 
increased monthly throughout the study 
to account for the increasing intake of the 
growing calves.
Stocking rate for cow- calf pairs grazing 
corn residue was calculated using estimated 
residue intakes of the cow and calf (2009 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 13– 14) 
and assuming 8 lb of husk and leaf residue 
(DM) were consumed per bushel of corn 
yield. A dried distillers grain based pellet 
(Table 2) was supplemented in bunks to 
pairs wintered on cornstalks at a rate of 
5.3 lb. (range of 3.7 lb. to 7.1 lb.) DM/pair 
daily. Estimated DM intake of the cow and 
calf (2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 
13– 14) and estimated digestibility values 
system may reduce production costs (2015 
Nebraska Beef Cattle Report pp. 19– 21). 
However, minimal research is available on 
the performance of a cow- calf pair grazing 
corn residue. Therefore, the objective of the 
current study was to evaluate the effects of 
winter corn residue grazing in a semi- 
confined cow- calf production system on 
cow and calf performance.
Procedure
This study was conducted over three 
years at the Eastern Nebraska Research and 
Extension Center (ENREC) and two years 
at the Panhandle Research and Extension 
Center (PREC). Lactating, composite (Red 
Angus x Red Poll X Tarentaise x South Dev-
on x Devon) beef cows (n=127 at ENREC; 
n=56 at PREC) with summer- born calves 
were utilized in the study. In year one, cow- 
calf pairs within location were blocked by 
cow BW (4 blocks at ENREC; 2 blocks at 
PREC), stratified by calf age, and assigned 
randomly within strata to one of two winter 
cow- calf production treatments with four 
(ENREC) or two (PREC) replications (pens 
or paddocks) per treatment. Treatments 
were 1) dry- lot feeding (DL) or 2) cornstalk 
grazing (CS). In the subsequent years, cows 
within location were assigned to the same 
treatment as assigned in year one.
Prior to trial initiation, cows were con-
Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance
Shelby E. Gardine
Jason M. Warner
Robert G. Bondurant
F. Henry Hilscher
Karla H. Jenkins
Galen E. Erickson
Terry J. Klopfenstein
Summary with Implications
Limited traditional forage resources 
have prompted interest for alternative 
cow- calf production systems. This study 
evaluated the effects of two winter cow- calf 
production systems (cornstalk grazing and 
dry- lot feeding) on cow- calf performance 
in a summer- calving, intensively managed 
cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow- calf 
pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or 
lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG 
of calves when compared to cow- calf pairs 
wintered in the dry- lot. A partial budget of 
incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into 
an intensive production system suggests that 
cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 
more profitable compared to cows wintered 
in the dry- lot.
Introduction
Diminishing traditional forage resources 
have stimulated cow- calf producers to seek 
alternative production systems. Research 
has shown that intensive management 
of cows can be utilized as an alternative 
system to traditional pasture beef produc-
tion (2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 
16– 18). Areas that are challenged by limited 
traditional forage resources will commonly 
have greater grain crop production, result-
ing in greater availability of corn residue 
for fall/winter grazing with by- product 
supplementation. An economic analysis of 
an alternative production system suggests 
that integrating corn residue grazing in 
a semi- confined cow- calf production 
Table 1. Diets fed to cow- calf pairs from November to April by location and year1,2
Ingredient, %
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
ENREC3 ENREC3 PREC4 ENREC3 PREC4
Modified wet distillers grains plus 
solubles
55 55 — 55 — 
Wet distillers grains plus solubles — — 58 — 58
Cornstalks — 40 — — — 
Wheat straw 40 — 40 40 40
Supplement5 5 5 2 5 2
1All values presented on a DM basis
2Dry matter offered (range of 24.5 lb. to 29.5 lb.) increased monthly throughout the study
3ENREC = Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center
4PREC = Panhandle Research and Extension Center
5Supplements included limestone, trace minerals, vitamin A,D,E premix
2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 31 
gest that there is not a treatment difference 
for pregnancy rates.
