VOLUME 4, No 4 - JULY 97

Greetings From Greg Lardy!

It is great to be back in North Dakota serving as the Extension Beef Cattle Specialist. I was born and raised near Sentinel Butte and got my B.S. degree in Animal and Range Sciences from NDSU in 1991. I am looking forward to working with other Extension personnel and livestock producers and processors across the state. I will do my best to answer any questions you might have and to work for your best interests. Please feel free to call me at 701-231-7660.

We will be making some format changes to The Ranch Hand in upcoming issues, so watch for our new look! We will continue to provide the up-to-date, relevant information you need. I would like to thank Kevin Sedivec and Chip Poland for all their hard work in keeping The Ranch Hand afloat during the interim between the departure of Dan Dhuyvetter and my coming on board the Extension service. They did an excellent job! Thanks!

Greg Lardy
NDSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Make Winter Feeding Plans Now

Greg Lardy Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Environmental conditions this past winter have made feed supplies scarce. Severe winter weather caused depleted hay stocks and areas of drought this summer have jeopardized this year's hay crop. Producers need to plan now for winter feed supplies.

In many areas of the state, hay supplies will be low due to flooding and drought. Many coproducts are now competitively priced and can be stored for winter feeding. Soybean hulls, wheat midds, barley malting coproducts, and wet corn gluten feed can be used effectively in many wintering rations for cows and calves. Most coproducts are pelleted and can be stored in permanent or temporary bins. These coproducts are highly digestible fiber sources and present less chance for digestive disturbance, such as acidosis, when compared to supplementing grains, such as barley or corn. Wet corn gluten feed (WCGF) requires storage in upright silos or silage bags to prevent spoilage. NDSU research indicates wet corn gluten feed can be stored for several months in this manner. Check with the silo manufacturer before attempting to store wet corn gluten feed in an upright silo. WCGF can present problems when using blowers to fill silos. In addition, it is denser than typical silages which may cause problems with upright structures. It can be stored in bunker silos, but storage losses can be high, especially in the summer, if material is not fed quickly. For long-term storage with minimal loss, use silage bags.

Small grain straws, with the proper supplementation strategies, can be used to winter beef cows. Plan on using straws and lower quality forages during the early part of the wintering period when nutrient requirements are lower.

All feeds should be tested prior to feeding. Save the highest quality forages for late gestation and early lactation when nutrient requirements are the highest. This will reduce the amount and cost of supplementation necessary.

Having cows in good body condition (BCS 5 or 6) going into the winter also reduces wintering costs. Thin cows have higher energy requirements compared with good condition cows because thin cows have less external body fat for insulation. Producers should wean earlier than normal to give cows time to maintain or regain body condition before winter begins.

Adequate planning now will yield dividends during the winter feeding period.

To Creep or Not to Creep, That is the Question

Dr. Chip Poland, Area Livestock Specialist Dickinson Research Extension Center

It has been suggested that one situation where late-summer creep feeding may pay is during drought years. During these times, forage availability and quality are nutritionally lacking for support of lactation and(or) calf growth. However, when trying to rationalize whether creep feeding will be profitable in any given situation, it quickly becomes apparent that creep feeding economics is a complicated endeavor.

Many factors have been shown to influence the success of this type of supplementation strategy. Biologically, the amount of weight increase that occurs in response to creep feeding is determined by the amount of creep feed consumed per day, the number of days creep feed is fed and the conversion rate of creep feed to added weight. Although "days on feed" are somewhat easy to control, feed consumption and conversion rates are much less predictable.

Economically, success is defined by the difference between creep feeding expenses and added revenue. It is thought that as long as the cost of creep feed is less than the cost of the gain resulting from its consumption, creep feeding is a paying proposition. Can it really be that simple? Typical expenses include cost of creep feed consumed, various miscellaneous costs (e.g. feeder rental, travel) and short-term interest on operating capital. Total feed consumption again becomes a major contributing factor. Potential revenue becomes another ticklish problem. Actually what is needed is the value of added weight. Added weight is easy to visualize, but the value of this weight is not just the sale barn price of calves this fall.

