Article: wintering cows without hay
December 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
And it’s the tradition, the mindset that beef cows should be fed hay in the winter, that gnaws farthest into the farm budget book. 2. Fall and spring in the northern Plains can be challenging seasons for weaning and calving. • Grains high in protein (wheat, peas, lentils, chick peas) will reduce the need for a protein supplement. 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). Looking for a more cost-effective way to feed your cattle this winter? Access to feed was controlled with electric fence allowing 1 hay and straw bale every three days. Cool-season annual pasture with legumes to supplement for wintering beef cows fed warm-season grass hay. The calves’ weight at birth and during the summer, as well as conception rates, were also very similar.”. Such strategies may be of particular relevance during periods 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 cattle producer with less than 200 acres and split herds of no more than 25 cows. Lardy, †R. Fast, ‡ C.J. Continuous grazing allows cows access to the entire corn field. For example, assume avail-able forage for grazing or feeding includes some tame pasture (such as coastal bermudagrass), some native range, and some hay. “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. "The wet spring, followed by an extremely hot and dry summer, reduced hay production even further. However if you have calves on the cows, or are trying to keep gain on a finishing animal (we expect our cows to take the calves through to march, and are still selling finished animals)...some additional hay goes a long way when there's snow. CAS PubMed Google Scholar 6. The quality of the hay you feed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves or dairy cows. (You can contact Andrea Myers at 1-800-837-3419, ext. "When corn yield is high, the amount of residue available is high. 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. It’s hard to set aside acreage with these conditions,” he said. Several studies have shown that dependent on market prices, using corn grain, corn gluten feed or distillers’ grains, the cost of a pregnant cow’s wintering ration can be reduced when displacing hay. grass hay,or 1 pound of corn will replace 1.7 pounds of grass hay in a beef cow ration. All rights reserved. "With hay in short supply and feed costs at record highs, producers need to have a plan in place," he said. So, unless you can get hay for $40 a ton or less, your most economical choice is corn.”. “Producers always assume they have to bale and feed hay.”. Beef nutritionist Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension, answered farmers’ questions at the Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville. 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. “The more frequently [the cows] are moved, the better use you’ll make of the land. Tree lines, low areas and fence rows are all natural snow catches, and while convenient, are poor locations for winter bale storage. Without question, feed costs across the entire beef industry have increased substantially over the past 18 months. The pastures were fertilized with ammonium nitrate Aug. 1 and set aside until the trial began in late October. • Grass hay is usually lower in energy and protein than mixed legume grass hay. The cubes cost $12 to $15 per cow. Growing Hay for the Cattle - America's Heartland - Duration: ... How We Feed Cattle In Winter Putting Out Hay with A Tractor East Texas - Duration: 5:21. bwcpublishing 22,804 views. When factoring in the cost of land, feeding, fertilizer, labor and depreciation of equipment, hay costs roughly $70 per ton to produce. Watch for poisonous plants. KIRKSVILLE, Mo. Grazing corn stalks is enough. Spring-calving cows have the lowest nutritional needs in the fall and early winter, Shike said. If cows cannot be divided into three groups, combine the heifers and the old, thin cows in one group. Thus you will also double your winter feed costs, which at current prices can easily add $300 per cow. J Anim Sci. Providing ad libitum access to cornstalk bales and offering a co-product supplement is also a good option. Strip grazing divides the field up into strips and allows the cows access to a new strip every two weeks. What will the farm of the future require? Use a 1:1 mineral. Effect of Hay Feeding Methods on Cow Performance, Hay Waste, and Wintering Cost D.G. Depending on the quality, it could also be a good protein source, but in most situations hay would be fed to meet the energy needs of the beef cow. 