Calf performance is presented in Table 
4. Similar production effects were observed 
at both locations. Calves wintered in the 
dry- lot had greater BW change compared 
to calves grazing cornstalks (P ≤ 0.04). 
Likewise, calves wintered in the dry- lot 
had greater ADG and BW per d of age 
compared to CS calves (P ≤ 0.03). Weaning 
weights and ADG for June calves grazed 
on cornstalks and weaned in April (2010 
Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 5– 7) were similar 
to the performance of calves wintered on 
cornstalks in the current study. Post- 
weaning performance of the DL and CS 
calves was evaluated in a subsequent study 
(2018 Nebraska Beef Report- Gardine; Post- 
weaning management).
Numerically, the cows grazing corn-
stalks at PREC gained 19 lb. while the cows 
at ENREC lost 72 lb. Calves at PREC gained 
1.54 lb/d while those at ENREC gained 1.32 
lb/d. In vitro analysis of the corn residue 
at each location was conducted to deter-
mine if residue quality was related to the 
apparent differences in performance of 
the pairs grazing cornstalks. Digestible 
organic matter of corn residue was 45.9 % 
and 56.8 % at ENREC (223 bushels/acre) 
and PREC (230 bushels/acre), respectively. 
Research (1991 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, 
pp. 19– 22) demonstrated that calves gained 
Results
Cow- calf pairs at ENREC grazed from 
Nov 11 to April 10 (152 d). At PREC, the 
grazing period was 137 days (Nov 22 to 
April 6). Dry- lot cow- calf pairs were limit- 
fed 27.2 lb DM (ENREC) or 26.14 lb DM 
(PREC) on average throughout the trial.
Cow performance is presented in Table 
3. Cows that were managed in the dry- lot 
at ENREC had greater ending BW and BCS 
compared to cows grazing cornstalks (P < 
0.01). Cows wintered on cornstalks at EN-
REC lost BW and had a 0.5 unit decrease 
in BCS, while cows in the dry- lot gained 
BW and had a 0.2 unit increase in BCS. At 
PREC, BCS increased for cows wintered in 
the dry- lot and decreased for cows wintered 
on cornstalks (P = 0.04). No significant dif-
ferences (P > 0.41) were observed between 
treatments for any other cow performance 
variables at PREC. The increase in BW and 
BCS observed in cows managed in the dry- 
lot over the winter indicates that DL cows 
were over- fed and not at maintenance.
Reproduction data required that cows 
had a treatment applied prior to the 
breeding season; therefore, treatment effect 
on pregnancy rate was measured for years 
2 and 3 at ENREC and year 2 at PREC. 
There were 61 cows (CS= 33; DL= 28) and 
19 (CS=10; DL= 9) cows total from ENREC 
and PREC, respectively, that met these 
criteria. Although cow numbers within 
treatments are minimal, current data sug-
of the cornstalk residue throughout the 
grazing period (2004 Nebraska Beef Cattle 
Report, pp. 13– 15) were used to calculate 
supplementation rate to meet cow- calf 
requirements. Additional supplemental feed 
was only fed to grazing pairs if snow cover 
prevented grazing. In year 2, approximately 
170 lb. (DM) of ammoniated cornstalks was 
fed per cow- calf pair at ENREC.
The trial was completed when winter 
cornstalk grazing ended on April 10 (EN-
REC) or April 6 (PREC), which coincided 
with weaning time. Cow BW and calf BW 
were recorded over two consecutive days at 
trial initiation and completion to determine 
changes in BW. Body condition score (BCS) 
of cows was also evaluated at trial initiation 
and completion to calculate differences in 
condition score. Prior to being weighed at 
trial initiation, all pairs were limit- fed for a 
minimum of 5 consecutive days to reduce 
weight variation due to gastrointestinal 
tract fill. At trial completion, cow and calves 
were separated and limit- fed a minimum 
of 5 days before being weighed. Cows were 
exposed to bulls (approximately 1 bull: 10 
cows) beginning Sept 25 and September 
26 with a 73 and 74 day breeding season at 
ENREC and PREC, respectively.
