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Winter Feeding Management for Livestock 2-20-14
Mark Landefeld OSU ANR Educator Monroe County, Ohio Buckeye Hills EERA
The Cost of Feeding Livestock • 2008 research by Ron Lemenager etal. at Purdue, found
feed cost represents somewhere between 60-75% of the annual cost of keeping a cow.
• The 1989 study by Fowler and Stout found feed costs to be more than 90% of the variable costs in a cow-calf operation. • Hay production accounted for a major portion of that 90%.
The Cost of Feeding Livestock cont’d
• The amount of hay needed for winter feeding is directly related to your pasture management and grazing rotations during the growing season.
What is your Pasture Management & Grazing Plan? • Is it open the gate into the pasture and let the cows go?
• See you in the Fall! • Changing pastures a few times during the Summer
• Moving livestock to a new field once a month • Rotational Grazing
• Moving livestock to a new paddock every 3-5 days and monitoring grass growth before moving them in
• Intensively Managed Rotational Grazing • Moving to new paddocks daily, monitoring grass growth
measuring forage growth regularly • Good pasture management is a year around process
What Are Things We Need to Address in Pasture Management? • Water • Wet paddocks, soil types and pugging soil • Spring flush of grass growth • Pasture utilization and rotation(s) • Fertility
• Spring, Summer, Fall • pH
• Forage specie selection • Weeds and their control • Other
Providing Water is Critical Beef 6-15 gal./day Dairy (milking) 15-40 gal./day
-0.50
0.51
1.52
2.53
Gains in lbs/day
Cows Calves Steers
Gain per day with two water sources
DugoutTrough
.01 .49 1.76 2.26 2.05 2.70
Source: Water Source as a Factor Affecting Livestock Production by Walter Willms
Algae Control in Troughs or Tanks
Amount of Crystals Amount by Weight Treats for 1ppm
0.5 teaspoon 1.5 oz. 350 gal. 1.0 teaspoon 3.0 oz. 675 gal. 1.5 teaspoon 4.5 oz. 1000 gal. 2.0 teaspoon 6.0 oz. 1350 gal. 3.0 teaspoon 8.0 oz. 2000 gal.
Chlorine bleach is another option to help reduce algae growth. Each week add 2 to 3 oz. of bleach for each 50 gallons of water. Use bleach without scent.
Algae can clog overflows or possibly create toxic conditions in a livestock water trough. Apply Copper Sulfate Crystals at the following rates.
Dissolve crystals in warm water an pour around the tank. Periodically cleaning the tank to reduce nutrients slows algae growth.
Source: OSU Fact Sheet ANR 12-02
Wet Paddocks and Pugging Soil
• What does tracking or pugging do? • Opens the soil surface • Can damage soil structure • Can cause root damage to forage plants
• May take plants a long time to recover • May allow weeds to begin to grow • May cause loss of livestock’s productivity
• Pounds gained • Milk production
Wet Paddocks and Pugging Soil cont’d
• Is opening the soil surface always bad? • Severe damage (changing soil structure) is not good
• This can cause the top 1-3 inches of the soil to seal and not allow rain to penetrate-(especially clay soils)
• Reduces number of plants growing • Can cause 20-80% less growth per
plant in these areas • May take several months to two years to recover
• What will fill in the open areas? • Grass, legume or weeds
Wet Paddocks and Pugging Soil cont’d
• Loss of livestock production • How much do we lose?
• Difficult to measure! • The National Research Council (1981) reported that small
amounts of mud (4-8 inches deep) can reduce feed intake 5-15 percent, while larger amounts of mud (12-24 inches deep) could reduce feed intake 15 to 30 percent.
• Smith (1971) reported that cattle in frequent deep mud could require 30 percent more net energy for maintenance requirements than normally needed. A University of Nebraska study (1991) found nearly identical results.
Mud Increases Stress, Reduces Gain
Effects of Mud Based on temperatures 21-39º F
Source: Beef Feeder, U of Nebraska 1991
Mud Depth Potential Loss of Gain No Mud 0% Dew claw deep 7% Shin deep 14% Below hock 21% Hock deep 28% Belly deep 35%
Mud Increases Stress, Reduces Gains cont’d
Bond et al. (1970) reported that mud reduced daily gains of animals 25-37% and increased the amount of feed required per pound of gain by 20-33%
How Can We Reduce Pugging & Tracking • Feed on well drained relatively flat ground • Use a dedicated feeding area- preset bales
• Control erosion if on a hilly area • Multiple Groups
• By nutritional needs • Heavy Use Pads
• Are we losing enough production to pay for a feed pad? • Concrete or Geotextile cloth, stone & screenings
• 60-70 ft²/cow or ± 100 ft²/cow/calf pair • Need a way to scrape, load and spread manure
Heavy Use Feed Pads
Heavy Use Feed Pads cont’d
Feed Multiple Groups for Better Production Divide by: • Spring Calving • Fall Calving • Nutritional needs
• Stage of development/maturity • Mid vs: Last 1/3 of pregnancy • Lactating
• Provide enough space for all to eat at one time
General Rule to Minimize Waste
• Feed hay in well-drained areas.