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. Average or better quality hay will meet the nutritional needs of most mature lactating cows, as will the 50:50 blend of hay and litter which contains surplus protein. Cold weather and lactation rations always require additional grain or pellets. I would think for one or two cows it would be easier to purchase your feed than to cut hay but you must remember that a cow must be able to wrap their tongue around grass to be able to graze and when it gets Alberta cold, they do need a fair amount of feed to get by. Auburn University research indicates at least a $28-per-cow savings in wintering cost from stockpiling and grazing fescue. If it's not possible to access cornstalks to graze, producers can also utilized baled cornstalks. Shockey JD, Gunter SA. Avoid grinding or processing bales if poisonous plants are a concern. For example, assume avail-able forage for grazing or feeding includes some tame pasture (such as coastal bermudagrass), some native range, and some hay. “Right now we’re burning up, and some are feeding hay now. Keep hay or adequate pasture available for cows at all times. – Wintering cows in a year with bad hay or shortages of hay proves challenging to beef farmers. Cornstalk residue and co-products can also meet the needs of lactating cows, Shike said. For a 150-day winter feeding period for 100 cows, this represents a $4,000 difference in total feeding costs. These cows are no different than the heifers or first-calf cows and require a higher quality ration to get through the winter. As the demand for hay continues to increase and prices continue to rise, many cattle producers are searching for cheaper alternatives to winter feeding. The exact amount depends on cow size, milk production levels and the analysis of the cornstalks (or soybean stubble, wheat straw, poor quality hay). 2002, 80: 1157-1165. According to Loerch, it costs about 43 cents per day to maintain a cow on pasture. Beef nutritionist Eric Bailey, University of Missouri Extension, answered farmers’ questions Dec. 2 at the Missouri Livestock Symposium in Kirksville. 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. There are several people around here who do the no labor-no hay-no expense route. He's never put a dollar value on the near elimination of hay from his ranch, but researchers have put a value on it. COSHOCTON, Ohio – Beef cattle farmers know all too well that winter feeding takes a big bite out of the ruminants’ maintenance budget. Registered in England and Wales. With so many factors, stocking rates can vary greatly. This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Various forages are used as the primary feed source for wintering cows. Jun 17, 2007 #1 . Loerch also tested the profitability of stockpiled pasture as a winter feeding system. “We had 31 cows grazing 34 acres of stockpiled orchard grass,” Loerch said. However, the rise in forage prices during 2007 has contributed to a dramatic increase in winter cow feeding costs. Processing hay for range cows with a bale processor increased the cost of feeding without enhancing animal performance. Unrolling hay bales is another feeding practice used widely. “The cows are getting top-quality feed to help them keep body condition,” Faulkner says. During the cold winter months when pastures contain scant forage, hay is the typical diet for cattle, horses, sheep and goats. "Grazing cornstalks and supplementing co-products is likely the most economical option in Illinois," he said. And they are doing just fine. In the fall, wet, cold conditions negate the natural insulation value of the hair coat … 1.Analyze hay for feeding value and develop a supplementation program to meet energy, protein and mineral requirements. With poorer projected corn yields this year, there will likely not be fewer grazing days available. Cow body condi-tion score change was not diff erent between treatments in western Nebraska, but was greater for pairs fed in a drylot in eastern Nebraska. Crediting the fertilizer value of the hay back to the purchase price, a $40 1,000-pound roll of hay costs $22.75. "If you offer a high-quality hay, they will actually eat more than if they are fed a lower-quality hay or a crop residue such as cornstalks, soybean stubble or wheat straw.". “The value of pasture is about $53 per acre,” Loerch said. Feed cost is the highest variable cost on most cow/calf operations. My cows weigh 1000 to 1150 pounds. The upper limit for grain would be 15 lbs of hay plus 7.5 lb of grain (7.5/22.5 × 100 = 33% grain). It’s still one of the best ways to reduce winter feed costs. After 48 years, he's seen a lot and ‘not finished killing bugs’, Allowed HTML tags: . Winter-annual grasses as a supplement for beef cows. The BP system utilized a Highline 6800 bale processor to feed 1 hay and straw bale every 3 days, with feeding areas rotated throughout the paddock over the course of the trial. 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. However, there are other options of maintaining a cow through the winter that are more cost-effective. Feeding whole corn also helps cattle eat consistently and not go off feed. Google Scholar 5. Record body condition scores on cows. During the winter months, whole corn can also be fed in bunks or on the ground and remains easy for cattle to pick up, he said. Feeding $3.00 per bushel corn to the dry spring-calving cow is not a good investment. The final consideration is the length of grazing time. Whole-shelled – not ground – corn is recommended for the mixed diet feeding method. Number 8860726. Straw does not contain sufficient levels of these nutrients and the use of grain, protein supplements and mineral/vitamin premixes is needed make straw-based wintering diets work well. Beef cattle producers depend heavily on winter annual forages, particularly in stocker grazing programs and where fall and winter calving is practiced. Distillers grains and corn gluten feed are both high in protein and phosphorous. “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. It provides a standing feed, which the cattle can pick and choose. 