NDSU Drought Information Web Page

Technically, it is the value at weaning of a potentially heavier creep-fed calf minus the value of the same calf without exposure to creep feed and this difference divided by the added weight obtained. If this is not confusing enough, try to determine what weaning time calf prices and then account for the dreaded price slide!!!

The potential for positive net return to creep feeding this year was assessed using a spreadsheet template from the Oklahoma Extension Service (see graphic following). Several creep feeding scenarios were constructed and evaluated to determine their effect on creep feeding profitability. The accompanying figure summarizes the results. The figure depicts potential returns ($/head) from creep feeding given various combinations of creep feed consumption (lb/day), feed conversion rate (lb feed required/lb of added gain) and price of creep feed ($/ton).

It is no surprise that limit-fed (<1.0 lb/day) high-protein creep feeds that result in exceptional conversion rates (<3.0 lb feed/lb added weight) should be profitable. Breakeven was not reached until creep feed was priced at slightly less than $500/ton, when intake and feed conversion were 1.0 lb and 2.5 lb, respectively. Other than this specific situation, potential return from creep feeding was much less consistent and very dependent upon the price and consumption of creep feed. Both factors need to be limited. Poorer conversion rates (>12.0) require limited intake to reduce potential negative returns. This situation requires a relatively low priced creep feed (<$100/ton) to be profitable. Using projected planning prices (H. Hughes, NDSU Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist, personal communication; 13 June 97) and paying $140/ton for creep feed, assuming moderate intake (between 4 and 6 lb) and acceptable conversion rates (@ 9.0), seems to be a breakeven proposition. Profitability, in this situation, seems possible when creep feed is valued just under this price.

And now the number, the all-encompassing number. . . It would appear at this time that the value of added weight this fall from creep feeding should range between $0.66 and $0.67/lb of added weight. Situations that result in total costs ($/lb of added weight) being less than this level should have a strong potential for positive net returns this fall.

Cereal Grains for Emergency Haying

Kevin Sedivec, Ext. Rangeland Management Specialist

Many cereal crop fields will not make grain in North Dakota due to drought conditions in May and June. Although harvesting cereals for grain may not be feasible, forage production for livestock use will provide an alternative use. Small grains, such as oats, wheat, and barley, have all been used as hay, haylage, silage, and pasture.

QUALITY

Early removal as hay or silage provides good quality feed for growing and brood animals, and even dairy cows, if harvested early. Results from a Minnesota study show the effects of maturity dates on crude protein and digestibility (Table 1 and 2). Dairy quality feed will require harvesting during the boot stage, however, brood animal requirements can be met with a dough stage cutting.

Barley had higher crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) digestibility concentrations than oats and wheat during all stages of maturity (except crude protein in milk stage compared to wheat). Barley forage was more digestible largely due to a higher proportion of highly digestible inflorescence.

YIELD

Although quality is important when harvesting small grains for forage, quantity or yield must also be considered when selecting a maturity stage to harvest. Studies conducted in Fargo and Williston, North Dakota, also showed highest quality when cut in the boot stage, however, forage yield is only 40% of that obtained at the dough stage (Table 3). To optimize quality and yield for growing and brood animals, cutting in the milk stage should achieve a high quality feed while reaching comparable yield levels. These same studies showed yields of 80-87% of that obtained at the dough stage.

PRECAUTIONS

Nitrate accumulations may occur in cereal crop forages under certain growing conditions. Dangerous levels are more likely if harvested under extreme drought conditions, on heavily manured fields, or fields with an excessive application of nitrogen fertilizer. The majority of nitrate poisoning cases in North Dakota have involved drought stressed oats, corn, and barley. Concentrations will be highest in forages harvested prior to the boot stage, elevated prior to flowering, and rapidly dropping off after pollination. When in doubt about nitrate levels in the forage, have the forage analyzed for nitrate levels prior to feeding.

What is a Fair Rental Rate for CRP Hay Acres?

Barry Brissman, NDSU Ag Communication Departmental Editor; Dwight Aakre, Extension Farm Management Specialist

The Secretary of Agriculture has authorized emergency haying of CRP acreage on a county by county basis. CRP payments will be reduced by 35% if haying takes place from July 1 through July 15, by 25% if it takes place after July 15. Many CRP contract holders without livestock are interested in leasing CRP acres to a livestock producer and are asking this question: What is a fair rental rate?

