Current Situation

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Surviving the Drought John Johns, Roy Burris and
Kenny Burdine University of Kentucky
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Surviving
The Drought
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Background

• High Corn Prices
• Scarce hay supply
• Drought
• Heat

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Impact on-

• Summer Grazing
• Winter Feed
• Water Supply
• Nitrates / Poisonous Plants

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What do I do to meet needs when forage quality is
not the issue but forage quantity is?DROUGHT!
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Assess Situation

• Inventory Cattle
• Inventory Feed Supply
• Do the numbers match?

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Animal Management Issues

• Pregnancy check, cull opens
• Cull older, lower producing cows
• Cull problem cows, disposition, arthritic, teat,
  udder and feet problems.

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Conduct a feed and animal inventory

• Use ASC-78 as a guide
• Group animals by their needs
• Compare how much feed is needed vs what is on hand

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Allocation of Hay to Various Classes of Cattle
Based on Quality

• Quality of Hay
• High
• Low

• Classes of Cattle
• Young Calves
• Weaned Calves
• Replacements
• Yearlings
• Bred Heifers
• 2-year old Cows
• Lactating Cows
• Mature Cows, last 1/3 of gestation
• Mature Bulls
• Mature Pregnant Cows, first 2/3 of gestation

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Nutritional Quality of Forages
Crude Protein TDN
Excellent 11.2 56
Good 9.5-11.1 50-56
Fair 8.2-9.5 50-56
Poor 7.3-8.2 50-55
Very Poor lt7.3 lt48
Source Parish, Jane et al. 2007. Producer Guide
to Coping with Drought Conditions
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Approximate forage intake by beef cattle
Forage TDN DMI (BW)
Well-eared silage 60-70 2.5 to 3.3
Actively growing pasture 70 2.0 to 2.5
Legume hay, good 55-60 2.5 to 3.0
Grass hay, good 50-55 2.0 to 2.5
Mature grass hay 45-50 1.5 to 2.0
Grass hay, poor 40-45 1.0 to 1.5
Straw 35-40 1.0 or less
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Are Alternatives Available on the Farm?

• Corn that will make little or no grain yield
• Chop it as silage
• Do not graze or roll it for hay due to nitrates
• Soybeans that will not set a bean
• Graze or roll as hay, prevent bloat if grazing
• Cut and roll when all leaves are still green

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Soybeans for Hay or Silage

• For silage, harvest at R6 stage
• May need to wilt after cutting
• Forage beans yield 3-4 tons/ac of DM
• Grain beans yield 2-3 tons/ac of DM
• Animals do not like the silage, eat 20 less than
  corn silage

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Soybeans for Hay or Silage

• Hay may need to be harvested at a little earlier
  stage
• Should be conditioned to crush stem or hard to
  cure
• If too mature at cutting, will lose bean due to
  conditioning
• May have feeding loss of up to 20 due to stem
  refusal

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Baling or Grazing Corn Stalks

• 120 bu corn 4 to 5 tons residue/acre
• Cows consume grain, leaves, husks, cobs, stalks
  in order
• 1 acre of stalks 30 days grazing/cow with
  mineral, protein supplementation
• Should be strip grazed
• Baling leaves much of the best (grain, leaves,
  husks) in the field

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Corn Stalks

• High Nitrates have been detected
• Low quality feed
• Requires protein and energy supplementation
• Considerable waste in feeding
• Stores poorly

