Polk County Soils and Crops Conference Dr. Weston Walker Missouri State University February 7, 2006

Resource or Product?

Are you a… Livestock Manager? or Forage Producer? Profitable livestock production = efficiently converting forage to meat, wool, or milk.

The most profitable forage management system will: Match livestock nutritional needs to forage availability and … Harvest for optimum quality and maximum utilization.

Does Maximum Yield… = Maximum Profit ? ≠ Maximum Profit ? ≈ Maximum Profit ? What does your answer depend on? Seasonal production Forage quality

Average Cow Costs in Missouri Feed $118 Machinery $31 Other Materials & Services $26 Veterinary & Medicine $25 Utilities, Insurance, Repairs, Misc. $15 Operating Interest $10 Vern Pierce, MU Beef Economist (2000)

Livestock Needs Animal Unit = 1000 lbs. of animal  Designed to put all animals on same scale of consumption, acres needed, but more for nutritional needs  Example: 20 gestating beef 1000 lbs./hd. = 20 animal units, or 20 A.U. Dry Matter Intake = % of Body Weight  Depends upon the life stage and type of livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses)

Life stages of Livestock Maintenance Growth Gestation Lactation Rule of Thumb = All animals basically average 3% of their body weight in DM intake  Total lbs. of livestock X.03 = needed DM

Simplified Crude Protein Requirements Beef Cows, Bred Heifers & growing feedlot cattle (2 lb/ADG) never over 12% and usually not more than 10% Ewes & Does (Nannies) never over 15% and usually not more than 10-12% When do we need more?... young growing animals or extra heavy producers

Net Energy Lactation (NE L ) on Dry Matter Basis Mega Calories per Lb. >.60 = Excellent, Dairy Quality = Good, Beef cows will gain wt = Fair, Beef cows will maintain <.50 = Poor, not enough energy even for maintenance, will lose 1 lb/day

How/What to feed your Livestock? Hay 4 x 5 round bale = 1000 lbs. DM Pasture 1 ac. pasture 5” tall = 1000 lbs. DM

Match feedstuffs to animals Now we know the requirements of our animal  Quantity needed  Quality required How do we determine how much we have? How do we determine the quality of what we have?

Forages Have we covered the growing season with forages adequately? Have we over/under produced in certain seasons? SpringSummerFallWinter

Seasonal Distribution of Forages

3 things needed to determine amount of forage available & # of head it will feed: 1.Lbs. / Acre of forage 2.Utilization rate (%) a)Continuous Grazing = 30% b)Rotational Grazing = 70% 3.Dry Matter Intake rate (%) a)3% of Body Weight (BW)

Lbs / Acre of forage - on Dry Matter (DM) basis Highly variable based on soil type, soil fertility, forage species, stand thickness, etc. Given as a “moment in time” measurement, not season long In a grazing situation, sometimes referred to as inches… Rule of Thumb = 200 lb./ acre inch

Estimated Dry Matter / Acre square inch Stand Condition Fair Good Excellent Bermudagrass Tall Fescue Orchard. w/ leg T. Fescue w/ leg Alfalfa/R. Clover C. Bluestem

Utilization rate % of available forage (measured to ground level) consumed by grazing livestock during a grazing period Higher utilization rates with higher stocking density Rule of Thumb =  Continuous Grazing = 30% Utilization  Rotational/Strip Grazing = 70% Utilization

Evaluating Forage Quality Visual appraisal Can we determine the feed value visually? Understand/Interpret feed analysis reports Protein NDF/ADF Energy Content (Net Energy Lactation)

Proper Hay Sampling Method Need a cross-section sample of of entire bale For square bales take core sample from the end of bale.

Net Energy Lactation (NE L ) on Dry Matter Basis >.60 = Excellent, Dairy Quality = Good, Beef cows will gain wt = Fair, Beef cows will maintain <.50 = Poor, not enough energy even for maintenance  (see example next slide)

No matter how much they eat, they will starve to death!

Fescue / Red Clover – 1 st cutting

Orchardgrass / Red Clover – 1 st cutting

Management of Hay Feeding  Methods of preventing livestock from wasting so much hay. Storage  Prevention of yield loss due to weathering on round bales.

Are these the table manners of your livestock?

Storage Method Examples

Not so Good Storage Methods

Another No, No.

Did you know….? A 6’ x 6’ bale will receive about 22 gallons of water for each inch of rain 30 inches = 660 gallon Dry matter storage loss Hay stored inside = 5% Hay stored outside = 30% or more Rule of Thumb –  5% DM loss for every 1 inch spoilage depth Example: 6 inches spoiled X 5% = 30% reduction in DM 1000 lb. bale originally has 700 lb. of usable product

Management of Forage Nutrients are in the leaves Grazing Rule of thumb – Take ½, Leave ½ to maximize plant regrowth potential; root growth stops if >50% forage height is removed Haying Rule of Thumb – Cut hay in the boot or bud stage and manage the handling process to minimize leaf loss

Nutrients are in the leaves

Yield & Quality in Forages

Quality of Fescue KY 31 Energy (NE L ) MCal/Lb. Crude Protein % Fresh Vegetative.6515 Hay Early Bloom.6618 Hay Mature.5111 Straw.414

Net Energy Lactation (NE L ) on Dry Matter Basis >.60 = Excellent, Dairy Quality = Good, Beef cows will gain wt = Fair, Beef cows will maintain <.50 = Poor, not enough energy even for maintenance

Fall/Winter Stockpiling Tall fescue well suited. - Tall fescue holds its quality and stays greener longer than any other cool season grass for stockpiled winter pasture. Some producers are getting into March without feeding hay.

Stockpiled Tall Fescue Crude Protein OctoberNovemberDecemberJanuaryFebruaryMarch Months Percentages Table 1 Courtesy of Mark Green, NRCS

Fescue / Red Clover – 1 st cutting

2.87 Protein Intake vs. Requirement September Calving Beef Cows lb.- Southern Missouri Months Intake Require OctNovDecJanFebMar Pounds Table 3

Energy Intake vs. Requirement Fall Calving Beef Cows lb. - Southern Missouri OctNovDecJanFebMar Months NEM (Mcal/day) Table 4

Advantages of Stockpile Grazing Reduced Labor Reduced Costs Reduced Time Putting up hay and feeding out hay High Quality Forage Usually better than grass hay

Things we have learned Forage quality in a managed grazing system can be better than we thought Protein is seldom deficient in vegetative pastures Quality of tall fescue fall regrowth is very high Tall fescue holds quality well into late winter and early spring

Conclusions Realize livestock nutritional needs Understand what quality forage is Take proper forage samples Determine if stored forage will meet nutritional needs of livestock Understand steps necessary for putting up quality forage Realizing most economical storage methods

Conclusions continued… Be aware of possible ways to stretch winter forage supplies Know management procedures and techniques necessary for quality forage production

Putting Knowledge into Practice… Utilize forage test information to make the necessary management decisions for livestock nutritional requirements. Rotational Grazing is the only route to take if sustainable, long-term livestock production is the goal, no other means of production can incorporate so many benefits to land, producer, and environment

Take Home Thoughts… People don’t Plan to Fail…They Fail to Plan! and likewise Good forage & livestock nutrition programs do not just happen… they are Planned.