"The minimum the landowner needs to justify leasing land for haying is the amount of reduction in the CRP payment," says Dwight Aakre, farm management specialist for the North Dakota State University Extension Service. "In Stark County, for instance, the average CRP payment rate is about $34 per acre. This would mean a reduction of about $11.90 per acre if haying takes place July 1 through July 15, $8.50 if hayed after July 15. So those are the minimums the land owner would want to charge.

But the maximum the livestock producer would likely be willing to pay is the cost of an equivalent substitute minus the yield per acre and the market price for CRP hay or an equivalent substitute."

The average price for "other hay" in North Dakota has been about $35 per ton over the last five years, according to the North Dakota Agricultural Statistics Service, so this may be used as a benchmark for the value of this hay, says Aakre. Assuming a yield of 1 ton per acre, the gross value of the hay under average conditions would be about $35 per acre less the costs of harvesting and hauling.

The average reported custom rate for mowing and conditioning is $6.77 per acre. The rate for baling 1000-pound round bales is $5.25 per bale and for hauling is $2 per bale. These rates result in a total harvest and hauling cost of $21.27 per acre for a yield of 1 ton per acre. Subtracting this from the average market value of $35 per ton leaves $13.73 per ton maximum net value to the livestock producer.

"In short, for an estimated hay yield of 1 ton, the maximum value of CRP stumpage to the livestock producer would also be $13.73 per acre," says Aakre. "With a minimum acceptable rent to the landowner of $8.50 or $11.90 depending on when haying takes place and a maximum net value of $13.73 per acre to the livestock producer, the two parties should be able to negotiate a rate acceptable to both of them."

It should be noted, he adds, that the $35-per-ton price for "other hay" is an approximation and is based on years when hay supplies were plentiful. The market value of hay this winter may be considerably higher. If the expected market value of hay or an equivalent substitute should be $50 per ton, the maximum acceptable rental rate for the renter would rise to $28.73 per acre.

"There is little doubt," says Aakre, "that the feed value of hay declines rapidly at this time of year and that the added cost of harvesting closer to July 1 is easily returned in the higher feeding value of the hay that is harvested."

Grazing Systems Show Their Value in 1997

Kevin Sedivec, Ext. Rangeland Management Specialist

Range scientists, extension specialists, and natural resource personnel have been studying and preaching the benefits of rotational grazing systems for many years in North Dakota. If you have attended any range tours or workshops over the past five years, you noticed that grazing systems and their benefits are often a topic of discussion. The spring and summer of 1997 have provided an excellent opportunity to demonstrate how a rotational system works and show how pastures under a rotational grazing system faired compared to seasonlong and deferred pastures.

Grazing systems in North Dakota were developed and work best when a pasture is grazed - rested - regrazed - rested. The extremely dry conditions in May and June created situations that developed lower forage potential under seasonlong and deferred grazing, however, a potential existed for additional regrowth under rotational grazing. Let's discuss each grazing treatment and evaluate the potential growth and grazing patterns. We will start with the worst case scenario.

DEFERRED PASTURE

These are generally classified as pasture saved or deferred from grazing until mid to late summer or some later date. The belief is that deferment allows the grass to reach maturity, thus maximizing production and developing seeds for new growth. Most of this statement is false. Deferment creates the lowest quality feed base for grazing. Resting a pasture during the active growing period (mid April to mid July) of the primary tissue of cool-season grasses (North Dakota is cool-season grass dominated) and after grazing readiness (about late May to early June) minimizes all regrowth potential, thus reducing added forage potential that is higher in quality. Deferred pastures create a low quality, mature stand of grass that will lead to nursing cows losing weight while on pasture.

With the dry conditions in 1997, these pastures will produce much less forage and can not take advantage of producing secondary plant tissue realized when a grass plant is altered (grazed, mowed, or burned) to promote secondary tissue when the rain comes. Remember, once a plant reaches seed set stage, potential for secondary tillering will be lost.

It is also a fallacy that in order to promote seed set we need to defer some a pasture from grazing. Almost all new grass production in the northern Great Plains region is created by parent plants developing secondary tillers or buds from roots to create new plants, NOT through seeds. I am not saying all new plant growth is through root tissue, but new seedlings from seeds are limited.