• Feed hay in small amounts and/or in a feeder.
• Feed hay stored outside before hay stored inside.
Bale Type
With Rack Loss % 1-Day 7-Day Supply Supply
Without Rack Loss % 1-Day 7-Day Supply Supply
Small Square 3.9 4.9 6.7* N/A
Large Round or Square 4.9 5.4 12.3* 43.0*
Formed Stacks 8.8 15.0 22.6 41.0
Small Rnd. < 100 lbs. (fed in place on pasture)
N/A N/A 10.0 30.0
* Spread/unrolled in field
Methods of Feeding Makes a Difference
Source: MU Extension G4570
Michigan State Hay Feeding Study Dry matter hay waste was 3.5%, 6.1%, 11.4% and 14.6% for the cone, ring, trailer and cradle feeders, respectively. Source: Daniel Buskirk, Dept. of Animal Science, 1290 Anthony Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1225 [email protected]
Hay Storage • Types of storage loss
• Dry matter loss • Quality loss
• Factors affecting outside storage loss • Bale density & tying method • Climate influence • Site selected for storage • Bale placement/orientation • Top of bale protection • Bottom of bale protection
Examples Of Things We Should Not Do
Bales should not be allowed to be in standing water, even on a temporary basis
The rounded sides of bales should not touch.
Hay should not be placed under trees.
Source: Minimizing Losses in Hay Storage and Feeding
Hay Storage of Alfalfa:Grass Round bales
2 2-5 10- 35+ 10-15 12-29 5-8
Source: Oklahoma St., R.L. Huhnke
Temperature Action Steps 120°F or below
No concern, no action needed. Normal sweating process.
120 to 140°F Check temperature daily. Some protein denatured.
140 to 150°F Entering the danger zone! Check temperature every two hours. Check temperature twice a day. More protein denatured. Sweet caramel, tobacco odor
150ºF Begin moving hay out of the structure. At a minimum, stacked hay should be disassembled to allow more air to move around heated bales to cool them.
150 to 160°F Begin moving hay out of the structure. At a minimum, stacked hay should be disassembled to allow more air to move around heated bales to cool them. Much protein denatured.
160 to 175°F Call fire department; have them on-site before moving hay.
175°F The danger of spontaneous combustion is rapidly increasing. Hot spots or fire pockets are likely. If possible, stop all air movement around hay. Call 911 to alert of a possible hay fire. Do not walk or climb on stacked hay! It may collapse.
185°F Remove hot hay. This should be done with the assistance of the fire service. Fire service should be prepared for hay to burst into flame when it contacts fresh air. Move hay away from buildings with bucket-loader or bulldozer.
200°F or higher
Hay is almost sure to ignite. Remove hot hay. This should be done with the assistance of the fire service. Fire service should be prepared for hay to burst into flame when it contacts fresh air. Move hay away from buildings with bucket-loader or bulldozer.
What can we do when it dries out?
• Reseeding if the field is in very bad shape or you want to change forage species
• Drag or smooth the ground • Drag and maybe add seed….annual or perennial
grasses, legumes?
• Let it go • Let it go- may lose production for remainder of the
year.
Paddock Tracked-up Badly
Regrowth- no reseeding
Regrowth-no reseeding cont’d
Spring Flush of Growth
Picture from: Pasture Utilization - The Critical Factor
Spring Flush of Grass
• Should rapid grass growth in Spring concern us? • Grass tetany
• Metabolic disorder involving magnesium deficiency
• Do we understand grass growth? • 60% of cool season grasses total dry matter produced by
early July • Vegetative vs: seed heads
• Quality
Source: Getting Started Grazing, Ag Communications, Columbus OH
Pasture Utilization & Rotation
Source: Penn State, Agronomy Guide, Grazing Management Section
1.One animal unit = feed requirements of a 1,000-lb dry cow (25 lbs. dry matter/day). 2.These are estimates of the percentage of pasture actually consumed. Utilization is usually improved as grazing pressure is increased.
