Table 1. Pasture-forage costs of native rangeland and domesticated grass pastures to be grazed by range cows during the 31-day spring portion of the lactation production period.
Native Rangeland (12-m RS)
Native Rangeland (6.0-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass Unfertilized (4.5-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass Unfertilized (4.0-m Def)
Crested Wheatgrass Fertilized (4.5-m TOR)
Days
31
16
31
76
31
Growth Stage
spring
spring
spring
spring
spring
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
780
906
1980
2192
4960
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
195
226
495
548
1240
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
Custom Work
$
12.50
Seed Cost
$
Baling Cost
$
Production Costs
$/ac
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
21.26
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
89.85
77.52
35.39
31.97
34.29
Land Area/Month
ac
4.62
4.04
1.82
1.67
0.73
Land Area/Period
ac
4.77
2.10
1.88
4.16
0.75
Land Cost/Period
$/pp
41.79
18.40
16.47
36.44
15.95
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
1.35
1.15
0.52
0.48
0.51
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
41.85
18.40
16.47
36.44
15.95
Crude Protein
%
16.3
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
31.79
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.28
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
41.85
18.40
16.47
36.44
15.95
Cost/Day
$/d
1.35
1.15
0.52
0.48
0.51
Table 2. Forage costs of perennial grass hays to be fed to range cows during the 31-day spring portion of the lactation production period.
Crested Wheatgrass Hay
Crested Wheatgrass Hay
Growth Stage
Mature
Boot stage
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
-
-
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
1600
1300
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
14.22
14.22
Custom Work
$
5.31
5.31
Seed Cost
$
-
-
Baling Costs
$
8.58
6.97
Production Costs
$/ac
28.11
26.50
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
34.80
40.80
Land Area /Month
ac
0.56
0.40
Land Area/Period
ac
0.58
0.41
Land Cost/Period
$/pp
8.25
5.83
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
0.70
0.35
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
21.70
10.85
Crude Protein
%
6.4
14.5
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
102
189
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.28
0.14
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
12.69
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
0.78
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
7.27
6.88
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
28.97
17.73
Cost/Day
$/d
0.93
0.57
Table 3. Pasture-forage costs of native rangeland pastures to be grazed by range cows during the 137-day summer portion of the lactation production period.
Native Rangeland
(12-m RS)
Native Rangeland
(6.0-m SL)
Native Rangeland
(4.5-m SL)
Native Rangeland
(4.0-m Def)
Native Rangeland
(4.5-m TOR)
Days
137
137
137
92
137
Growth Stage
summer
summer
summer
summer
summer
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
1450
906
1280
1649
1794
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
363
226
320
412
449
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
Custom Work
$
Seed Cost
$
Baling Costs
$
Production Costs
$/ac
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
48.26
77.50
54.75
42.52
39.02
Land Area/Month
ac
2.52
4.04
2.86
2.22
2.04
Land Area/Period
ac
11.32
18.10
12.70
6.70
9.00
Land Costs/Period
$/pp
99.16
158.55
111.25
58.26
78.84
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
0.72
1.16
0.81
0.63
0.58
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
98.64
158.55
111.25
58.26
78.84
Crude Protein
%
9.6
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
34.85
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.25
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
98.64
158.55
111.25
58.26
78.84
Cost/Day
$/d
0.72
1.16
0.81
0.63
0.58
Table 4. Pasture-forage costs of native rangeland pastures to be grazed by range cows during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Native
Native
Native
Native
Native
Days
15
15
15
30
30
30
Growth Stage
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
fall
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
870
725
973
1423
891
1649
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
218
180
243
356
223
412
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
Custom Work
$
Seed Cost
$
Baling Costs
$
Production Costs
$/ac
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
8.76
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
80.37
97.33
72.10
49.21
78.57
42.52
Land Area/Month
ac
4.20
5.00
3.26
2.53
4.04
2.22
Land Area/Period
ac
2.10
2.50
1.63
2.53
4.04
2.18
Land Costs/Period
$/pp
18.40
21.90
14.28
22.16
35.39
19.53
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
1.21
1.46
0.95
0.74
1.18
0.65
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
18.40
21.90
14.28