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. If no, stop. Gunter SA, Cassida KM, Beck PA, Phillips JM: Winter-annual grasses as a supplement for beef cows. J Anim Sci. wintering beef cows, and detailed descriptions of each point follow. 2002; 80:1157–1165. During the past three winters, Loerch tested three feeding systems, comparing their cost and effect on the growth and reproduction of cows. This is a “no go.” During our cow-calf study, we reduced the number of feeding days. But there is good news: Alternative feeding methods can reduce cost without affecting productivity, and August is the time to start thinking about them. Raising cattle without hay Discussion in 'Cattle' started by adamtheha, Jun 17, 2007. Cattle from multiple pastures can be managed to be totally confined, confined for a few hours, or free to enter and exit the structure as they please. Soyhulls are a good energy source, but they are not as high in protein or phosphorous. If the hay is alfalfa that is average quality or better, it would also be a good protein source. grass hay,or 1 pound of corn will replace 1.7 pounds of grass hay in a beef cow ration. 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. day, without supplemental grain. Cow growth, body condition, hay intake, fat depth, and waste data were collected for three years. Price factor. But if used, rings can save much needed and valuable hay during the winter-feeding months. Hundreds of Auction Advertisements for Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. J Anim Sci. Feed differently. Eff ects of wintering cow- calf pairs on cornstalks or in a drylot on cow- calf per-formance and reproduction in a summer- calving intensively managed cowherd were evaluated at two locations. This figure included N,P and K, only without putting a value on minor and trace minerals or organic matter. Still need forage. Again, the amount and type of supplement depends on stage of production and cow size. By Jennifer Shike, University of Illinois | Nov 03, 2011. 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. "Cows will select the residue in the order of corn grain, husks, leaves, and finally, stalks," Shike said. This is the key. 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 Wachenheim, § T.A. In the upper Midwest a mature cow will eat approximately 3 tons of hay during a common 6-month winter-feeding period. 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. 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. A good kill in early winter – before lice affect cattle performance – will generally keep cattle free of these parasites until spring. For next year. Estimating forage usage by cows is an important part of the task of calculating winter feed needs. Just don’t turn a whole herd loose on the whole area. Such a ra-tion is balanced for protein and TDN without the OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE FS 200 October 1973 Of course, it's cheaper to let the cows harvest the cornstalks, Shike said. Witnessing the cows employ techniques once used by wild ruminants such as bison, elk, antelope, and bighorn sheep on the Great Plains and in the Rocky Mountain West, Bishopp realized his hypothesis was correct: he could indeed feed cattle for part of the winter without using hay. Supplementation often is necessary to meet nutrient requirements of the animals when low-quality forage is fed. Grazing Rule #6: Use your pasture rotation during the growing season to prepare perfect pastures for winter grazing. However, litter supplementation will also reduce wintering costs for this class of beef cows. It is usually necessary to feed grain and a protein supplement with grass hay. As winter approaches, the tame pasture should be used first, native range next, and hay last. The dry cows and heifers bale feeders ran out. Farm and Agriculture News, Local Market Prices and Crop Reports, Columns and Commentary. Hay is the most commonly used winter feed for beef cattle, but it’s also the most expensive. He plants a cover crop mix that includes oats, radish and sorghum hybrid. Cattle on this corn-based nutrition program also need to be fed a small amount of hay, since forage is essential to maintaining a healthy rumen. © 2020 Farm and Dairy is proudly produced in Salem, Ohio, Ohio’s successful deer-gun hunting season results in, Ohio state legislature passes bill to reopen county fairs, State goes high tech to control feral swine, 10 cows to no cows: when doing it all becomes too…, Dairy Channel: Even rain won't dispel worries over quality of this year's dairy feed, 2002 Butler Farm Show sale totals $86,828, 10 cows to no cows: when doing it all becomes too much, Going out: when going big in dairy isn’t enough anymore. “With corn feeding, the cows come up every time they’re fed, the know you’re responsible for their feed,” Loerch said. 