SEASONLONG PASTURES

Seasonlong grazing promotes poor livestock utilization patterns and creates areas of over use and under use. This patchy grazing shows dramatically the negative effect of seasonlong grazing in years with spring drought and minimal summer rainfall. What typically happens, as we've seen this year, is that certain areas of the pasture are heavily selected and grazed short in late May and June. Areas that are not grazed reach the mature stage of plant growth. When the rain came this July, those areas grazed promote secondary tillers and buds while those areas not grazed lack the potential to develop new tissue. However, since those areas of the pasture grazed during the active growing period were grazed short, plant tissue needed for photosynthesis is limited*. So, although some rain finally came in July, plant tissue was too short and development of root tissue was limited or plant tissue was mature and plant regrowth potential lost.

In this scenario, the remaining summer grazing pattern will lend itself to livestock continuing to select for the short, green areas and select against those areas dominated by mature plant growth. Livestock will eventually have to graze the mature grass as dry matter reduces on the short areas and create a low quality feed base that reduces livestock performance. Overall, those areas that were grazed short will be less competitive, they will be invaded by undesirable plants, and forage production will be reduced.

*NOTE: Photosynthesis is the process which plants use to convert solar energy to carbohydrate molecules that are the food source, to promote root growth, and subsequent leaf tissue for feed.

ROTATIONAL GRAZING

The year 1997 exemplified that benefits of rotational grazing, both in terms of range health and forage production, and livestock performance. Remember, rotational grazing is promoted because it 1) improves livestock grazing distribution (minimizes patch grazing), 2) promotes secondary regrowth, and 3) creates a higher quality feed base longer into the growing season. Number 1 will occur independent of rainfall, however, numbers 2 and 3 are dependent of moisture for secondary growth.

The spring of 1997 started out typical of many years on a rotational grazing system. Livestock were put in one cell of the multi-cell grazing system and grazed for a given time period. Livestock were rotated to the next pasture, allowing for rest in the subsequent cell. Since this spring was excessively dry, grazing was very uniform in a given cell providing excellent opportunity for secondary growth. When we got some rain in late June and July, those pastures or cells grazed in May and June and rested had excellent regrowth. Those cells of a given grazing system grazed in late May, June and July in 1997 and rested for 30 to 60 days will provided added forage of high quality due to the regrowth achieved by the combination grazing - rest pattern and summer rainfall.

SUMMARY

Regrowth and minimizing grazing patchiness are two primary goals of a grazing system. These two factors can not be fully realized under seasonlong grazing and are almost impossible with late summer and fall deferment of a pasture. The spring and early summer of 1997 have shown excellent examples of achieving better livestock grazing distribution and added regrowth using grazing systems. These better managed pastures will also maintain range health and a positive condition trend versus range deterioration which can occur under seasonlong grazing and the overuse scenarios under patch grazing.

Important Dates to Remember

North Dakota Stockmen's Convention: September 25-27, Hospitality Inn, Dickinson, ND

North Dakota State Fair Minot, ND, July 18-26

North Dakota State Ranging Judging Contest Set

Kevin Sedivec

The 1997 State Range Judging Contest date and location have been set. Practice sites will be available September 19 and the contest is September 20. The contest and practice sites will be based out of Mandan. Further details will be released at a later date. If you need manuals or other materials, contact me at (701) 231-7647. I would like to thank all of you who continue to support the range judging activity and hope to see you in September.

New Product Uses

The Beef Brief, June 1997

Beef by-products are being increasingly used in "gummy-type" candies, pet chews, upholstering leather and medical research and training, according to researchers at Colorado State University. The researchers, who published a recent report, also discovered beef by-products are now used in making household fragrance products, fishing line, organic fertilizers, and biodegradable outboard motor oil.

Nothing Goofy Here

The Beef Brief, June 1997

Disneyland guests buy four million hamburgers a year at the California-based theme park, according to "Disneyland Fun Facts." The news came in a Disneyland press kit designed to highlight the park's rides, general information and trivia. In addition to hamburgers, park officials said Disneyland serves 1.6 million hot dogs, 3.4 million orders of fries and 3.2 million servings of ice cream.