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What is an Acre of Stalks Worth to Graze?
Hay Cost/Ton 80 100 120
/lb of hay .04 .05 .06
/Cow for 30 days 34 42.5 51
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Performance of Cows fed Baled Corn Stalks
Supplement Trt. CSM CSM Corn
Int. Wt. lbs 1088 1092
Wt. loss, lbs 28 36
Int. BCS 5.3 5.4
BCS loss -.45 -.50
Rosepine Res. Sta. Rep. 11, 2000 Free choice access to corn stalk bales for 42 days. Supplements were cottonseed meal at 1.3 lbs dry matter or 1.3 lbs 2.0 lbs of ground corn dry matter. Rosepine Res. Sta. Rep. 11, 2000 Free choice access to corn stalk bales for 42 days. Supplements were cottonseed meal at 1.3 lbs dry matter or 1.3 lbs 2.0 lbs of ground corn dry matter. Rosepine Res. Sta. Rep. 11, 2000 Free choice access to corn stalk bales for 42 days. Supplements were cottonseed meal at 1.3 lbs dry matter or 1.3 lbs 2.0 lbs of ground corn dry matter.
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Cow Rations with Baled Corn Stalks
Ration 1 2 3 4 5
Stalks 12.5 10 10 10 10
SBHulls 3.5 10 3.3 2.2
CGF 4.0 3.3 4.4 6.1
Corn 2.3 2.3
DDGS 2.2
Protein Block X X
Limest. .1 .1 .1 .25
IRM Min .25 .25 .25 .25 .25
1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis.
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Cow Rations with Baled Corn Stalks
Ration 1 2 3 4 5
Stalks 12.5 11 12.5 10 12.5
SB Hulls 11 11 5.5 4.5 3
CGF 1.1 2 5.5 4.5 3
Corn 5.7
DDGS 3.3
Protein Block X X X
Limest. .1 .1 .1
IRM min .25 .25 .25 .25 .25
1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis. 1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January Corn stalks valued at 48 TDN and 5.0 CP on DM basis.
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Gain of Stocker Cattle on Normal or Drought Corn
Silage
Normal Drought Change
Trial 1
Head 44 44
ADG, lbs 2.06 1.88 9.6
Trial 2
Head 18 56
ADG, lbs 1.72 1.32 30
Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska Nebraska
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Nutrient Analysis
DM Basis DM Basis DM Basis
Feed DM TDN CP
Corn Silage 34 69.9 8.2
Grass Hay 91.9 56.6 10.7
SB Silage 61 56 16
SB Hay 91.6 60.9 16.3
Corn Stalks 51.7 54 7.6
Source Dairy One Laboratory, Cornell University Source Dairy One Laboratory, Cornell University Source Dairy One Laboratory, Cornell University Source Dairy One Laboratory, Cornell University
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Baseline Assumptions
Feed Stuff Tons / Acre DM tons / Acre TDN tons / Acre CP tons / Acre
Corn Silage 18 6.12 4.28 0.50
Grass Hay 1.5 1.38 0.78 .148
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Nutritional Needs
Spring Calving Cow, 1200 lbs, Winter 120 days Spring Calving Cow, 1200 lbs, Winter 120 days Spring Calving Cow, 1200 lbs, Winter 120 days
TDN lbs CP lbs
Daily 12.37 1.81
Total 1484 217
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What will it take?
Acres needed per cow Cows fed per acre
Corn Silage .17 5.7
Grass Hay .951 1.08
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What will it cost?
Value per acre Total cost per acre Cost per cow
Corn Silage (120 bu) 360 511.56 86.96
Grass Hay (1.5 tons) 150 150 142.65
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What can I pay for silage?

• Based on previous estimate, hay costs 142.65 per
  cow to winter
• How many tons of corn silage will it take to
  winter them?
• gt 3.06 tons
• You can pay 46.62 per ton of corn silage if hay
  is 100 per ton

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What can I pay for Corn Silage?
80 100 120 140
Corn Silage (per ton) 37.29 46.62 57.45 65.26
Standing Corn (per ton silage) 29.32 38.65 49.48 57.29
Standing Corn (per acre) 527.76 695.70 890.64 1,031.22
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If I need to buy feed, what should I buy, hay or
something else?
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Nutrient dense feeds such as grains, commodities,
etc., are cheaper per unit of nutrient compared
to hay. Be sure and compare on a dry matter
basis.
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Stretch Hay with Supplement

• Feed the hay on hand and buy supplement
• Corn will replace hay at the rate of 1.0 lb. Corn
  can replace 2.0 lb. of hay

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Alternative Feeds
Feed CP UIP, CP TDN, Starch
Corn 9.8 55 90 70
DDG 30.4 52 90 18
DBG 29 50 66 10.7
SBH 12 25 77 6
CGF 23.8 22 80 25.4
W Midds 18.7 21 69 37.8
NRC Beef 2000 Update, PAS 1669 - 99 NRC Beef 2000 Update, PAS 1669 - 99 NRC Beef 2000 Update, PAS 1669 - 99 NRC Beef 2000 Update, PAS 1669 - 99 NRC Beef 2000 Update, PAS 1669 - 99
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How much hay does a cow have to have daily?
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Limit fed Corn vs. Hay Rations for Cows, 3 Year
Summary
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Limit Feeding High Energy Rations for Growing
Cattle
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Economics of Corn vs. Hay to Cows
Feed Price, Price, Unit / lb
Shell Corn 4.50 4.50 Bushel 0.0714
Supplement 300 300 Ton 0.15
Hay 100 100 Ton 0.05
Daily Feed Cost, Per Day Daily Feed Cost, Per Day Daily Feed Cost, Per Day Daily Feed Cost, Per Day Daily Feed Cost, Per Day
Ration Ration Corn Based Corn Based Hay Only
Three Trial Average Three Trial Average 1.39 1.39 1.50
Winter Feeding Cost Winter Feeding Cost 180.57 180.57 195.00
Assumes 130 day winter feeding period
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Assuming 130 Day Winter Feeding

• Corn based may be cheaper if hay price exceeds
  93 per ton
• Even if hay is cheaper, what is the goal
• Do we want to minimize costs, or maximize profit?
• What is the value of a 21 lb increase in weaning
  weight and a 7 increase in conception rate?

