Besides feeding very little hay to his cows, Gibson also feeds only a small amount of cubed protein supplement -- about 100 pounds over 60 days in the late fall while they are grazing dormant native grass. "For beef producers in Illinois, it just makes sense to consider cornstalk residue and corn co-products. The quality of the hay you feed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves or dairy cows. Table 2,which is based on TDN value of feeds,shows the price that could be paid for various HEFs in relation to the price of grass hay.For example,if good­quality grass hay costs $50 per ton delivered,you could Grazing corn stalks is enough. With so many factors, stocking rates can vary greatly. U of I animal scientists have conducted many research studies on alternatives to feeding hay. Wintering Livestock Using Alternate Day Feeding. If you are running dry cows, then good stockpiled grass is sufficient even in a good snow. But the dry, brown grass available in the winter does not have the nutrition necessary to maintain a cow … In addition to feeding higher levels of grain as a substitute for hay, heavy grain feeding may be appropriate when relatively high rates of gain are desired for reconditioning thin cows. Beef nutritionist Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension, answered farmers’ questions at the Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville. Schils RLM, Eriksen J, Ledgard SF, Vellinga … by Heather Smith Thomas Research at Utah State University (USU) a few years ago looked into a year-round grazing system. Producers can benefit from finding a way to use these products in cow-calf operation rations, especially in cases where extra protein is needed such as with poor quality hay. day, without supplemental grain. Subscribe http://goo.gl/F5u51e There are several people around here who do the no labor-no hay-no expense route. “With corn feeding, the cows come up every time they’re fed, the know you’re responsible for their feed,” Loerch said. Alternative feeding methods can reduce cost without affecting productivity, and August is … Preparing pasture. grass hay,or 1 pound of corn will replace 1.7 pounds of grass hay in a beef cow ration. This is before they go onto fescue. As winter approaches, the tame pasture should be used first, native range next, and hay last. Watch for poisonous plants. First, you need to identify a water source. Petry, ¶ * Dickinson Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University, Dickinson 58601; Dickinson Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University Dickinson 58601 †Animal and Range … Registered in England and Wales. If cows cannot be divided into three groups, combine the heifers and the old, thin cows in one group. For example, at current price levels, the main ingredients (alfalfa hay and cereal straw) in ration #2 are estimated to cost $1.74 per cow per day compared to ration #5 (Cereal Straw and Greenfeed) at $1.47 per cow per day, which is a 16% difference. Google Scholar 5. In northern Kansas, for the last two years, a neighbor has been able to feed his herd of 40-50 head of cattle until March or April without using hay. "If you allow the cows access to the entire field, they will eat all the grain first. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. The upper limit for grain would be 15 lbs of hay plus 7.5 lb of grain (7.5/22.5 × 100 = 33% grain). In the upper Midwest a mature cow will eat approximately 3 tons of hay during a common 6-month winter-feeding period. 22, or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.). Keep hay or adequate pasture available for cows at all times. The University of Nebraska has conducted several studies to evaluate limit feeding cows. We also reduced our hay and range cube feedings during the trial. My cows weigh 1000 to 1150 pounds. How much hay or supplement a cow needs depends on weather conditions, cow age and body condition, available pasture or crop residue, and reproductive stage of the cow. If it is dry while you are grazing, the cows' harvesting efficiency is higher than during wet years when more residue will be trampled into the ground.". • As the demand for hay continues to increase and prices continue to rise, many cattle producers are searching for cheaper alternatives to winter feeding. In research trials, 30 cows were grazed on 5-acre paddocks for 17 days. Under cold conditions a minimum of ¾ to 1 pound of hay per 100 pounds of body weight is suggested along with grain being fed. grass hay,or 1 pound of corn will replace 1.7 pounds of grass hay in a beef cow ration. However, the rise in forage prices during 2007 has contributed to a dramatic increase in winter cow feeding costs. Beef cattle producers depend heavily on winter annual forages, particularly in stocker grazing programs and where fall and winter calving is practiced. Tall, high-quality pastures that have been prevented from going to seed by your pasture