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. Copyright © 2020. When hay supplies are low, differing options for wintering the cow herd have to be considered. "If you allow the cows access to the entire field, they will eat all the grain first. They all figure 35 acres to graze year round and have grass through the snow and just the fact that you have to KNOW you can get through if your plan is to spend nothing. Very similar, indeed. Also necessary is a supplement containing ground corn, soybean meal, urea, limestone, dicalcium phosphate, and other minerals and vitamins. In this situation the hay becomes expensive bedding for the cows. If hay is of decent quality, most of the cow's protein and energy requirements are provided hay, and no supplements are necessary. Using native grass (NG) as a stockpiled, standing hay crop is one of the most cost-effective methods of overwintering the cow herd. Not only will hay be in high demand in the Midwest and Illinois, but extreme drought in the Southwest will also increase the national demand for hay.". So we added another hay bale. Being on mother’s milk through winter without the stress of weaning keeps calves healthy. Shike said temporary electric fence is relatively inexpensive and takes minimal time and labor to put up. Feeding cake, mineral & salt. These results indicate that the method in which round bales are fed could reduce the amount feed required to winter cows thereby reducing wintering costs. Finding hay at that price is rare in Ohio, according to Loerch, who also noted that most farmers can’t even produce hay that inexpensively. Gibson still buys and keeps a little hay for his cows, but most winters he feeds none. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. "But there are several things to consider when contemplating this decision.". 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. "Corn yield will determine how much residue is available," he said. The requirements of gestating cows can often be met by 5 to 8 pounds of distillers grains or corn gluten feed in addition to ad libitum access to cornstalk bales. In the DL system, cows were fed daily with a feed wagon and tractor. Subscribe http://goo.gl/F5u51e These Prolonged drought last summer upset haymaking plans. When it comes to supplementing cornstalks, it's important to consider protein and phosphorous levels. Faulkner says they do monitor the cows’ body condition through winter and adjust rations to keep them in good shape. Limit feeding a corn-based diet can be a cost-effective option for meeting the nutrient requirements of cows. This is before they go onto fescue. At $2 per bushel, or $71 per ton, corn is not only cheaper than hay, but it also boasts a much higher energy value. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can even eat a little mold without problems. In some years, we were able to push through without feeding hay on some replications. In research trials, 30 cows were grazed on 5-acre paddocks for 17 days. Cows are offered 14 kgs/dm/cow/day, 3-4kgs of grass and 10 kgs of hay, minus approximately 30% of the hay is 'waste' on the ground. This week’s snowy weather has reminded cow calf producers that winter hay feeding has begun or will begin shortly. Hay is an energy source. There are a number of strategies employed by livestock producers to incorporate feeds of differing value in a wintering program. Schils RLM, Eriksen J, Ledgard SF, Vellinga … The popularity of forage brassicas reflects the crops ability to produce large tonnages of high quality dry matter (DM) per unit area. Thin or old cows and timid cows do not compete well for feed against more aggressive mature cows. We also reduced our hay and range cube feedings during the trial. They are easy to handle and require little equipment, facility, ... libitum hay diets fed in herds with ≥ 100 cows That 35 acre figure adds up to … However, Shike said it is still likely that with one cow per acre, a field could be grazed for 45 to 60 days. KIRKSVILLE, Mo. Forage was depleted by mid-February, after which the cows were put on the corn-based diet. "Much of the work we have done at Illinois has focused on lactating cows in late winter and early spring before we can go to grass," he said. However, there are significant differences in the variety, quality and availability of hay, which can make feeding your livestock a time-consuming chore. “Corn grain is the least expensive harvested source of digestible energy per unit available to producers in Ohio,” Loerch explained. Replacing hay in your ration with corn this winter could be beneficial. Get 4 Weeks of Farm and Dairy Home DeliveredSign Up for your FREE Trial. "With hay in short supply and feed costs at record highs, producers need to have a plan in place," he said. Except for the price. Preparing pasture. “In a pasture system, it’s more difficult to handle them, they’re scattered and don’t know to come to you for feed.”. