Winter Feeding a Cow for $200

UW Extension State-wide Beef Cow-calf Days MedfordBy: Keith Vander VeldeUW Extension Seven County Agriculture Specialization Livestock Specialist

Winter Feeding for $200 Cow-calf Profitability is influenced by 4 factors

1. Yearly cost of keeping a cow (Feed & Operation)

2. Number of cows exposed at breeding that calf

3. Weaning or yearling weight of calves

4. Price received for calves and market ready cows

Winter Feeding for $200Feed costs are the biggest expense to cow-calf producer

Winter Feeding for $200Feed costs are the biggest expense a cow-calf producer has to wean a calfIn most studies of cow-calf operations feed cost range from 55% to 80% of total costs

Winter Feeding for $200Feed costs are the biggest expense a cow-calf producer has to wean a calfIn most studies of cow-calf operations feed cost range from 55% to 80% of total costsOf total feed cost the biggest variation between operations was in winter feed charges-varies a $1 per day between high and low cost producers

Wintering a cow for $200Our “CHALLENGE” is to reduce feed charges without affecting cow body condition and future reproductive performance

Winter Feeding for $200In Wisconsin the period of time we often winter feed is December –April or 150 days.

Winter Feeding for $200In Wisconsin the period of time we often winter feed is December –April or 150 days.

During this period we have frozen ground and often have snow cover but if the feed is there cows will find it

Winter Feeding for $200Ask Yourself these questions: Do I have adequate feed in storage for

winter feeding? Have I pre-purchased feed when prices

were low? Have I looked at energy and protein

costs of various feeds and compared them for value?

Have I stockpile forage for winter Grazing?

Winter Feeding for $200 Cost Per Cow-Calf UnitFeed: Cost % of Total Fixed Overhead: Cost % Total

Pasture $75 15% Mach/Bldg/Fence $16 3% Winter Feed $200 41% Livestock $39 8% Feed Total $275 56% Overhead Total $55 11% Operating Expense: Labor $80 17% Vet/supplies $45 9% Interest $16 3%

Bull or AI $20 4% Total Operating $436 31%

Total cost/Cow $491Total cost/Cow $491____________ ____________

Winter Feeding For $200Keep Cost for Winter Feeding at $200 Make or Purchase hay for $80 per ton Feed for 120 days Store hay to reduce waste Feed in ring feeders (lowest priced, less

waste Achieve to feed 30 lbs per day

Economic Considerations

Winter Feeding for $200Fall & Winter Grazing to Reduce Feed

Cost: 1. Corn Stalk Grazing a. Average 5000 lbs. of residue in

irrigated corn fields b. Average 2500 lbs. of residue in

dryland corn fields c. Primary difference is leaf loss

Winter Feeding For $200Graze stockpiled Forage until Jan 1st:

Alfalfa fields Rested cool season grass pastureWarm season grassesWheat, rye, or barley planted in AugustConsider Standability of Forage

Wintering Cows for $200Standability for various forages Tall Fescue-good Big Bluestem-good Timothy-good Little Bluestem-

poor Orchard Indian Grass-good Brome grass-poor Switchgrass-good but

cows do not like it Alfalfa-fair Red clover-good

Wintering Cows for $200What about direct feeding Must meet the cows energy and

protein requirements Can be done with hay, silage and

various grains including byproducts Need to make sure you have

adequate bunk or feeder space

Winter Feeding for $200Consider Byproduct Feedstuffs Dried Distillers Grain Brewers Grains Wheat Midds Grain Screenings Cannery Waste(Sweetcorn,carrots) Potatoes

Wintering Cows for $200Take advantage of low commodity prices Corn at $3.75/bushel is 7 cents per lb

Oats at $2.50/bushel is 8 cents per lb

Round bales at $30 each(assume 3/ton equals $90 per ton) are 5 cents per lb

Distillers Grain at $150 per ton is 7.5 cents per lb

Wintering a Cow for $200Maintenance needs of 1100 lb cow last 1/3 of pregnancy 10.3 Mcals of energy 1.6 lbs of crude protein

Wintering a Cow for $200Maintenance needs of 1100 lb cow last 1/3 of pregnancy 10.3 Mcals of energy 1.6 lbs of crude proteinMaintenance needs of 1100 lb cow first

4 months after calving 15 Mcals of energy 2.6 lbs of crude protein

Wintering a cow for $100Feed Values of Common Feeds

Alfalfa

% DM Mcal/#m % Protein

90 .54 16

Brome 89 .54 11

Orchard 88 .58 11

Straw 91 .34 4

Oats 89 .8 12

Corn 88 1.02 9

Limit-feedingHAY LFC DDGS

Total intake, lbs/d 30 20.5 17.5Hay, lbs/d 30 5 5Corn, lbs/d -- 13 --DDGS, lbs/d -- -- 10Supplement, lbs/d -- 2.5 2.5

Feed costs, $/da 1.50 1.63 1.15aCalculated with the following prices: corn=$3.80/bu; hay=$100/ton; DDGS=$130/ton; LFC supplement=$400/ton; DDGS supplement=$200/ton.

Ohio State University, Radunz et al., 2008

Wintering Cows for $200Remember: With extreme cold weather energy

needs go up and it is important to increase the roughage portion of the ration

Thin cows needing improvement in body condition need additional energy for gaining weight

Wintering cows for $200The key to profit is: keeping winter and grazing period cost low having a 90% pregnancy rate wean calves at 550 lbs or more take advantage of market premiums precondition calves effectively market calves and cows-avoid

the market low periods in the fall

Thanks for Attending from UW Livestock Team