Data from ENREC and PREC were 
analyzed separately. Data were analyzed as 
a randomized block design using the mixed 
procedure of SAS. The model included 
pen or paddock as the experimental unit, 
cow- calf production system as the fixed 
effect, and block and year as random effects. 
Because the proportion of steer and heifer 
calves varied within pens, proportion 
of steers was included in the model as a 
covariate for all calf performance variables. 
Significance was declared at P < 0.05.
Table 2. Supplement fed to cow- calf pairs  
grazing cornstalks1,2
Ingredient, %
Dried distillers grains plus solubles 93.28
Limestone 6.23
Pelleting binder (urea formaldehyde 
polymer and calcium sulfate)
0.21
Vitamin A,D,E 0.11
Trace mineral3 0.17
1All values presented on a DM basis
2Supplemented on average at a rate of 5.3 lb. (range of 3.7 lb. 
to 7.1 lb.) DM/pair daily
3Trace mineral: 0.4389% Cu, 3.1818% Mn, 2.1511% Zn, 
0.0067% Co, 0.0152% I, 94.2064% Limestone carrier
Table 3. Performance of cows by cow- calf production system1
Item
ENREC
SEM P- value
PREC
SEM P- valueCS2 DL3 CS2 DL3
Cow BW, lb
Initial4 1219 1225 60 0.86 1332 1300 133 0.59
Ending5 1147 1313 48 <0.01 1351 1360 96 0.86
Cow BW Change, lb - 72 88 20 <0.01 19 60 37 0.42
Cow BCS6
Initial4 5.49 5.58 0.31 0.62 6.09 5.92 0.71 0.50
Ending5 5.03 5.82 0.18 <0.01 5.83 5.95 0.70 0.41
Cow BCS change4 - 0.46 0.24 0.20 <0.01 - 0.26 0.03 0.08 0.04
Pregnancy7, % 97.5 83.1 8.1 0.24 87.5 89.0 13.2 0.94
1Three years of data from ENREC and two years of data from PREC
2CS= pairs wintered on cornstalks
3DL= pairs wintered in dry- lot
4Initial date= November 11 at ENREC and November 22 at PREC
5Ending date= April 10 at ENREC and April 6 at PREC
6BCS on a 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) scale
7Reproduction data from years 2 and 3 (ENREC) or year 2 (PREC) due to breeding season beginning prior to trial initiation within yr
32 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report
than offset reduced performance of calves 
wintered on cornstalks.
Conclusion
Cow- calf pairs grazing corn residue in 
the winter may have similar or reduced per-
formance compared to pairs fed a complete 
diet throughout the winter in the dry- lot. 
Reduced BW and BCS of cows wintered on 
cornstalks does not appear to impede preg-
nancy rates if cows are in adequate body 
condition score (≥5) prior to the breeding 
season. Calf ADG may be less than calves 
wintered in the dry- lot. However, lower 
winter production inputs may be signif-
icant enough to compensate for reduced 
performance of calves when cow- calf pairs 
are wintered on cornstalks.
Shelby E. Gardine, graduate student
Jason M. Warner, graduate student
Robert G. Bondurant and F. Henry 
Hilscher, research technicians, Department 
of Animal Science, Lincoln
Karla H. Jenkins, associate professor, 
Panhandle Research and Extension Center, 
Scottsbluff
Galen E. Erickson and Terry J. Klopfenstein, 
professors, Department of Animal Science, 
Lincoln
of corn residue. However, the current study 
would disagree with this hypothesis as 
yields were equivalent between locations.
A partial budget (2017 Nebraska Beef 
Report, pp. 19– 21) was utilized to econom-
ically compare reduced performance, as 
well as decreased winter production cost 
of the CS wintering system. In that study, 
incorporating winter cornstalk grazing 
into an intensive production system 
resulted in a cost savings of $137 per pair. 
