Low Input Methods to Improve Returns

Keith MartinWildcat DistrictLivestock Agent

Current Situation• Different Environment than past

– Higher Calf prices– Higher feed prices– Higher input costs

• Fuel• Equipment• Fertilizer• Land

– Different Value/gain– Higher risk– More reward

• What does this mean?Returns (+ or -) to management are greater

First questions to answer:What are your personal & financial goals?

What available resources do you have to help you meet these goals?

Are you making the best uses of these resources to meet those goals?

Where are resources best spent?

• Increasing Production?• Reducing Costs?

• Focus on Cost of production– Per pound of weaned calf– Per pound of gain

Rethink your Management DecisionsQuestion everything

• Cost/benefit– Does spending more return more?– Does spending less return less?

• What is the effect on production?– Weaning Weights– Calving pct

• What is the effect on costs?– Feed– Fixed Costs

Duh DecisionsJust do it

– Castration– Dehorning– Implanting (natural market?)– Worming– Using Ionophores– Vaccination– Feeding 3x per week– Feeding in evening– Culling Decisions– Breeding soundness exams on bulls

Culling

Easy Decisions• Open• Ornery• Old• Odd ball

Decision which needs more information• Cull below average producers

– Weights– Records– Gives most return

Do bigger cows wean Do bigger cows wean heavier calves?heavier calves?

Cow-1098, Calf-325Cow-1098, Calf-325

Cow-1080, Calf-Cow-1080, Calf-601601

275

Cow-1344, Calf-Cow-1344, Calf-623623

Cow-1350, Calf-344Cow-1350, Calf-344

279

KSU-ARCH dataKSU-ARCH dataJ.R. JaegerJ.R. Jaeger

Bilogical Efficiency

300

400

500

600

700

800

900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,600 1,700

Cow Wght

Ca

lf W

gh

t

Maintenance Requirements are based on surface area of animal not body weight.NEm = 0.007 X BW0.75

Process Calves at 2 – 4 months

• Castration• Dehorning• Implant• Worm Calves• Vaccinate

Source: Kirkpatrick, et al. 2008. JAVMA Vol. 233, No. 1, Pages 136-142.

Reproduction & Genetics

• Reproduction most important measure• Utilize Heterosis

– Crossbred cow more fertile– Longevity

• Apply selection pressure on cowherd• Select heifers for fertility• Select bulls with end in mind• Buy vs raise replacements

Feed & Forage Costs

• Highest cost in beef production

• Spend dollars to gain most benefit

• Reduce costs with least reduction in production

• Cow is 4 – legged forage harvester• Cow is 4 – legged fertilizer cart

Forage• Manage grazing or shut and open gates

• Weed & Brush control– Weeds are a symptom of a management issue– Some weeds are more problematic than others– Most economical to spray weeds when small– Spray weeds or fertilize

• Fertilization– When is forage short?– What forage is most beneficial?– Which forage responds best to fertilizer?– Legumes vs grasses– Cost of alternatives

Haying• Costs

– Baling costs– Storage costs– Feeding costs

• Value gained– Harvest protein vs grazed protein– Timely harvest – Can hay replace purchased supplements

Native Grass

• Hay– Consistent– 6% Crude Protein– Palatable

– Baling– Hauling– Storage– Feeding– Supplement with protein

• Graze Dormant– Increase root reserves– Nutrient recycling

– 4 – 5% Crude Protein– Fencing– Water

Feed

• Supplement vs substitute• Protein is usually first limiting nutrient

– Price per unit of protein

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

Supplement DMI (% BW)

Dig

esti

ble

DM

I (%

of Contr

ol) RDP

FiberStarch

• Associative effects occur when a mixture of feeds in the diet results in a production response that deviates from linearity. Associative effects can be negative or positive.

Schmidt et al. (2006)

Predictability of Ruminal Response to Supplementation of Low-Quality Forages

Effect of Supplement Protein Content on Low-Quality Forage Intake

40.0

45.0

50.0

55.0

60.0

65.0

70.0

75.0

80.0

None <15% 15.1 to 20% 20.1 to 30% >30%

Fora

ge O

MI (

g/kg

BW

0.75

)

Heldt (1998)

% CP in Supplement

141 treatment averages from 31

experiments

• Situation: Forage quality is poor (CP < 7%)

• Forage intake is 1.0 to 1.5% of cow BW

• Diet digestibility is 35 to 45%

• Cow loses 1 BCS / month

• Solution: Add about 1.0 lbs / d of supplemental RDP

• Forage intake improves to 2.2 to 2.8% of cow BW

• Diet digestibility improves to 55 to 65%

• Cow gains 0.25 to 0.5 BCS / month

Influence of Corn on Forage Intake

Chase and Hibberd (1987)

Influence of Grain Supplementation on Total Energy Intake

Chase and Hibberd (1987)

Feed to BCS 5 or 6 at calving

BCS vs Birth Weight

Fescue Endophyte

• Improves grass persistence• Reduces blood flow to extremities

– Increases core temperature– Fescue Foot– Lost switches

• Reduces viability of sperm• Increase early embryonic loss

Calf Performance 2 yr avg.

fall spring• Pasture 100 E+ 25 NE+ 100 NE+ 100 E+ NE+• WW Actual 530 547 582 492 502• WW Adj 478 491 527 453 462

• Calving Pct94% 97% 87% 42% 80%

• Lbs/Cow Exp 498 532 506 206 401

Summary

Season of calving season had an impact on:• calf weaning weight (42 lb)• calf price ($ 6.31/cwt.)• calf value ($ 80/hd)• pregnancy rates (33%)• calf value/cow exposed ($241)

Adding 25% NE

Spring Calving Cows

• Increased pregnancy rates 34% from spring-calving cows

• Increased calf value/cow exposed ($101)

• Improved weaning weight (23 lb)

Conclusions

Producers with E+ • Should consider fall calving.• If you choose spring calving

– Avoid high temperatures during breeding season

– Establish non-endophyte Kentucky 31

– Other warm season forages• Bermudagrass• Summer annuals

Novel Endophyte

• NE+ is a viable option – Forage intake will increase– Will take time and expense to establish– New NE+ varieties are available

• Texoma, MaxQII, from Pennington Seed • Estancia, Mountain View Seed• Duramax Armor, DLF International Seeds• BarOptima Plus E34, Barenbrug USA

Summary

• Make decisions based on how they both production and costs– Cost per pound of weaned calf– Cost per pound of gain

• Each operation’s goals and resources are different

• K – State Research & Extension, provides research based information to aid you in reaching your goals

Questions?

ContactKeith Martin

(620) 784-5337rkmartin@ksu.edu