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Value of Increased Production
Hay Only Corn Based
Avg. WW 613 lbs 634 lbs
Conception Rate 84 91
Lbs. weaned / cow 515 lbs 576 lbs
Income per cow 515 565
Difference -------- 50
613 _at_ 100 / cwt, 634 _at_ 98 / cow
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What about by-products?
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Limitations

• Moisture content
• Nutrient profile
• Storage
• Contaminants

• Economics
• Availability
• Transportation

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Soy Hulls

• Excellent palatability
• Less starch content than grains therefore, less
  negative effect on forage utilization
• Safer, less incidence of founder

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Type of Energy Supplement and Gain of Steers on
Hay Based Rations
Supplement Corn/SBM Soyhulls
Steer Wt. lbs 626 629
Sup. Intake lbs 7 (.75 / day) 7 (.49 / day)
Hay Intake lbs 11.7 11.5
ADG, lbs 1.8 2.2
KY PR 417, p. 86 KY PR 417, p. 86 KY PR 417, p. 86
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Corn Gluten

• By-product of soft drink industry
• May be wet or dried
• Corn gluten feed is around 22-25 CP corn
  gluten meal is about 60 CP
• Low starch

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Corn Gluten Feed

• High level of Sulfur (around 0.6)
• Limit to 50 of DMI due to its high sulfur
  content (Cu deficiency and polio)

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Distillers Grain
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Distillers Grain (30CP)

DM Price /T DM Ton Feed Cost /DM
Dried 88 120 1760 6.8
Modified 50 58 1000 5.8
Wet 30 38 600 6.3

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Storage of Wet Distillers Grains
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Challenges

• Transportation costs
• Equipment needs for handling and storage
• Rancidity

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Methods of Ensiling

• Silo Bags
• Bunker Silos
• Covered Piles

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Ensiling WDG With Soy Hulls
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Advantages of a 7030 Mixture (5050 DM basis)

• Reduces dust in soybean hulls
• Reduces seepage
• Decreases CP content to 21
• Maintains high energy values

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Ensiling WDG with Crop Residues

• On farm study
• Blended corn stalks with MWDG
• Blend was 60 DM
• Cool at bag opening
• Heated quickly

Garcia et al., 2004
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Recommendations

• DM of blends should be no more than 50
• Drier blends do not preserve as well
• Use of WDG over MWDG is preferred

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Commodity Rations for Limit Feeding Cows, Early
Winter
Feed/Ration 1 2 3 4 5
CGF 7.8 2 5.5 3
SBH 12 4.5 9 6.0 6.5
Grass Hay 3 3 3 3 10
DDGS
Limestone .2 .1
Protein Block X
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Commodity Rations for Limit Feeding Cows, Late
Winter
Feed/Ration 1 2 3 4 5
CGF 6.7 5.5 2.3
SBH 15 7.3 6.0 9.0 11
Grass Hay 3 3 3 3 10
DDGS 2.0 2.2
Lime .1 .1 .1
Protein Block X
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Meet the nutritional needs

• You must maintain body condition
• Calving
• Rebreeding

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Energy Deficiencies Affect

• Cow Rebreeding
• Calf Health/Survival
• Calf Growth Rate

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Energy Deficiencies Decrease Calf Survival
Through Lowered Immunoglobulin Transfer to Calf
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Timing of Deficiency Influences Effect

• Pre-calving deficiency ? days of post partum
  interval
• Post-calving deficiency ? conception

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BCS and Cow-calf Performance
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Limit Forage Consumption

• Supplement Forage
• Feed in Hay racks
• Utilize all hay before moving rack
• Delay feeding by 12 hours after roll eaten
• Move feeding area to reduce mud

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Rumensin for Wintering Cows

• 50 60 of total cost is winter feed
• Prevent and control coccidiosis
• Improved feed efficiency
• Feed in 1 lb of feed daily