22.16
35.39
19.53
Crude Protein
%
4.8
4.8
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
10.46
8.64
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.34
1.01
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
1.21
1.21
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
5.45
5.45
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
23.85
27.35
14.28
22.16
35.39
19.53
Cost/Day
$/d
1.59
1.82
0.95
0.74
1.18
0.65
Table 5. Pasture-forage costs of domesticated grass and cropland pastures to be grazed by range cows during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Altai Wildrye
(4.5-m TOR)
Cropland Aftermath (4.5-m SL)
Days
30
30
Growth Stage
fall
fall
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
2590
270
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
648
135
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
8.76
2.00
Custom Work
$
Seed Cost
$
Baling Costs
$
Production Costs
$/ac
8.76
2.00
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
27.04
29.63
Land Area/Month
ac
1.39
6.63
Land Area/Period
ac
1.39
6.63
Land Costs/Period
$/pp
12.18
13.26
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
0.40
0.44
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
12.00
13.26
Crude Protein
%
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
12.00
13.26
Cost/Day
$/d
0.40
0.44
Table 6. Forage costs of perennial grass hays to be fed to range cows during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Crested
Wheatgrass
Hay
Crested Wheatgrass
Hay
Growth Stage
Mature
Boot stage
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
-
-
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
1600
1300
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
14.22
14.22
Custom Work
$
5.31
5.31
Seed Cost
$
-
-
Baling Costs
$
8.58
6.97
Production Costs
$/ac
28.11
26.50
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
34.80
40.80
Land Area /Month
ac
0.56
0.40
Land Area/Period
ac
0.56
0.40
Land Cost/Period
$/pp
7.96
5.69
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
0.70
0.35
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
21.00
10.50
Crude Protein
%
6.4
14.5
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
102
189
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.28
0.14
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
12.69
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
0.78
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
7.02
6.66
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
28.02
17.16
Cost/Day
$/d
0.93
0.57
Table 7. Forage costs of annual cereal hays and annual legume hays to be fed to range cows during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Forage
Barley
Hay
Oat
Forage Hay
Pea
Forage
Hay
Forage Lentil
Hay
Oat-Pea Hay
Growth Stage
Milk
Milk
Late
Late
Herbage Weight
lb/ac
Forage DM Weight
lb/ac
4733
4667
4650
3867
5143
Costs/Acre
Land Rent
$
22.07
22.07
22.07
22.07
22.07
Custom Work
$
16.08
16.08
16.08
16.08
16.08
Seed Cost
$
4.69
6.00
23.80
12.60
29.80
Baling Costs
$
25.37
25.02
24.92
20.73
27.57
Production Costs
$/ac
68.21
69.17
86.87
71.48
95.52
Forage DM Costs
$/ton
28.80
29.60
37.40
37.00
37.20
Land Area/Month
ac
0.12
0.14
0.11
0.13
0.12
Land Area/Period
ac
0.12
0.14
0.11
0.13
0.12
Land Costs/Period
$/pp
2.65
3.09
2.43
2.87
2.65
Forage Costs/Day
$/d
0.28
0.33
0.33
0.33
0.38
Forage Costs/Period
$/pp
8.40
9.90
9.90
9.90
11.40
Crude Protein
%
13.0
11.5
14.4
14.7
12.5
Crude Protein Yield
lb/ac
606
535
685
567
611
Crude Protein Cost
$/lb
0.11
0.13
0.13
0.13
0.16
Supplementation
Roughage/Day
lb/d
10.7
8.2
12.6
12.9
9.9
Crude Protein/Day
lb/d
Sup. Cost/Period
$/pp
5.62
4.31
6.62
6.77
5.20
Total Feed Cost
$/pp
14.02
14.21
16.52
16.67
16.60
Cost/Day
$/d
0.47
0.47
0.55
0.56
0.55
Table 8. Pasture and forage costs during the spring portion of the lactation production period.
Land
Area
ac/pp
Forage Dry
Matter
$/ton
Crude Protein
$/lb
Forage
Cost
$/pp
Supplement
Cost
$/pp
Total
Feed
Cost
$/pp
Cost
per
Day
$/d
12-m RS Native Rangeland
4.77
89.85
0.28
41.85
41.85
1.35
6.0-m SL Native Rangeland
4.04
77.52
35.65
35.65
1.15
4.5-m SL Crested Wheatgrass
1.88
35.39
16.47
16.47
0.52
4.0-m Def Crested Wheatgrass
1.73
31.97
14.88
14.88
0.48
4.5-m TOR Crested Wheatgrass
0.75
34.29
15.95
15.95
0.51
Crested Wheatgrass Mature
0.58
34.80
0.28
21.70
7.27
28.97
0.93
Crested Wheatgrass Boot Stage
0.41
40.80
0.14
10.85
6.88
17.73
0.57
Table 9. Pasture and forage costs during the summer portion of the lactation production period.
Land
Area
ac/pp
Forage Dry
Matter
$/ton
Crude Protein
$/lb
Forage
Cost
$/pp
Supplement
Cost
$/pp
Total
Feed
Cost
$/pp
Cost
per
Day
$/d
12-m RS Native Rangeland
11.32
48.26
0.25
98.64
98.64
0.72
6.0-m SL Native Rangeland
18.10
77.50
158.55
158.55
1.16
4.5-m SL Native Rangeland
12.70
54.75
111.25
111.25
0.81
4.0-m Def Native Rangeland
9.99
42.52
86.31
86.31
0.63
4.5-m TOR Native Rangeland
9.00
39.02
78.84
78.84
0.58
Table 10. Pasture and forage costs during the fall portion of the lactation production period.
