Effects of Decreasing Pasture Land Availability

on Beef Operations

October 10, 2013

All cattle and calves in the U.S. was 89.3 million head on January 1, 2013. The lowest since 1952

(Beef production 25.9b. Lb. vs. 9.3 b. lb.)

• Higher cattle prices• Higher input prices

Situation

• Extended Drought• Urban Sprawl• Land Leasing for Crops

What’s Happening to Pastureland

“Corn sets the price for everything”

Fit each acre to its best use!!

• More dependence on forages (due to high cost of grain)

• Better utilization of forages• Replace feed grain (corn) with grain by-

products• Graze some grain crops? Co-Exist?

• e.g. Grain/combine wheat

How do we adapt?

• More dependence on forages (due to high cost of grain)

• Better utilization of forages• Replace feed grain (corn) with grain by-

products• Graze some grain crops? Co-Exist?

• e.g. Grain/combine wheat

How do we adapt?

Performance of Beef Calves Fed Supplements Containing

Glycerin

R. Burris, J. Lehmkuhler and J. Randolph

University of Kentucky

Objectives

• Minimize the use of grain supplements and maximize the use of forges and by-products.

• To evaluate the use of glycerin (a by-product of biodiesel mfg) as a feedstuff.

• Develop a by-product supplement for postweaning calves.

Trial 1

By-product Supplements for Beef Heifers

Ingredients, %

Supplement

1 2 3

Soyhulls 80 70 70

DDG 20 20 20

Glycerin -- 10 --

Corn -- -- 10

By-product Supplements for Beef Heifers (Individually-fed)

Item10% of Supplement from:

Soyhulls Glycerin CornCalves, no. 6 7 7Avg. Init. Wt., lb. 700 689 693Avg. Daily Gain, lb. Day 1-28 Day 1-84

3.912.67

4.732.78

3.932.70

Avg. Feed Intake, lb. Day 1-28 Day 1-84

23.920.0

26.021.1

24.920.3

Feed/Gain, lb. Day 1-28 Day 1-84

6.27.6

5.67.7

6.57.6

Note: Heifers were allowed ad libitum intake of supplement with two lbs. of cottonseed hulls for the first 28 days then intake was restricted to 1.75% of bodyweight thereafter.

Trial 2

Test (216 $/T)

% Ingredient 68.75 Soyhulls

20.00 Distillers grain

10.00 Glycerin

1.25 IRM stocker mineral w/Rumensin (1620 g/T)

Commercial Feed (440 $/T)13% Crude Protein

CTC and Bovatec

w/ 1.22% Ca

0.40% P

1.00% Salt

.90% K

Vitamin A 4,800 IU/lb and Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu, Se

Individually-fed steer calves receiving different diets ad libitum

Item Commercial Feed Test Feed

Steers, no. 11 11

Avg. Init. Wt., lb. 728.9 728.9

Average Daily Gain, lb Day 1 – 28 Day 29 – 43 Day 1 – 43

4.404.674.49

4.585.184.79

Average Daily Feed Intake, lb Day 1 – 28 Day 29 – 43 Day 1 – 43

21.824.022.6

21.323.722.2

Feed/Gain ratio Day 1 – 28 Day 29 – 43 Day 1 – 43

5.05.15.0

4.74.64.6

1. Glycerin can be an effective feed ingredient • Increase energy density• Serve as a conditioner

2. Glycerin can be a part of an “all by-product” supplement for weaned beef calves

Summary

• More dependence on forages (due to high cost of grain)

• Better utilization of forages• Replace feed grain (corn) with grain by-

products• Graze some grain crops? Co-Exist?

• e.g. Grain/combine wheat

How do we adapt?

Grazing stocker calves (heifers) on wheat and stockpiled fescue

Managing Heifers on Wheat Pasture

Wheat Pasture

Graze/Grain Graze Out

Heifers, no 12 12

Init. Wt., lb. 631 635

Days, grazing 34 101

Days Out 59 126

ADG, lb 1.93 1.75

Total gain, lb/hd 114 221

Value of grazing days @$1.50

77 227

What about wheat (grain) yields?

Compaction?

Subsequent soybean yields?

Grazed vs. Ungrazed

72.1 vs. 71.5 bu/A

81.3 vs. 81.5 head/ft2

(no real difference)

Grazed vs. Ungrazed

• High grain diets might change• Better forage management• More by-products feeding• Look for opportunities• Problem is erodible land that shouldn’t be

cropped when fences are removed

Summary