The decrease in production cost more 
0.3 lb./day more grazing dryland compared 
to irrigated cornstalks, suggesting that the 
quality of dryland cornstalks was greater 
than irrigated cornstalks. More recent data 
(2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 22– 
23) show 8.8% greater digestibility of leaves 
and husks from corn residue at Scotts-
bluff (148 bushels/acre corn) compared to 
residue from 10 corn plant hybrids grown 
near Paxton (245 bushels/acre corn). It was 
hypothesized that lower yields due to envi-
ronmental conditions increases the quality 
Table 4. Performance of calves by cow- calf production system1
Item
ENREC
SEM P- value
PREC
SEM P- valueCS2 DL3 CS2 DL3
Initial age, d4 121 118 4 0.43 131 129 17 0.62
Calf BW, lb
Initial5 331 312 8 0.08 318 317 29 0.97
Ending6 529 637 12 <0.01 513 595 33 <0.01
Calf BW change 198 326 9 <0.01 211 279 25 0.04
Calf ADG, lb 1.32 2.15 0.06 <0.01 1.54 2.06 0.13 0.03
BW•d- 1 age- 1, lb7 1.93 2.38 0.06 <0.01 1.97 2.28 0.14 0.02
1Three years of data from ENREC and 2 years of data from PREC
2CS= pairs wintered on cornstalks
3DL= pairs wintered in dry- lot
4Initial age= age at initiation of cornstalk grazing period
5Initial date= November 11 at ENREC and November 22 at PREC
6Ending date= April 10 at ENREC and April 6 at PREC
7Weight per d of age at collecting weights following weaning


Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska

University of Nebraska - LincolnDigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - LincolnNebraska Beef Cattle Reports Animal Science Department2018Effects of Production System on Cow and CalfPerformanceShelby E. GardineUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, sgardine2@unl.eduJason M. WarnerUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnRobert G. Bondurant BondurantUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, robby.bondurant@unl.eduF. Henry HilscherUniversity of Nebraska-Lincoln, henry.hilscher@unl.eduKarla H. JenkinsUniversity of Nebraska - Lincoln, kjenkins2@unl.eduSee next page for additional authorsFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcrPart of the Large or Food Animal and Equine Medicine Commons, Meat Science Commons, andthe Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health CommonsThis Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Department at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.Gardine, Shelby E.; Warner, Jason M.; Bondurant, Robert G. Bondurant; Hilscher, F. Henry; Jenkins, Karla H.; Erickson, Galen E.;and Klopfenstein, Terry J., "Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance" (2018). Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports. 986.http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/986AuthorsShelby E. Gardine, Jason M. Warner, Robert G. Bondurant Bondurant, F. Henry Hilscher, Karla H. Jenkins,Galen E. Erickson, and Terry J. KlopfensteinThis article is available at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/animalscinbcr/98630 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report©  The Board Regents of the University of  Nebraska. All rights reserved.fined in a common pen within location during the summer calving season (mean calving date: ENREC=July 14; PREC=July 15). A distillers and crop residue based diet was limit- fed to cow- calf pairs during this time.The trial was initiated at the beginning of cornstalk grazing within each location (Nov 11 at ENREC and Nov 22 at PREC). Cow- calf pairs in the CS treatment were hauled to irrigated cornstalk fields, while cow- calf pairs assigned to DL treatment remained in dry- lot pens.Dry- lot pairs within location were limit- fed a diet (Table 1) formulated to maintain a lactating cow in early gestation. Dry matter offered (range of 24.5 lb. to 29.5 lb.) per day increased monthly throughout the study to account for the increasing intake of the growing calves.Stocking rate for cow- calf pairs grazing corn residue was calculated using estimated residue intakes of the cow and calf (2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 13– 14) and assuming 8 lb of husk and leaf residue (DM) were consumed per bushel of corn yield. A dried distillers grain based pellet (Table 2) was supplemented in bunks to pairs wintered on cornstalks at a rate of 5.3 lb. (range of 3.7 lb. to 7.1 lb.) DM/pair daily. Estimated DM intake of the cow and calf (2009 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 13– 14) and estimated digestibility values system may reduce production costs (2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report pp. 19– 21). However, minimal research is available on the performance of a cow- calf pair grazing corn residue. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of winter corn residue grazing in a semi- confined cow- calf production system on cow and calf performance.ProcedureThis study was conducted over three years at the Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center (ENREC) and two years at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center (PREC). Lactating, composite (Red Angus x Red Poll X Tarentaise x South Dev-on x Devon) beef cows (n=127 at ENREC; n=56 at PREC) with summer- born calves were utilized in the study. In year one, cow- calf pairs within location were blocked by cow BW (4 blocks at ENREC; 2 blocks at PREC), stratified by calf age, and assigned randomly within strata to one of two winter cow- calf production treatments with four (ENREC) or two (PREC) replications (pens or paddocks) per treatment. Treatments were 1) dry- lot feeding (DL) or 2) cornstalk grazing (CS). In the subsequent years, cows within location were assigned to the same treatment as assigned in year one.Prior to trial initiation, cows were con-Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf PerformanceShelby E. GardineJason M. WarnerRobert G. BondurantF. Henry HilscherKarla H. JenkinsGalen E. EricksonTerry J. KlopfensteinSummary with ImplicationsLimited traditional forage resources have prompted interest for alternative cow- calf production systems. This study evaluated the effects of two winter cow- calf production systems (cornstalk grazing and dry- lot feeding) on cow- calf performance in a summer- calving, intensively managed cowherd at two locations. Grazing cow- calf pairs on cornstalks resulted in similar or lower ending BW of cows and lower ADG of calves when compared to cow- calf pairs wintered in the dry- lot. A partial budget of incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system suggests that cows wintered on cornstalks may be $137 more profitable compared to cows wintered in the dry- lot.IntroductionDiminishing traditional forage resources have stimulated cow- calf producers to seek alternative production systems. Research has shown that intensive management of cows can be utilized as an alternative system to traditional pasture beef produc-tion (2015 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 16– 18). Areas that are challenged by limited traditional forage resources will commonly have greater grain crop production, result-ing in greater availability of corn residue for fall/winter grazing with by- product supplementation. An economic analysis of an alternative production system suggests that integrating corn residue grazing in a semi- confined cow- calf production Table 1. Diets fed to cow- calf pairs from November to April by location and year1,2Ingredient, %Year 1 Year 2 Year 3ENREC3 ENREC3 PREC4 ENREC3 PREC4Modified wet distillers grains plus solubles55 55 — 55 — Wet distillers grains plus solubles — — 58 — 58Cornstalks — 40 — — — Wheat straw 40 — 40 40 40Supplement5 5 5 2 5 21All values presented on a DM basis2Dry matter offered (range of 24.5 lb. to 29.5 lb.) increased monthly throughout the study3ENREC = Eastern Nebraska Research and Extension Center4PREC = Panhandle Research and Extension Center5Supplements included limestone, trace minerals, vitamin A,D,E premix2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report · 31 gest that there is not a treatment difference for pregnancy rates.Calf performance is presented in Table 4. Similar production effects were observed at both locations. Calves wintered in the dry- lot had greater BW change compared to calves grazing cornstalks (P ≤ 0.04). Likewise, calves wintered in the dry- lot had greater ADG and BW per d of age compared