Utilizing Stockpiled Bermudagrass to Reduce Hay Feeding Costs

Why all the interest in stockpiling? “Cow/calf enterprise has been profitable 9 out of past 16 years.” Cattle Fax We must do something different!

Cost of feeding hay?

Cost of feeding hay? 1200 lb round bale example Nutrients removed$13.68 Harvesting$14.00 Stacking and feeding$ 2.32 Storage loss$ 6.00 Feeding loss$ 4.00 Total$40.00 Or $66.67 per ton Source: Redmon, OSU and Coffey, Noble Foundation

Harvested forage is used to preserve forage quality and fill gaps in forage availability

Can we manage standing forage for adequate quality and availability to maintain gestating cows? Stockpiling is not a new idea for Oklahoma cattlemen Can we do this at a lower cost compared to feeding hay?

How well does bermuda quality hold up? Likely dependant on weather, fertility and stage of maturity at frost.

Bermuda Yield by N Fertilization Rate N fertilizer/Lb. per acre DM Yield, Tons per Acre Source: OSU Fact Sheet 2587

Late Summer Fertilization Harvest: October 23 N fertilizer/Lb. per acre Crude Protein, % Source: Woods, OSU

Late Summer Fertilized Bermuda: Protein Content Sampling Date Crude Protein, % Source: Taliaferro, OSU

Current 2 Year Study: Materials and Methods

Objectives: Determine forage production and quality of late summer fertilized bermuda Determine supplemental protein required to maximize forage utilization throughout the winter

Management Timeline AugSeptOctNovDecJanFeb Defer Fertilize Graze Cool Season or Native Graze Bermuda

Locations Stillwater Haskell Average wt.=1203 lb. Average BCS=5.5

Pasture Preparation Pastures were grazed heavily through August to remove standing forage Excess forage at Stillwater was clipped both years Last week of August, 50 LB of actual N fertilizer per acre was applied to the pastures.

Grazing Management Grazing period –Experiment 1Nov. 4 to Jan. 22 (77 days) –Experiment 2 Nov. 3 to Feb. 2 (90 days) Grazing technique –StillwaterFrontal grazing –HaskellRotational –7-14 day forage allowance

Treatments CONT = no supplement L = 2 lbs of 12.5% CP supplement M = 2 lbs of 25% CP supplement H = 2 lbs of 37.5% CP supplement

Supplement Composition, % of Dry Matter Treatments L MH Soyhulls Soybean Meal Molasses Dical P Ca CO

Feeding Cows were individually fed in portable supplement wagons. Supplements were prorated to 4 d/wk feeding. No harvested forages were fed throughout the experiment.

Results

Weather, Forage Production and Utilization

Mean Temperature Versus 10-yr Average StillwaterHaskell

Mean Precipitation Versus 10-yr Average StillwaterHaskell

Forage Production Location effect P <.05

Stock Density and Harvest Efficiency Exp 1Exp 2 StwHskStwHsk Stocking Density AU/Acre Harvest Efficiency, %

Forage Quality

Forage Quality Crude Protein

Forage Quality Degradable Protein Cow requirement assumes diet is 50% TDN

Forage Quality Digestibility a, Exp 1 a In vitro dry matter disapearance Linear decline P <.05

Forage Quality Digestibility a, Exp 2 a In vitro dry matter disapearance Quadratic decline P <.05

Animal Performance

Period Wt. Change Experiment 1 Weight lbs. Period 2 C VS Sup P <.01 Period 2 Protein Effect P<.05 Treatment

Overall Wt. Change Experiment 1 C VS Sup P <.05 Weight. Lbs Treatment

Period Wt. Change Experiment 2 Weight lbs. Periods 2 and 3 C VS Sup P <.01 Treatment

Overall Wt. Change Experiment 2 C VS Sup P <.05 Weight. Lbs. Treatment

Summary of Animal Performance Only during period 2 of Exp. 1 did increased supplemental protein further increase performance over 12.5%. In both trials, any supplement improved forage intake and animal performance. Supplemental energy was the limiting nutrient as suggested by forage quality data and cow performance.

Comparison of Beef Cow Wintering Systems

Cowboy Economics Assumptions 120 days summer grazing120 days summer grazing 100 days fall / winter grazing100 days fall / winter grazing Forage availability2800 lb / acreForage availability2800 lb / acre Harvest efficiency60%Harvest efficiency60% Stocking rate 1.6 acres / cowStocking rate 1.6 acres / cow.63 cows / acre Annual rental rate (bermuda)$18 / acreAnnual rental rate (bermuda)$18 / acre Fall N Fertilizer at 50 lb/acre$12.00Fall N Fertilizer at 50 lb/acre$12.00 Stockpiled Bermuda $20.18 / acreStockpiled Bermuda $20.18 / acre

Cowboy Economics Assumptions, Cont. Native pasture rent$10 / acreNative pasture rent$10 / acre Native stocking rate10 acres / cowNative stocking rate10 acres / cow Bermuda hay$50 / tonBermuda hay$50 / ton 25% cubes$130 / ton25% cubes$130 / ton 38% cubes$170 / ton38% cubes$170 / ton

Native Pasture + Supplement 3 acres deferred pasture = $ lb. 38% supplement, 75 d =$12.75 Total = $40.15

“Good” Bermuda Hay Only No Supplement Required 100 d at 25 lb. per day = $62.50 Hay feeding 15%$ 9.38 Total = $71.88

Hay, Native Grass (50/50) and Supplement 1.5 acres pasture = $ lb. bermuda hay =$31.25 Hay feeding 15%$ lb. 38% sup, 75 d =$ 6.38 Total = $56.02

Hay, Native Grass (25/75) and Supplement 2.0 acres pasture = $ lb. bermuda hay =$15.63 Hay feeding 15%$ lb. 38% sup, 75 d =$ 9.56 Total = $45.80

Stockpiled Bermudagrass + Supplement 1.6 acres pasture = $ lb. 25% supplement, 70 d =$ 9.10 Total = $41.39

Summary Native pasture and supplement$40.15 Stockpiled bermudagrass$41.39 Hay, native pasture 25/75$45.80 Hay, native pasture 50/50$56.02 Hay only$71.88

Short Term Grazing Objective: Utilize stockpiled forage within 60 days (late Oct. through late Dec.) before moving to different forage base Assumptions: Same as 100 day grazing program with following exceptions: Harvest efficiency = 65% Stocking rate = 1.2 cows per acre =.83 acres per cow

Stockpiled Bermudagrass + Supplement (60 days).83 acres per cow = $ lb. 25% supplement, 30 d =$ 3.90 Total = $20.65 Or...$.34 per head per day