1 80% 0.042 0.031 0.021 2 75% 0.089 0.067 0.044 3 75% 0.133 0.100 0.067 4 70% 0.190 0.143 0.095 5 65% 0.256 0.192 0.128 6 60% 0.333 0.250 0.167 7 60% 0.389 0.292 0.194
Grazing period (days)
Pasture utilization² (percent)
Available pasture (lbs dry matter/A) 750 1,000 1,500 --- A/animal unit¹ ---
Pasture Utilization & Rotation cont’d
• Monthly moves = 40-50% • Continuous grazing = 20-50% • Will the livestock eat it the second/third time around? • How much residual should we leave?
• Time of year • Species of forage
30 days 50% 2.0 1.5 1.0
Grazing period (days)
Pasture utilization² (percent)
Available pasture (lbs dry matter/A) 750 1,000 1,500 --- A/animal unit¹ ---
Amount of Residual & Rest for the Plants
• When should we take livestock out? • Depends on the plant species
• Leaf blades intercept sunlight • Keeps soil cooler and reduces N volatilization from urine • Sufficient time “rest period” for regrowth must be allowed
• This is a very important factor for healthy productive plants Rest Period
University of Kentucky Study Dr. Ray Smith, Laura Schwer & Tom Keene Two similar orchardgrass plants were chosen from a greenhouse. Both were managed the same for 6 months:
Clipped ~once per month Supplied with good fertility (N,P, K) and water
Re-growth Response Varies
Left plant simulates continuous grazing. Initially clipped to a 1 inch height Then clipped weekly for the next 4 weeks at a 1 inch height
Right plant simulates rotational grazing. Initially clipped to a 3.5 inch height Then clipped again at 3.5 inches four weeks later
Time lapse photography started at the beginning of the fifth week (day 29) for both plants.
Re-growth Response Varies cont’d
Day #1 (24 hours after clipping) 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Day# 2 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Day# 3 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Day# 4 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Day# 5 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Day# 6 1” Continuous 3.5” Rotational
Root response
Fertility
• Effect of pH on mineral availability to plants
Ohio Agronomy Guide Bulletin 472 – 14th Edition
Fertility cont’d
• Minimum soil test levels
Grasses Grass & Legume mix Available P 30-60 lbs./A 50-80 lbs./A Exchangeable K Critical level lbs./A for K= 2(75+ (2.5 x CEC)) for all crops Exchangeable Ca 400-16000 lbs./A 400-16000 lbs./A Exchangeable Mg 100-2000 lbs./A 100-2000lbs./A Available Zn 3.0 lbs./A 3.0 lbs./A
Fertility cont’d
• Should we fertilize pastures? • When should we fertilize? • How much area should we fertilize? • Don’t promote Grass Tetany with K applications (spring) • 95% of N going thru cows comes out as urine or manure • Research has shown effective N application rate from
urine of continuously grazed cattle is <1lb./A/day, while cattle moved to a new paddock each day is nearly 50lbs./A/day
Forage Specie Selection • Grasses
• Orchardgrass- yield, regrowth, easy establish • Kentucky Bluegrass- sod forming, persistent, grazing tolerant • Smooth Bromegrass- winter hardy, high spring yield, sod forming • Perennial Ryegrass- easy establish, palatable, quality, graze often • Timothy- easy establish, later maturing, not competitive w/legumes • Reed Canayrgrass- high yield, flood & drought tolerant, N scavenger • Tall Fescue- easy establish, heavy traffic, stockpile
Forage Specie Selection cont’d
• Legumes • Alfalfa- quality, productive, summer growth • White Clovers- palatable, spreads by stolens, poor drainage tolerant • Red Clovers- easy establishment, high yields, tolerates lower pH • Birdsfoot Trefoil- palatable, bloat free, frequent grazing
• Mixtures of Legumes and Grasses
Add legumes to your paddocks
• Why do we want legumes in pastures? • Diversity of species usually adds tonnage • Decreases need for adding nitrogen • Dilutes fescue and endophyte associated problems • Increases quality of the forage
• Better forage increases livestock performance
Legumes Make a Difference Species Length of
trials (yrs.)