to CS calves (P ≤ 0.03). Weaning weights and ADG for June calves grazed on cornstalks and weaned in April (2010 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 5– 7) were similar to the performance of calves wintered on cornstalks in the current study. Post- weaning performance of the DL and CS calves was evaluated in a subsequent study (2018 Nebraska Beef Report- Gardine; Post- weaning management).Numerically, the cows grazing corn-stalks at PREC gained 19 lb. while the cows at ENREC lost 72 lb. Calves at PREC gained 1.54 lb/d while those at ENREC gained 1.32 lb/d. In vitro analysis of the corn residue at each location was conducted to deter-mine if residue quality was related to the apparent differences in performance of the pairs grazing cornstalks. Digestible organic matter of corn residue was 45.9 % and 56.8 % at ENREC (223 bushels/acre) and PREC (230 bushels/acre), respectively. Research (1991 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 19– 22) demonstrated that calves gained ResultsCow- calf pairs at ENREC grazed from Nov 11 to April 10 (152 d). At PREC, the grazing period was 137 days (Nov 22 to April 6). Dry- lot cow- calf pairs were limit- fed 27.2 lb DM (ENREC) or 26.14 lb DM (PREC) on average throughout the trial.Cow performance is presented in Table 3. Cows that were managed in the dry- lot at ENREC had greater ending BW and BCS compared to cows grazing cornstalks (P < 0.01). Cows wintered on cornstalks at EN-REC lost BW and had a 0.5 unit decrease in BCS, while cows in the dry- lot gained BW and had a 0.2 unit increase in BCS. At PREC, BCS increased for cows wintered in the dry- lot and decreased for cows wintered on cornstalks (P = 0.04). No significant dif-ferences (P > 0.41) were observed between treatments for any other cow performance variables at PREC. The increase in BW and BCS observed in cows managed in the dry- lot over the winter indicates that DL cows were over- fed and not at maintenance.Reproduction data required that cows had a treatment applied prior to the breeding season; therefore, treatment effect on pregnancy rate was measured for years 2 and 3 at ENREC and year 2 at PREC. There were 61 cows (CS= 33; DL= 28) and 19 (CS=10; DL= 9) cows total from ENREC and PREC, respectively, that met these criteria. Although cow numbers within treatments are minimal, current data sug-of the cornstalk residue throughout the grazing period (2004 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 13– 15) were used to calculate supplementation rate to meet cow- calf requirements. Additional supplemental feed was only fed to grazing pairs if snow cover prevented grazing. In year 2, approximately 170 lb. (DM) of ammoniated cornstalks was fed per cow- calf pair at ENREC.The trial was completed when winter cornstalk grazing ended on April 10 (EN-REC) or April 6 (PREC), which coincided with weaning time. Cow BW and calf BW were recorded over two consecutive days at trial initiation and completion to determine changes in BW. Body condition score (BCS) of cows was also evaluated at trial initiation and completion to calculate differences in condition score. Prior to being weighed at trial initiation, all pairs were limit- fed for a minimum of 5 consecutive days to reduce weight variation due to gastrointestinal tract fill. At trial completion, cow and calves were separated and limit- fed a minimum of 5 days before being weighed. Cows were exposed to bulls (approximately 1 bull: 10 cows) beginning Sept 25 and September 26 with a 73 and 74 day breeding season at ENREC and PREC, respectively.Data from ENREC and PREC were analyzed separately. Data were analyzed as a randomized block design using the mixed procedure of SAS. The model included pen or paddock as the experimental unit, cow- calf production system as the fixed effect, and block and year as random effects. Because the proportion of steer and heifer calves varied within pens, proportion of steers was included in the model as a covariate for all calf performance variables. Significance was declared at P < 0.05.Table 2. Supplement fed to cow- calf pairs  grazing cornstalks1,2Ingredient, %Dried distillers grains plus solubles 93.28Limestone 