1. Winter (and Spring) Forage Management Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Agronomist Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Agronomist Crop and Soil Sciences

2. Feeding Losses Method 1 day 7 day ---- % Waste---- Unrolled 12.3 43.0 Ring 4.9 5.4

3. Feeding Losses Item % Waste Ring 6 Trailer 11 Cradle 15

4. Overview Spring Nutrient Requirements  Cows w/ Calves  Stockers  Replacement Heifers Winter Annual Forage Systems Yield and Distribution Animal Performance Spring Nutrient Requirements  Cows w/ Calves  Stockers  Replacement Heifers Winter Annual Forage Systems Yield and Distribution Animal Performance

5. Nutrient Requirements: 1200 lb cow* Req. TDN56.3% CP 9.6% Expected ADG 0 * First 3-4 mo postpartum, preparations to rebreed

6. Nutrient Requirements: 450 lb steer* Req. TDN 67.5% CP 12.7% Expected ADG 2.0 * fall calf, weaned

7. Nutrient Requirements: 700 lb steer* Req. TDN 67.5% CP 10.5% Expected ADG 2.5 * backgrounded, ready to finish

8. Nutrient Requirements: 675 lb heifer* Req. TDN 69.5% CP 9.8% Expected ADG 2.0 * Replacement heifer, 60 d prior to breeding season. Target at breeding: 70% of mature wt.

9. Raising Replacement Heifers Replacement Heifers Serve to:  Maintain the herd size  Improve or change the genetic base Replacement Heifers Serve to:  Maintain the herd size  Improve or change the genetic base

10. Raising Replacement Heifers Goal:  Most efficient when heifers calve at 23-24 months, meaning they are bred at 14-15 months of age. (April-May).  Best to have them reach puberty at 12 months, because breeding success is higher at 3 rd estrus (78%) than at 2 nd (57%). Goal:  Most efficient when heifers calve at 23-24 months, meaning they are bred at 14-15 months of age. (April-May).  Best to have them reach puberty at 12 months, because breeding success is higher at 3 rd estrus (78%) than at 2 nd (57%).

11. How do you develop replacement heifers? Survey says… < 50 head 50-150 head > 150 head Grazing Only241917 Grazing + Hay322927 Grazing + Supp343842 Other101314 Stuedemann et al., 1993. J. Anim. Sci. 71:3131-3137 Weaning to breeding

12. Winter Annual Forage Systems Overseeding Winter Annuals into Bermuda Ryegrass (Annual) Rye Oats Wheat Triticale Overseeding Winter Annuals into Bermuda Ryegrass (Annual) Rye Oats Wheat Triticale Arrowleaf clover Crimson clover Red clover* Arrowleaf clover Crimson clover Red clover*

13. Winter Annual Forage Quality SpeciesCPTDN % Ryegrass10-1656-64 Oats8-1055-60 Wheat8-1148-53 Rye8-1050-55 Arrowleaf14-1756-61 Crimson14-1657-62 Adapted from Southern Forages 4 th edition, Ball et al. 2007.

15. Winter Annual Forage Systems Species Avg. Annual Yield* lbs DM/ac Ryegrass10,632 Oats 7,098 Wheat 7,111 Rye 4,853 Triticale 5,625** * Average of top performer in each of last 3 yrs. of variety trial data (Griffin, GA). ** 2005-06 was first year triticale was included.

16. Winter Annual Forage Systems Ryegrass Yields: Tifton

17. Mechanical Hay30-70% Silage60-85% Green Chop70-95% Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest MethodEfficiency Grazing Continuous Stocking30-40% Slow Rotation (3-4 paddocks)50-60% Moderate Rotation (6-8 paddocks)60-70% Strip Grazing70-80%

18. Winter Annual Forage: Ryegrass Cost per ton of INTAKE Cost of Intake for Hay ($60/1000 lb roll and 70% Efficiency)

24. The Effect of Clover Addition on Productivity of Beef Steers TreatmentADG Gain/ acre Gain/ animal Stocking Density lbs/hd/dlbs Hd/ac Fescue (EF) + 60 lb N/ac 1.93832131.8 Fescue (EF) + L + R clovers 2.33562601.4 Rye + Clover + Ryegrass 2.55132412.1 Hoveland et al., 1991. J. Prod. Ag. 4:24-28. (Avg. of 3 yrs: 1985, 87, 88.)

25. Beef Production on Selected Winter Annual Regimens vs. No Winter Annual TreatmentN Added Added GrazingADG Gain/ acre (lbs/ac per yr)(d/yr)(lbs/hd/d)(lbs) No Annuals 10001.57293 Ryegrass 150531.76422 Arrowleaf- Crimson 0241.94410 Rye-Arrowleaf- Crimson 100811.92560 Hoveland et al., 1978. Agron. J. 70:418-420.

26. Establishment Method and Clover Mixture had Little Effect on Beef Production Seeding MethodMixture DrillBroadcastRG - WCRG-WC-CC ADG (lbs/hd/d) 2.18 2.13 2.16 2.14 Grazing days/ acre 213214204222 Gain (lb/acre)464456441475 Mosso et al., 1990. J. Prod. Ag. 3:470-474. (Louisiana, Coastal Plain, Avg. of 2 yrs)

27. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter1.190.731.391.111.20 Spring2.452.602.392.072.37 Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

28. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter1.190.731.391.111.20 Spring2.452.602.392.072.37 Gain (lb/acre)253239281219256 Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

29. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter1.190.731.391.111.20 Spring2.452.602.392.072.37 Gain (lb/acre)253239281219256 Cost of Gain ($/lb) $0.29$0.28$0.25$0.39$0.28 Net Return ($/acre) $110$106$144$56$115 Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

30. The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment1965196619671968 -------------- dry lbs/acre -------------- Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre 22500223001750024500 Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre 24000216001650027100 No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre 17100198001540021600 No Clover; 0 N 7700 6600 3500 6200 Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E. 1970. Agron. J. 62:773-775.

31. Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass cost/lbcost/acre Arrowleaf$2.00$10 Crimson$1.10$17 Red Clover$2.30$18 * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

32. Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass N Needed to BE* cost/lbcost/acre------ lbs N/acre ------ Arrowleaf$2.00$1022 Crimson$1.10$1737 Red Clover$2.30$1840 * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

33. Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass N Needed to BE* Expected N Fixation cost/lbcost/acre------ lbs N/acre ------ Arrowleaf$2.00$102250-110 Crimson$1.10$173770-140 Red Clover$2.30$184050-130 * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

34. Potential Problems in Spring Pastures Grass Tetany (Hypomagnesia)  Plant unable to take up enough Mg  Often where N and K fertilization is high  K may interfere w/ Mg absorption in blood  Mineral supplement (MagOx) Bloat  Buildup of gas in the rumen  Winter annual legumes: Red*, Crimson (not Arrowleaf)  Sometimes on small grains  Don’t turn them out hungry  Monensin or ionophore Grass Tetany (Hypomagnesia)  Plant unable to take up enough Mg  Often where N and K fertilization is high  K may interfere w/ Mg absorption in blood  Mineral supplement (MagOx) Bloat  Buildup of gas in the rumen  Winter annual legumes: Red*, Crimson (not Arrowleaf)  Sometimes on small grains  Don’t turn them out hungry  Monensin or ionophore

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