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NDSU BEEF COLLEGEDOUG LANDBLOM, RE CENTER SPEC.
DICKINSON RESEARCH EXTENSION CENTERFEBRUARY 11, 2010
Alternative Beef Systems:Weaning Age and Backgrounding
Alternatives
Beef System Research Questions
Can early weaning be used for more than drought management?
What effect does EW have on the range biomass disappearance, cow weight, and cow body condition?
After weaning, how should EW calves be managed? Feedlot? or Grazing? BRD and Other Health Issues?
Can cow wintering cost be reduced using an EW system?
EWNW
EW
NW
EWNW
Weaning Comparisons: Normal Weaned Control - Direct to Feedlot (1st Wk November) Normal Weaned - Unharvested Standing Corn (1st Wk November)
Early Weaned - Direct to Feedlot (Mid-August) Early Weaned - Unharvested Standing Corn (Mid-August )
Effect of Early Weaning on Native Range & Cow Condition
Native Range: Reduces forage disappearance
~ 36% Extends grazing season or
compensate for drought
Cow Weight and Condition: Increased cow weight Increased Condition ~ 0.80 BCS Increases Young Cow
Reproductive Performance Cows < 5 Years of age
Winter feed can be reduced to maintain BCS of 5.5
Lower inputs preserve/build equity
Corn Grain and Forage Nutrient Quality
CP, % NDF, % IVDMD, %
Corn Grain
Sept. (14% Moist. ) 14.1 12.2 90.8
Whole Plant
Sept. 9.16 61.0 75.2
Nov. 8.66 70.2 59.0
Jan. 4.36 79.8 43.5
Litter
Jan. (Trash on Ground) 9.57 72.1 64.7
Corn Production & Utilization, DM
Early Wean-Aug
(Corn)
Normal Wean–Nov
(Corn)
Peak Production, (DM) T/A 3.18 2.76
Start Graze, (DM) T/A 2.88 1.51
End Graze, (DM) T/A 0.87 0.44
Utilization , (DM) T/A 2.01 1.07
Field Disappearance, (DM) T/A -0.30 -1.26
Residual Stalks, (DM) T/A 0.87 0.44
Backgrounding Systems Economics
Pasture Control(Feedlot
)
Normal Wean–Nov
(Corn)
Early Wean-Aug
(Corn)
Early Wean
(Feedlot)
System Days
80 38.5 81 86
End Wt 620 703 645 611
Gain 165 85.2 179 206
ADG 2.06 2.21 2.21 2.40
Net Ret/Hd $87.50 -$5.82 $93.19 $69.56
Cost/Lb. Ga.
$0.59 $1.08 $0.52 $0.66
Beef Value Corn Grain Equivalent
Early Wean Normal Wean
Beef Value/Ac., $ 329.66 153.66
Corn Grain Equiv. (Bu/Ac @ $3.50/Bu)
94.19 43.90
Steer Health, Pulls & Treatment Cost
Pasture Control
(Feedlot)
Normal Wean–Nov
(Corn)
Early Wean-Aug
(Corn)
Early Wean
(Feedlot)
Pull 1, % 3.7 0.00 0.0 17.5
2, % 8.77
3, % 3.51
Ave Treatment Cost, $
$1.72 $0.00 $0.00 $9.92
Cows Follow Calves and Graze Corn Stalk Residue
ADG: 2009 Corn Stalk Grazing(70 Days)
Per 1 (D to J) - 37d Per 2 (J to F) - 33d Overall - 70d
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
EW-StalksNW-Stalks
Corn Stalk Residue Value
Months Grazing/Cow Range: 1.0 to 2.3 Months
Ac./Cow/Month Range: 0.50 to 0.87 Ac.
Hay Value $50.00/Ton
Hay Savings 0.50 Ton/Cow/Month
Winter Cost Reduction Range: $25 to $57/Cow
Cash Beef and Winter Hay Savings Value
EW Cash Beef Value: $329/ac+
Hay Savings: $57/hd ($49/ac)=
Combined Value : $378
Corn Grain Equivalent: 108 bu/ac
System EW Advantages
Cows: EW Reduced range forage disappearance ~36% EW improved cow BW and BCS
Rebreeding performance expected to improve with improved BCS among young cows
Grazing corn stalk residue following calves reduces winter feed and feeding cost
Extensive grazing management distributes waste Provides soil nutrients Reduces time required for manure hauling Reduces manure handling and labor costs
System EW Advantages
Calves: EW & Corn Grazing - Better performance than grazing Nat.
Rge.
EW & Corn Grazing - Greater Net Return/Hd than either Range or feedlot
EW & Corn Grazing - Minimized health problems
EW & Corn Grazing - Eliminated daily feeding, equipment, labor, fuel, and depreciation costs
EW & Corn Grazing - Cash Beef value/ac and Winter hay
savings exceed value/ac of corn grown for grain
Extensive EW System Disadvantages
Adequate Fencing and Water Supply
Early Weaning and Corn Grazing:
“At the end of backgrounding, beef value from cash crop calves combined with hay savings from corn stalk grazing (cows) will yield a
greater net return than either conventional beef production or corn grown for grain
only.”
Questions