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. “If the snow gets too deep, the cows will need supplemental feed,” he said. The University of Nebraska has conducted several studies to evaluate limit feeding cows. It's the end of December, & no hay. U of I animal scientists have conducted many research studies on alternatives to feeding hay. Older cattle eat more per unit body weight than younger cattle. That would be approximately 25 pounds per day for 120 days or about 3,000 pounds of hay per cow. Gunter SA, Cassida KM, Beck PA, Phillips JM. There are two potential problems with this scenario. Next to pasture, good quality hay is the ideal feed. Former staff reporter Andrea Zippay wrote for Farm and Dairy from 2001 to 2009. A rough estimate would be about 2 percent of their bodyweight for about 120 days. The timing was an attempt to mimic what resources producers would be willing to spend, Loerch said. Prolonged drought last summer upset haymaking plans. Wintering Livestock Using Alternate Day Feeding. Loerch also noted the paddocks could have support twice as many cattle if they were rotated daily. "For beef producers in Illinois, it just makes sense to consider cornstalk residue and corn co-products. Limit-feeding of hay encourages cows to reduce grazing and fails to use pastures while qual-ity is reasonably good. By Christoph Wand - Beef Cattle, Sheep and Goat Nutritionist/OMAFRA. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. ", https://www.farmprogress.com/sites/all/themes/penton_subtheme_farmprogress/images/logos/footer.png. As the cows advance in gestation, their requirements go up. But, if snow covers the grass deeply or weather gets quite cold, they may need hay. But there are drawbacks to winter pasture feeding. ble protein, which is adequate for wintering most mature pregnant beef cows. However, for this year, the feeding option might not be feasible. It’s a good practice to install a high-use area when using rings. The grain route. Shockey JD, Gunter SA: Cool-season annual pasture with legumes to supplement for wintering beef cows fed warm-season grass hay. Recent analyses show that hay costs between $0.02 and $0.07 per pound of dry matter; usually more than double the cost for the same amount of nutrients from pasture. “Think outside the box. This was 1st cut alfalfa we fed in this video. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Featuring Specialty Antique Auctions, Stores and Shows, Hundreds of Classifieds, Autos & Real Estate Listings. Year-round Grazing Using Standing Corn for Winter Feed Researchers prove raising cattle with little to no hay can be done in the West. “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. However, some types of mold may cause abortion in pregnant cows. 22, or by e-mail at amyers@farmanddairy.com.). Straw can be used extensively as winter feed if energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements are met. The exact amount depends on cow size, milk production levels and the analysis of the cornstalks (or soybean stubble, wheat straw, poor quality hay). Coping with Hay Shortages in Beef Cow Wintering Rations 14 March 2008. 1999, 77 (Suppl 1): 9. 1999; 77 (Suppl 1):9. To determine stocking rates, Shike recommends factoring in stage of production and cow size to determine the cows' requirements. Each cow requires a daily intake of 40 pounds of round-baled hay, which amounts to $1.61 if pricing hay at $80 per ton. Winter Cow Feeding Strategies Travis Meteer ... • Ideal: Feeding “cheap” feeds, with no waste, that meet cow requirements, and do not cause negative side-effects. Usually provides adequate levels of nutrients to winter a pregnant cow. This practice allows cattle to consume hay without the close contact of hay … They feed a lot of cover crops that are put up as hay. “If you have other uses for your pasture that will generate more money than that, then stockpiling forage is not the best option. Up-to-date agriculture news in your inbox! First, the cows can actually eat too much grain. Alternative feeding methods can reduce cost without affecting productivity, and August is … Better-quality forage should be offered during the winter to keep cows in condition. Wintering cows in a year with bad hay or shortages of hay proves challenging to beef farmers with the prolonged drought last summer upsetting haymaking plans. “Cows on all three wintering systems gained about the same weight from October to mid-February and maintained similar body-condition scores. 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. "Unfortunately, cows aren't very good at eating only what they need," he said. In addition, producers must consider fencing options. Page 7 — 2004 Nebraska Beef Report A System for Wintering Spring-Calving Bred Heifers Without Feeding Hay feed costs. Feeding hay to cattle is expensive. "Obviously, the energy and protein requirements are much higher for lactating cows, but this can still be met by co-products.". The mindset that beef cows should be fed hay in the winter eats up farm profits. Nebraska University published an article recently where they valued the minerals in a ton of alfalfa hay at $34.50 a ton. However, lactating cows may need as much as 12 to 15 pounds of co-product. 3. Winter forage production is important to most types of livestock in Mississippi. Forage brassicas, particularly kale and swedes, are the more common crops used for wintering dry cows. For roughage they're getting grass! The 'waste' will grow more than 2-3 times the amount of grass for the following years to come, the extra water holding capacity from the mulch or litter is carbon and food for the soil biology. Landblom, * [email protected] G.P. 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. Roll out those bales and allow cows to selectively eat the hay. 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.
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