management during the summer grazing season will require the least supplementation, will entice your cattle to graze longer, and will stand up best to the ravages of wind, rain and snow. In this situation the hay becomes expensive bedding for the cows. Cornstalk residue and co-products can also meet the needs of lactating cows, Shike said. For example; a diet for a 1,400 lb beef cow that was 28–30 lb of hay/day can be changed to 20 lb of hay plus 5 lb of grain (5/25 × 100 = 20% grain). This practice allows cattle to consume hay without the close contact of hay … “Corn grain is the least expensive harvested source of digestible energy per unit available to producers in Ohio,” Loerch explained. Limit feeding a corn-based diet can be a cost-effective option for meeting the nutrient requirements of cows. The pastures were fertilized with ammonium nitrate Aug. 1 and set aside until the trial began in late October. 2. 1999; 77 (Suppl 1):9. Such a ra-tion is balanced for protein and TDN without the OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE FS 200 October 1973 But, if snow covers the grass deeply or weather gets quite cold, they may need hay. If it's not possible to access cornstalks to graze, producers can also utilized baled cornstalks. “We had 31 cows grazing 34 acres of stockpiled orchard grass,” Loerch said. Two options exist for grazing cornstalks — continuous grazing or strip-grazing. "With more acres going toward corn and soybean production, acres in hay production are lower than normal," said Dan Shike, University of Illinois beef cattle nutritionist and professor in the Department of Animal Sciences. Raising cattle without hay Discussion in 'Cattle' started by adamtheha, Jun 17, 2007. CAS PubMed Google Scholar 6. Auburn University research indicates at least a $28-per-cow savings in wintering cost from stockpiling and grazing fescue. ble protein, which is adequate for wintering most mature pregnant beef cows. Again, the amount and type of supplement depends on stage of production and cow size. First, you need to identify a water source. This is a “no go.” During our cow-calf study, we reduced the number of feeding days. Hay is the most commonly used winter feed for beef cattle, but it’s also the most expensive. Winter Cow Feeding Strategies Travis Meteer ... • Ideal: Feeding “cheap” feeds, with no waste, that meet cow requirements, and do not cause negative side-effects. Spring-calving cows have the lowest nutritional needs in the fall and early winter, Shike said. The cubes cost $12 to $15 per cow. During the cold winter months when pastures contain scant forage, hay is the typical diet for cattle, horses, sheep and goats. Cow growth, body condition, hay intake, fat depth, and waste data were collected for three years. J Anim Sci. Shike said one of the best alternatives available to Illinois cattle producers is the use of cornstalks and co-products such as distillers grains, corn gluten feed and soyhulls. Portable water tanks will work, but if you plan to graze into the winter, then you will want to consider a heating source for the water. Limit-feeding of hay encourages cows to reduce grazing and fails to use pastures while qual-ity is reasonably good. For roughage they're getting grass! Whole-shelled – not ground – corn is recommended for the mixed diet feeding method. wintering beef cows, and detailed descriptions of each point follow. Year-round Grazing Using Standing Corn for Winter Feed Researchers prove raising cattle with little to no hay can be done in the West. But there are drawbacks to winter pasture feeding. "With hay in short supply and feed costs at record highs, producers need to have a plan in place," he said. First, the cows can actually eat too much grain. If the hay is alfalfa that is average quality or better, it would also be a good protein source. "Obviously, the energy and protein requirements are much higher for lactating cows, but this can still be met by co-products.". Without question, feed costs across the entire beef industry have increased substantially over the past 18 months. Access to feed was controlled with electric fence allowing 1 hay and straw bale every three days. Pasture land should also be fertilized, Loerch said, and by November or December, the land will be ready to support a herd. Use a 1:1 mineral. Various forages are used as the primary feed source for wintering cows. Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. It is usually necessary to feed grain and a protein supplement with grass hay. Feeding hay to cattle is expensive. That 35 acre figure adds up to … “Think outside the box. The final consideration is the length of grazing time. ", https://www.farmprogress.com/sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_farmprogress/images/logos/footer.png. Supplementation often is necessary to meet nutrient requirements of the animals when low-quality forage is fed. Meat and poultry workers high priority for COVID vaccine, Weekly Grain Movement – Soybeans outpace trade estimates, How USDA’s January reports could impact your marketing decisions. Tree lines, low areas and fence rows are all natural snow catches, and while convenient, are poor locations for winter bale storage. Full-feeding hay often exceeds their nutritional requirements. Since it takes time for the rumen to break the seed coat, whole corn delays the release of starch and spreads fermentation through the course of the entire day, providing energy so the animals only need to be fed once a day. You can easily double your hay usage, if your method of feeding is to place bales out in the pasture or lot without any type of feeder. In his research, Loerch used limited hand feeding of corn along fence rows at the rate of 10-12 pounds per head per day, he said. In the fall, wet, cold conditions negate the natural insulation value of the hair coat … Some herds do well through fall and winter on good native pasture with just a salt/mineral supplement, especially if cows aren’t nursing calves. Depending on current commodity prices and availability, there is opportunity to winter cows using alternative energy sources to hay. Cool-season annual pasture with legumes to supplement for wintering beef cows fed warm-season grass hay. They were also fed corn during days of snow cover, approximately 14 days each winter. Strip grazing divides the field up into strips and allows the cows access to a new strip every two weeks. Still need forage. Otherwise, it’s the cheapest winter feeding method available.”. 1999, 77 (Suppl 1): 9. If I push my place and run at max stocking rate(20 acres per cow) that adds up to $259.80 per cow for land. “If corn is used to provide most of the energy, then the intake has to be restricted so the cows don’t get fat,” Loerch pointed out. The grain route. However, Shike said it is still likely that with one cow per acre, a field could be grazed for 45 to 60 days. Farm and Agriculture News, Local Market Prices and Crop Reports, Columns and Commentary. “Because hay only has about half the energy value as corn grain, the break-even price for hay on an energy basis would be approximately $40 a ton. “If you have other uses for your pasture that will generate more money than that, then stockpiling forage is not the best option. Providing ad libitum access to cornstalk bales and offering a co-product supplement is also a good option. Avoid grinding or processing bales if poisonous plants are a concern. “It takes four or five days for the animals to get used to the new diet and to not having food available all through the day. Next to pasture, good quality hay is the ideal feed. Effect of Hay Feeding Methods on Cow Performance, Hay Waste, and Wintering Cost D.G. Grazing Rule #6: Use your pasture rotation during the growing season to prepare perfect pastures for winter grazing. Usually provides adequate levels of nutrients to winter a pregnant cow. Former staff reporter Andrea Zippay wrote for Farm and Dairy from 2001 to 2009. According to Loerch’s research, a daily diet consisting of 12 pounds of corn, 4 pounds of hay and 2 pounds of a protein and mineral supplement provides the same number of calories as 40 pounds of hay – at a cost of only 84 cents per cow per day. Adjust feed for cold weather How much hay or supplement a cow needs depends on weather conditions, cow age and body condition, available pasture or crop residue, and reproductive stage of the cow. It’s hard to set aside acreage with these conditions,” he said. For next year. • Grains high in protein (wheat, peas, lentils, chick peas) will reduce the need for a protein supplement. Wachenheim, § T.A. Forage brassicas, particularly kale and swedes, are the more common crops used for wintering dry cows. The ration can be cheapened by balancing it out with about 15 pounds of lower quality roughage such as non-legume hay, grass straw, or cereal straw. Processing hay for range cows with a bale processor increased the cost of feeding without enhancing animal performance. What will the farm of the future require? For example, assume avail-able forage for grazing or feeding includes some tame pasture (such as coastal bermudagrass), some native range, and some hay. “If the snow gets too deep, the cows will need supplemental feed,” he said. Beef nutritionist Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension, answered farmers’ questions Dec. 2 at the Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville. However, for this year, the feeding option might not be feasible. However, lactating cows may need as much as 12 to 15 pounds of co-product. – Wintering cows in a year with bad hay or shortages of hay proves challenging to beef farmers. Dry matter intake, as a percent of body weight, can vary from 1.5 percent on straw to 2.75 percent on quality alfalfa hay. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. 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