Gain/head
(lbs./day)
Animal class State
Tall fescue* 3 0.12 Cows IN
Tall fescue*& red and ladino clover
0.74
Tall fescue* 3 1.30 Calves IN
Tall fescue* & red and ladino clover
1.80
Orchardgrass 10 1.07 Steers VA
Orchardgrass & ladino clover
1.28
Animal performance on grass vs. legume-grass mixtures. *Tall fescue used in each of these studies was endophyte infected. Data from Lacefield & Smith University of Kentucky AGR-26
Include Legumes in Pastures Species Conception rate (%) State
Tall fescue* 75 IL
Tall fescue* & legume 89
Tall fescue* 72 IN
Tall fescue* & clover 92
Cow conception rates on grass vs. grass-legume pastures. *Tall fescue in each of these studies was endophyte infected. Data from Lacefield & Smith University of Kentucky AGR-26
Include Legumes in Pastures
Pastures Daily Gain (lbs./steer)
Total lbs./steer
Total lbs./A
Fescue & Ladino Clover
1.53
307
582
Fescue & 150 lbs. N/A
1.06
203
374
Hoveland, C.S., et al. 1981. Bulletin 530. Auburn, AL
Av. Daily Gain and Gains/Acre of Steers Grazing Tall Fescue & Tall Fescue-Clover Pastures
Stockpiling Forage • What is Stockpiling?
• The general definition of stockpiling is accumulating forage for later grazing.
• What Can I Use To Extend The Grazing Season? • 1) Annuals • 2) Perennials • 3) Other
Stockpiling Forage cont’d
Rule of Thumb: 1500-2000 lbs. of additional forage for 50lbs. nitrogen Urea @ $525/ton = 26¢/lb. 50 lbs./ .46 = 109 lbs. of urea 109 lbs. x .26 = $28.34 Can we buy 2 – 1000 pound round bales for $28.34?
Minerals in Forage • Do pasture forages provide all minerals needed?
Forage mineral values for winter grazing demonstration project in Ohio.
Specie Ca P K Mg S Mn Fe Cu Zn Na
(%) (ppm)
Gestating Cow 0.20 0.20 0.6 .12 .15 40 50 10 30 600
Early Lactation 0.36* 0.27* 0.7 .20 .15 40 50 10 30 1000
Fescue 0.47 0.24 1.6 0.22 0.2 66 117 3 22 38
Fes-RC-Alfalfa 0.62 0.18 1.4 0.29 0.2 57 106 4 20 58
Fes-RC-OG 0.54 0.18 1.6 0.24 0.2 83 74 3 22 24
Fes-OG 0.29 0.26 2.4 0.19 0.2 147 73 5 29 15
Red clover-Fes 0.44 0.28 2.2 0.33 0.2 86 55 4 23 21
Red clover-OG 0.77 0.30 2.3 0.28 0.2 102 170 8 42 230
OG-Bluegrass 0.54 0.19 1.4 0.21 0.2 122 385 6 32 87
Bluegrasss 0.48 0.24 1.7 0.22 0.2 184 101 6 29 9
Orchardgrass 0.60 0.22 1.4 0.18 0.2 104 198 5 33 4
In Summary • Increase H2O sites • Be mindful of pugging soils in wet weather • Control your stored forage losses • Utilize the “Spring Flush” wisely • Provide adequate rest periods & monitor regrowth • Check fertility levels & pH • Add legumes • Stockpile forage • Provide mineral supplementation
• Additional Forage Production Resources • http://forages.osu.edu/
• Additional Weed Control Resources • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLUlLIxUpk • Bulletin 789 – 2014 Ohio Weed Control Guide • http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/agr/agr172/agr172.pdf
• Additional Fertility Resources • Bulletin 472 – Ohio Agronomy Guide – 14th Edition
Weeds/Invasives
• Multiflora rose • Autumn Olive • Spotted Knapweed • Canada Thistle • Nightshade family • Ironweed • Cocklebur
Multiflora rose
Chemical Controls Cimarron Plus Banvel Crossbow Glyphosate Spike
Autumn Olive
Chemical Controls Crossbow Remedy Ultra Glyphosate Arsenal
Spotted Knapweed
Chemical Controls Forefront Milestone Curtail Stinger
Canada Thistle
Chemical Controls Forefront Milestone Curtail Stinger Glyphosate
Niteshade family
Horse Nettle (Perennial)
Eastern Black Nightshade (S/A)
Chemical Controls Milestone Cimarron Max Accurate Valuron Patriot Glyphosate
Chemical Controls Forefront Milestone Crossbow Glyphosate
Ironweed
Chemical Controls Crossbow Forefront Glyphosate
Cocklebur
Chemical Controls Cimarron Max Crossbow Dicamba Forefront Milestone Stinger Glyphosate