Land
Area
ac/pp
Forage Dry
Matter
$/ton
Crude Protein
$/lb
Forage
Cost
$/pp
Supplement
Cost
$/pp
Total
Feed
Cost
$/pp
Cost
per
Day
$/d
12-m RS Native Rangeland
4.60
88.85
0.68
40.30
10.90
51.20
1.71
6.0-m SL Native Rangeland
4.04
78.57
35.39
35.39
1.18
4.5-m SL Cropland Aftermath
6.63
29.63
13.26
13.26
0.44
4.0-m Def Native Rangeland
2.18
42.52
19.53
19.53
0.65
4.5-m TOR Altai Wildrye
1.39
27.04
12.00
12.00
0.40
Crested Wheatgrass Mature
0.56
34.80
0.28
21.00
7.02
28.02
0.93
Crested Wheatgrass Boot Stage
0.40
40.80
0.14
10.50
6.66
17.16
0.57
Forage Barley Milk
0.12
28.80
0.11
8.40
5.62
14.02
0.47
Oat Forage Milk
0.14
29.60
0.13
9.90
4.31
14.21
0.47
Pea Forage Late
0.11
37.40
0.13
9.90
6.62
16.52
0.55
Forage Lentil Late
0.13
37.00
0.13
9.90
6.77
16.67
0.56
Oat-Pea Forage Hay
0.12
37.20
0.16
11.40
5.20
16.60
0.55
Table 11. Range cow and calf performance on native rangeland and domesticated grass pastures during the 31- day spring portion of the lactation production period.
Native Rangeland
(12-m RS)*
Native Rangeland
(6.0-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass
Unfertilized
(4.5-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass
Unfertilized
(4.0-m Def)
Crested Wheatgrass
Fertilized
(4.5-m TOR)
Length of Period
days
31
16
31
76
31
Acres/Month
ac
4.62
4.04
1.82
1.67
0.75
Acres/Period
ac
4.77
2.10
1.88
4.16
0.75
Cow Gain/Day
lbs
0.12
1.95
0.91
2.68
Cow Gain/Acre
lbs
0.91
32.15
16.63
110.77
Cow Gain/Period
lbs
1.92
60.45
69.16
83.08
Calf Gain/Day
lbs
1.80
1.80
1.91
1.79
2.18
Calf Gain/Acre
lbs
11.70
13.64
31.49
32.70
90.11
Calf Gain/Period
lbs
55.80
28.80
59.21
136.04
67.58
* Based on estimated calf weight
Table 12. Range cow and calf performance on native rangeland pastures during the 137-day summer portion of the lactation production period.
Native Rangeland
(12-m RS)*
Native Rangeland
(6.0-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass
Unfertilized
(4.5-m SL)
Crested Wheatgrass
Unfertilized
(4.0-m Def)
Crested Wheatgrass
Fertilized
(4.5-m TOR)
Length of Period
days
137
183
137
122
137
Acres/Month
ac
2.52
4.04
2.86
2.22
2.04
Acres/Period
ac
11.32
24.24
12.70
8.88
9.00
Cow Gain/Day
lbs
0.12
0.34
0.32
0.62
Cow Gain/Acre
lbs
0.91
3.67
4.40
9.44
Cow Gain/Period
lbs
21.96
46.58
39.04
84.94
Calf Gain/Day
lbs
1.80
1.80
2.09
1.80
2.21
Calf Gain/Acre
lbs
21.78
13.59
22.55
24.73
33.64
Calf Gain/Period
lbs
246.60
329.40
286.33
219.60
302.77
* Based on estimated calf weight
Table 13. Range cow and calf performance on native rangeland pastures during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Native Rangeland (12-m RS)* Early Late
Native Rangeland (SL 4.5-m) Early
Native Rangeland (SL 5-6-m)
Native Rangeland (6.0-m SL)
Native Rangeland (4.0-m Def)
Length of Period
days
15
15
15
30
30
30
Acres/Month
ac
4.20
5.00
3.26
2.53
4.04
2.22
Acres/Period
ac
2.10
2.50
1.63
2.53
4.04
2.18
Cow Gain/Day
lbs
-0.52
-0.82
-1.74
-0.74
Cow Gain/Acre
lbs
-4.75
-9.77
-12.90
-9.96
Cow Gain/Period
lbs
-7.74
-24.60
-52.20
-22.20
Calf Gain/Day
lbs
1.80
1.80
1.35
0.92
0.59
0.77
Calf Gain/Acre
lbs
12.86
10.80
12.47
10.90
4.38
10.36
Calf Gain/Period
lbs
27.00
27.00
20.33
27.60
17.73
23.10
* Based on estimated calf weight
Table 14. Range cow and calf performance on domesticated grass and cropland pastures during the 30-day fall portion of the lactation production period.
