How to Feed the Cow Herd When There Is No Feed Title used in 1989 Ivan Rush Beef Specialist UNL – Panhandle Res and Ext Center

Management Considerations Cull earlier and hard Any cow you think may be culled later should be a candidate Wean earlier Age of weaning will depend on operation Decrease demand and cost of cow maintenance Cow intake is 25% greater when lactating

Cow Requirements – Lactating and Dry CP TDN Hay Eq $/day Lactation 2.7 15.2 31 $1.09 Dry Early Preg 1.4 10.1 21 $.74 Difference 1.3 5.1 10 $.35

Early Weaning 60-90 days 5 Months Week earlier than last year Aid in reproduction 5 Months Aid in cow condition and efficient gain Week earlier than last year

Consideration when to wean Forage availability and quality Cow condition Marketing of calf Season of year Carcass Quality Costs and opportunity for early weaned calves Bias

Costs versus Satisfaction Leave calves on and feed hay free choice Hay – 35-40 lb @ $100/t = $1.88/day Hay would need to be $54/ton to get cost to $1/da If forage available but want to stretch feed, Example - 6 lb of grain for supplement Supp = $.45 + $.78 for pasture = $1.23 Wean calves and feed cows hay 22lb hay ($100)= $1.10 plus $.40 for calf = $1.50

Costs versus Satisfaction Wean calves and feed high levels of corn Cows 21 lb of high grain ration = $.92 plus calf @ $.40 = $1.32

Effect of Early Weaning on Reproduction and Cow Condition – OK State EW (50da) NW (210) Preg Rate 96.8 59.4 Cow gain,lb 89 41 Cows (2 yr old) were thin when early calves were weaned Lusby et al JAS 53- 1193

Weaning Dates - NE EW 150 da NW 210 da LW 270 da Wean wt 425 539 594 ADG – Fin 2.86 3.08 3.30 F/G 6.6 6.78 6.87 Days fed 247 214 197 Fin Wt 1146 1159 1122

Weaning Dates - NE EW 150 da NW 210 da LW 270 da % Ch- &> 94 83 79 Fat .34 .32 .28 Profit/cow $-51 $1 $-8 Fin BreakE $66 $65 $67

Summary of Research with Early Weaned Calves Weaning before breeding will improve reproduction Early wean calves are more efficient in converting high concentrate rations Gain and final weight are variable ADG range form +.4 to -.29 3 neg EW = -.21 3 pos EW = +.23

Summary of Research Quality grade is variable Range from positive 25% to neg 15% Two positive for EW – one neg and two no diff Profit for two trials were neg for EW and one was positive

Excel Worksheet

Fence Line Weaning Appears to reduce stress Allows weaning out of dusty conditions Put cow in dry lot for 2-3 days Research in Calif shower extra 27 lb first 34 days

Comparison Weaning – Laux Feedyard Late Summer 2002

Other Thoughts Don’t forget vitamin A and minerals Green forages has plenty of carotene (Vit A) Vitamin A Supplementation 150,000 IU in mineral 30-40,000 IU in supp Inject – timely Phosphorus, copper and zinc should be adequate in mineral supplements

Other Thoughts Consider by-products feeds Distillers grains, corn gluten feeds, wheat mids Consider harvesting or grazing drought crops Grazing capacity If cut (ton) (33% DM) Grazing days (cow) @.50/da 7 2.3 110-130 $55-65 10 3.3 158-185 $80-93 15 5.0 240-280 $120-140 Consider nitrates and poisonous plants

Nitrates If any doubt – check - especially sorghum sudans X’s, millets, oats, corn etc Look at terms Nitrate, nitrate nitrogen or potassium nitrate

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