WINTERING COWS WITHOUT FEEDING HAY

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WINTERING COWS WITHOUT FEEDING HAY

• Bob Bronsons dream that became reality

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Bob winters his 170 head of cows on crested wheat
pastures
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Cows are supplemented during winter months
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The Supplement is made up of

• Ground corn
• A protein source feed
• Cottonseed meal
• Soybean meal
• Canola
• Salt, to limit consumption

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Trials Over the Past 4 Years Have Shown

• Average cost of 32.92 per head plus the crested
  wheat grass
• Most ranchers in the area feed 1 to 1 ½ tons of
  hay
• This has saved him about 100 per cow per year

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The Bronson Cattle are on the Following Grazing
Schedule
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April 11 to July 20 BLM Allotment East of Rupert
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July 20 to Dec. 1 Private BLM Allotment on
Black Pine
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Dec 1 to April 11- Crested Wheat Seeding South
West of Snowville
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Cattle are Supplemented from Dec. 1 to March 1 or
March ?

• Normally 2 to 3 lbs. of Supplement per day
• During severe weather consumption will increase
  to 4 to 5.5 lbs.
• During 1999 2000 consumption peaked at 10.7 lbs

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EXAMPLE Dec. 28, 1999

• Soybean meal 4.8s 45
• Ground Corn 2.9s 27
• Salt 2.9s 27
• Total 10.6s

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EXAMPLE Jan. 22, 2000

• Soybean meal 1.19s 54
• Ground corn .68s 30
• Salt .35s 16
• Total 2.20s

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MONITORING BODY CONDITION SCORES

• Body Condition Score of 5
• or
• Body Condition Score of 6

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One of Bobs Cows Just calved scores between
a 5 and 6
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2000 CALVING ACTIVITY
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RESULTS CALF CROP

• 1999 91.3 Weaned calf crop
• 4 calves were lost to predators
• 2000 92 Weaned calf crop
• 1 calf was lost to predators 2 cows yet to
  calve
• 1999 Weaning weight at 240 days was 509s
  for both steers and heifers

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Over a 4 year test period, this program has
reduced costs 94.58 per head
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The key that unlocked Bobs dream is management
and nutrition
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2001-2002 the 6-S RANCH ADDOPTED THIS METHOD OF
WINTERING CATTLE

• Bob Bronson was snowed out of his winter range.

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December 1, 2001
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February 1, 2002
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March 1, 2002
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April 2, 2002
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BRANDING

• April 24, 2002

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CALVING

• 196 cows bred
• 4 dead calves
• 3 cows did not claim calves (sold cows and
  calves)
• Calved between march 10th and April 27th
• (48 days)

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WEANING

• 189 Calves weaned on October 2, 2002
• Steer calves weighed 551 lbs.
• Heifer calves weighed 514 lbs

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SAVINGS

• Total
  Cost
• Costs
  Per Head
• Supplement 4839.96 24.69
• Hay 39812.50
  203.13

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After taking inventory of your resources, you to
may be able to make this dream your reality.