Altai
Wildrye
(4.5-m TOR)
Crop Aftermath (4.5-m SL)
Length of Period
days
30
30
Acres/Month
ac
1.39
6.63
Acres/Period
ac
1.39
6.63
Cow Gain/Day
lbs
0.55
-1.61
Cow Gain/Acre
lbs
11.87
-7.27
Cow Gain/Period
lbs
16.50
-48.17
Calf Gain/Day
lbs
1.73
0.42
Calf Gain/Acre
lbs
37.96
1.90
Calf Gain/Period
lbs
52.77
12.57
Table 15. Costs and returns during the spring, summer, and fall portions of the lactation production period for grazing management strategies.
12-M Repeated Seasonal*
6.0-M Seasonlong
4.5-M Seasonlong
4.0-M Deferred
4.5-M Twice-over Rotation
Spring Lactation Period
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Crested Wheatgrass Unfertilized
Crested Wheatgrass Unfertilized
Crested Wheatgrass Fertilized
Accumulated Calf Wt.
lbs
55.80
28.80
59.21
136.04
67.58
Weight Value @ $0.70/lb
$
39.06
20.16
41.45
95.23
47.31
Pasture and Forage Costs
$
41.85
18.40
16.47
36.44
15.95
Net Return/c-c pr
$
-2.79
1.76
24.98
58.78
31.36
Net Return/acre
$
-0.58
0.83
13.29
14.13
41.82
Cost/lb of Calf Gain
$
0.75
0.64
0.27
0.27
0.24
Summer Lactation Period
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Accumulated Calf Wt.
lbs
246.60
282.87
286.33
196.50
302.77
Weight Value @ $0.70/lb
$
172.62
198.01
200.43
137.55
211.94
Pasture and Forage Costs
$
98.64
158.55
111.25
58.26
78.84
Net Return/c-c pr
$
73.98
38.75
89.18
79.29
133.10
Net Return/acre
$
6.54
2.13
7.02
11.83
14.79
Cost/lb of Calf Gain
$
0.40
0.56
0.39
0.30
0.26
Fall Lactation Period
Native Rangeland
Native Rangeland
Cropland Aftermath
Native Rangeland
Altai Wildrye
Accumulated Calf Wt.
lbs
54.00
17.73
12.57
23.10
52.77
Weight Value @ $0.70/lb
$
37.80
12.41
8.80
16.17
36.94
Pasture and Forage Costs
$
51.20
35.39
13.26
19.53
12.00
Net Return/c-c pr
$
-13.40
-22.98
-4.46
-3.36
24.76
Net Return/acre
$
-2.91
-5.69
-0.67
-1.51
17.81
Cost/lb of Calf Gain
$
0.95
1.99
1.05
0.85
0.23
* Based on estimated calf weight
Table 16. Range cow and calf performance and costs and returns during the lactation production period for grazing management strategies.
12-M Repeated Seasonal*
6.0-M Seasonlong
4.5-M Seasonlong
4.0-M Deferred
4.5-M Twice-over Rotation
Length of Season
days
198
183
198
198
198
Acres/Month
ac
3.19
4.04
3.27
2.01
1.72
Acres/Season
ac
20.69
24.24
21.21
13.04
11.14
Cow Gain/Day
lbs
0.12
0.30
0.55
0.93
Cow Gain/Acre
lbs
0.91
2.78
8.30
16.56
Cow Gain/Season
lbs
21.96
58.86
108.20
184.52
Calf Gain/Day
lbs
1.80
1.80
1.81
1.80
2.14
Calf Gain/Acre
lbs
17.23
13.59
16.88
27.27
37.98
Calf Gain/Season
lbs
356.40
329.40
358.11
355.64
423.12
Weight Value @ $0.70/lb
$
249.48
230.58
250.68
248.95
296.18
Pasture and Forage Costs
$
191.69
212.34
140.98
114.23
106.79
Net Return/c-c pr
$
57.79
18.24
109.70
134.72
189.39
Net Return/Acre
$
2.79
0.75
5.17
10.33
17.00
Cost/lb of Calf Gain
$
0.54
0.64
0.39
0.32
0.25
* Based on estimated calf weight
Table 17. Projection of net returns from 100-cow and 300-cow herds on grazing management strategies during the 6.5-month grazing season.