6.23Pelleting binder (urea formaldehyde polymer and calcium sulfate)0.21Vitamin A,D,E 0.11Trace mineral3 0.171All values presented on a DM basis2Supplemented on average at a rate of 5.3 lb. (range of 3.7 lb. to 7.1 lb.) DM/pair daily3Trace mineral: 0.4389% Cu, 3.1818% Mn, 2.1511% Zn, 0.0067% Co, 0.0152% I, 94.2064% Limestone carrierTable 3. Performance of cows by cow- calf production system1ItemENRECSEM P- valuePRECSEM P- valueCS2 DL3 CS2 DL3Cow BW, lbInitial4 1219 1225 60 0.86 1332 1300 133 0.59Ending5 1147 1313 48 <0.01 1351 1360 96 0.86Cow BW Change, lb - 72 88 20 <0.01 19 60 37 0.42Cow BCS6Initial4 5.49 5.58 0.31 0.62 6.09 5.92 0.71 0.50Ending5 5.03 5.82 0.18 <0.01 5.83 5.95 0.70 0.41Cow BCS change4 - 0.46 0.24 0.20 <0.01 - 0.26 0.03 0.08 0.04Pregnancy7, % 97.5 83.1 8.1 0.24 87.5 89.0 13.2 0.941Three years of data from ENREC and two years of data from PREC2CS= pairs wintered on cornstalks3DL= pairs wintered in dry- lot4Initial date= November 11 at ENREC and November 22 at PREC5Ending date= April 10 at ENREC and April 6 at PREC6BCS on a 1 (emaciated) to 9 (obese) scale7Reproduction data from years 2 and 3 (ENREC) or year 2 (PREC) due to breeding season beginning prior to trial initiation within yr32 · 2018 Nebraska Beef Cattle Reportthan offset reduced performance of calves wintered on cornstalks.ConclusionCow- calf pairs grazing corn residue in the winter may have similar or reduced per-formance compared to pairs fed a complete diet throughout the winter in the dry- lot. Reduced BW and BCS of cows wintered on cornstalks does not appear to impede preg-nancy rates if cows are in adequate body condition score (≥5) prior to the breeding season. Calf ADG may be less than calves wintered in the dry- lot. However, lower winter production inputs may be signif-icant enough to compensate for reduced performance of calves when cow- calf pairs are wintered on cornstalks.Shelby E. Gardine, graduate studentJason M. Warner, graduate studentRobert G. Bondurant and F. Henry Hilscher, research technicians, Department of Animal Science, LincolnKarla H. Jenkins, associate professor, Panhandle Research and Extension Center, ScottsbluffGalen E. Erickson and Terry J. Klopfenstein, professors, Department of Animal Science, Lincolnof corn residue. However, the current study would disagree with this hypothesis as yields were equivalent between locations.A partial budget (2017 Nebraska Beef Report, pp. 19– 21) was utilized to econom-ically compare reduced performance, as well as decreased winter production cost of the CS wintering system. In that study, incorporating winter cornstalk grazing into an intensive production system resulted in a cost savings of $137 per pair. The decrease in production cost more 0.3 lb./day more grazing dryland compared to irrigated cornstalks, suggesting that the quality of dryland cornstalks was greater than irrigated cornstalks. More recent data (2011 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report, pp. 22– 23) show 8.8% greater digestibility of leaves and husks from corn residue at Scotts-bluff (148 bushels/acre corn) compared to residue from 10 corn plant hybrids grown near Paxton (245 bushels/acre corn). It was hypothesized that lower yields due to envi-ronmental conditions increases the quality Table 4. Performance of calves by cow- calf production system1ItemENRECSEM P- valuePRECSEM P- valueCS2 DL3 CS2 DL3Initial age, d4 121 118 4 0.43 131 129 17 0.62Calf BW, lbInitial5 331 312 8 0.08 318 317 29 0.97Ending6 529 637 12 <0.01 513 595 33 <0.01Calf BW change 198 326 9 <0.01 211 279 25 0.04Calf ADG, lb 1.32 2.15 0.06 <0.01 1.54 2.06 0.13 0.03BW•d- 1 age- 1, lb7 1.93 2.38 0.06 <0.01 1.97 2.28 0.14 0.021Three years of data from ENREC and 2 years of data from PREC2CS= pairs wintered on cornstalks3DL= pairs wintered in dry- lot4Initial age= age at initiation of cornstalk grazing period5Initial date= November 11 at ENREC and November 22 at PREC6Ending date= April 10 at ENREC and April 6 at PREC7Weight per d of age at collecting weights following weaning

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Effects of Production System on Cow and Calf Performance

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