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Cow and Calf Performance, Feed Intake, lbs Cow and Calf Performance, Feed Intake, lbs Cow and Calf Performance, Feed Intake, lbs
Control Rumensin
Precalving Hay 26.8 23.2
Postcalving Hay 30.5 26.2
SBH 3.5 3.0
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Feed Prices
Soybean Hulls 70/ton Supplement 5.35 or 6.85 /lb Hay 120 or 40/ton
Total Feed Costs and Savings Total Feed Costs and Savings Total Feed Costs and Savings Total Feed Costs and Savings
Control Rumensin Difference
Hay _at_ 120 168.50 146.27 22.23 (13.2)
Hay _at_ 40 63.86 56.51 7.35 (11.5)
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Cost per day on Purchased Hay
Cost of hay per ton
75 100 125 150
25 lb 0.94 1.25 1.56 1.88
30 lb 1.13 1.50 1.88 2.25
Disappearance per day
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Cost per day on Hulls / HaySubstituting Concept
(Late Winter)
Cost per ton of hay
100 125 150
140 1.20 1.24 1.28
160 1.35 1.39 1.43
180 1.50 1.54 1.58
Cost per ton of soy hulls
Ration 15 lbs soy hulls, 3 lbs grass hay
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Cost per day on Hulls / HayStretching Concept
(Late Winter)
Cost per ton of hay
100 125 150
140 1.57 1.70 1.82
160 1.68 1.81 1.93
180 1.79 1.92 2.04
Cost per ton of soy hulls
Ration 11 lbs soy hulls, 10 lbs grass hay, w/
protein block
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Cost per day on Stockpiled Fescue / Fall
Fertilization
Cost per lb of Nitrogen
0.50 0.55 0.60
20 1 0.89 0.98 1.07
25 1 0.71 0.79 0.86
30 1 0.59 0.65 0.71
Lbs of DM per lb of N
Note Considers only additional fescue production
from fertilizer (70 utilization)
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Restricting Hay Intake for Cows Nursing Calves
Hay Access, hrs 4 8 24
B. Wt. Ch. -125 -61 -44
Final BCS 5.4 5.5 6.1
BCS Ch. -.63 -.25 .15
Calf ADG lb 2.17 2.15 2.21
Milk, lbs 9.9 9.9 10.1
Hay Disap. 22.4 32 36
lt24 hr. 38 11.1 -------
PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189
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Restricting Hay Intake for Cows in Last Trimester
of Gestation
Hay Access hrs 3 5 7
B. Wt. Ch. 52 70 106
Final BCS 5.3 5.3 5.6
Hay Disap. 15.4 17.6 20
lt7 hours 23 12 ---------
PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189 PAS 21182-189
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Savings from Limit Hay FeedingLactating Cows
Access 4 Hours 8 Hours 24 Hours
Hay Consumed 22.4 32 36
Hay Savings / Day 13.6 lbs 4 lbs ---------
per day 0.68 0.20 ---------
Saving over 130 days 0.88 tons 0.26 tons ---------
Total Savings 88.4 26.00 ---------
Hay valued _at_ 100 per ton
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Savings from Limit Hay FeedingDry Cows
Access 3 Hours 5 Hours 7 Hours
Hay Consumed 15.4 17.6 20
Hay Savings / Day 4.6 lbs 2.4 lbs ---------
per day 0.23 0.12 ---------
Saving over 130 days .299 tons .156 tons ---------
Total Savings 29.9 15.6 ---------
Hay valued _at_ 100 per ton
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Early Weaning of Calves

• Decreases nutrient needs of the cow
• Cheaper to feed calf than cow
• Calves as old as 50 days can be weaned
• Feed conversion 4 to 5 lbs/lb of gain
• Good health practices
• Must be able to reach feed and water

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Early Weaning Rations, 300 lb Calf, ADG 2.0 lbs
Feed/Ration 1 2 3 4
Corn 2.0 2.3
CGF 1.5 3.3
Soy Hulls 5 3.3
Alfalfa hay 5.5
Grass hay 5
SBM-44 2 2.2 1.7
SBM-49 1.0
DDGS 1.3 1.65
Limestone .15 .1 .15
Dical Phos. .1
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Preconditioning Rations - Normal Wn. Weights
Ration 1 2 3 4 5
Grass Hay 3.3 4.4 6
Alf. Hay 5.5 5.0
SB Hulls 4.4 6.5 6.4 1.1
CGF 3.3 1.1
Corn 5.7
SB Meal 2.0 .7 2.0 1.8
DDGS 1.6 2.2
IRM St. Min. .25 .25 .25 .25 .25
500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis. 500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis. 500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis. 500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis. 500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis. 500 lb calf, ADG 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50 TDN and 9 CP Alfalfa 62 TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis.
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Feed Price Assumptions
Feed Price Feed Price
Sh. Corn 171 / ton DDGs 167 / ton
Corn Gluten 145 / ton Alfalfa Hay 150 / ton
Soy Hulls 160 / ton Grass Hay 100 / ton
SBM 44 288 / ton Limestone 3.05 / bag
SBM 48 296 / ton Dical 11.15 / bag
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Cost of Gain on Johns Rations
Ration Cost per Day Cost / lb gain
1 Alf, corn, SBM 0.89 0.45
2 Hay, Corn, SBM 0.77 0.39
3 Hull, Gluten, SBM, DDG 0.87 0.43
4 - Hull, Gluten, SBM, DDG 0.80 0.40
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Warning

• Consider all alternatives before you pay too much
  for poor-quality large round hay bales or other
  sources of roughage.

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Long Term Adjustment

• Store a surplus of hay (carry-over)
• Consider some warm season grass pasture
• Select cattle for reproductive efficiency
• Calving season

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QUESTIONS?