Winter (and Spring) Forage Management Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Agronomist Crop and Soil Sciences Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Agronomist Crop and Soil Sciences

Feeding Losses Method 1 day 7 day ---- % Waste---- Unrolled Ring

Feeding Losses Item % Waste Ring 6 Trailer 11 Cradle 15

Overview Spring Nutrient Requirements  Cows w/ Calves  Stockers  Replacement Heifers Winter Annual Forage Systems Yield and Distribution Animal Performance Spring Nutrient Requirements  Cows w/ Calves  Stockers  Replacement Heifers Winter Annual Forage Systems Yield and Distribution Animal Performance

Nutrient Requirements: 1200 lb cow* Req. TDN56.3% CP 9.6% Expected ADG 0 * First 3-4 mo postpartum, preparations to rebreed

Nutrient Requirements: 450 lb steer* Req. TDN 67.5% CP 12.7% Expected ADG 2.0 * fall calf, weaned

Nutrient Requirements: 700 lb steer* Req. TDN 67.5% CP 10.5% Expected ADG 2.5 * backgrounded, ready to finish

Nutrient Requirements: 675 lb heifer* Req. TDN 69.5% CP 9.8% Expected ADG 2.0 * Replacement heifer, 60 d prior to breeding season. Target at breeding: 70% of mature wt.

Raising Replacement Heifers Replacement Heifers Serve to:  Maintain the herd size  Improve or change the genetic base Replacement Heifers Serve to:  Maintain the herd size  Improve or change the genetic base

Raising Replacement Heifers Goal:  Most efficient when heifers calve at months, meaning they are bred at months of age. (April-May).  Best to have them reach puberty at 12 months, because breeding success is higher at 3 rd estrus (78%) than at 2 nd (57%). Goal:  Most efficient when heifers calve at months, meaning they are bred at months of age. (April-May).  Best to have them reach puberty at 12 months, because breeding success is higher at 3 rd estrus (78%) than at 2 nd (57%).

How do you develop replacement heifers? Survey says… < 50 head head > 150 head Grazing Only Grazing + Hay Grazing + Supp Other Stuedemann et al., J. Anim. Sci. 71: Weaning to breeding

Winter Annual Forage Systems Overseeding Winter Annuals into Bermuda Ryegrass (Annual) Rye Oats Wheat Triticale Overseeding Winter Annuals into Bermuda Ryegrass (Annual) Rye Oats Wheat Triticale Arrowleaf clover Crimson clover Red clover* Arrowleaf clover Crimson clover Red clover*

Winter Annual Forage Quality SpeciesCPTDN % Ryegrass Oats Wheat Rye Arrowleaf Crimson Adapted from Southern Forages 4 th edition, Ball et al

Winter Annual Forage Systems Species Avg. Annual Yield* lbs DM/ac Ryegrass10,632 Oats 7,098 Wheat 7,111 Rye 4,853 Triticale 5,625** * Average of top performer in each of last 3 yrs. of variety trial data (Griffin, GA). ** was first year triticale was included.

Winter Annual Forage Systems Ryegrass Yields: Tifton

Mechanical Hay30-70% Silage60-85% Green Chop70-95% Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest MethodEfficiency Grazing Continuous Stocking30-40% Slow Rotation (3-4 paddocks)50-60% Moderate Rotation (6-8 paddocks)60-70% Strip Grazing70-80%

Winter Annual Forage: Ryegrass Cost per ton of INTAKE Cost of Intake for Hay ($60/1000 lb roll and 70% Efficiency)

The Effect of Clover Addition on Productivity of Beef Steers TreatmentADG Gain/ acre Gain/ animal Stocking Density lbs/hd/dlbs Hd/ac Fescue (EF) + 60 lb N/ac Fescue (EF) + L + R clovers Rye + Clover + Ryegrass Hoveland et al., J. Prod. Ag. 4: (Avg. of 3 yrs: 1985, 87, 88.)

Beef Production on Selected Winter Annual Regimens vs. No Winter Annual TreatmentN Added Added GrazingADG Gain/ acre (lbs/ac per yr)(d/yr)(lbs/hd/d)(lbs) No Annuals Ryegrass Arrowleaf- Crimson Rye-Arrowleaf- Crimson Hoveland et al., Agron. J. 70:

Establishment Method and Clover Mixture had Little Effect on Beef Production Seeding MethodMixture DrillBroadcastRG - WCRG-WC-CC ADG (lbs/hd/d) Grazing days/ acre Gain (lb/acre) Mosso et al., J. Prod. Ag. 3: (Louisiana, Coastal Plain, Avg. of 2 yrs)

Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter Spring Beck et al., J. Anim. Sci. 85: (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter Spring Gain (lb/acre) Beck et al., J. Anim. Sci. 85: (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production ORGRGRRGTRGWRG ADG (lbs/hd/d) Winter Spring Gain (lb/acre) Cost of Gain ($/lb) $0.29$0.28$0.25$0.39$0.28 Net Return ($/acre) $110$106$144$56$115 Beck et al., J. Anim. Sci. 85: (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment dry lbs/acre Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 0 N Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E Agron. J. 62:

Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass cost/lbcost/acre Arrowleaf$2.00$10 Crimson$1.10$17 Red Clover$2.30$18 * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass N Needed to BE* cost/lbcost/acre lbs N/acre Arrowleaf$2.00$1022 Crimson$1.10$1737 Red Clover$2.30$1840 * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

Value of Annual Legume Establishment Species Cost of Adding Legume to Ryegrass N Needed to BE* Expected N Fixation cost/lbcost/acre lbs N/acre Arrowleaf$2.00$ Crimson$1.10$ Red Clover$2.30$ * Amount of N that the seed cost/acre would have purchased (e.g., $10/acre / $0.45/lb of N = 22 lbs of N/acre)

Potential Problems in Spring Pastures Grass Tetany (Hypomagnesia)  Plant unable to take up enough Mg  Often where N and K fertilization is high  K may interfere w/ Mg absorption in blood  Mineral supplement (MagOx) Bloat  Buildup of gas in the rumen  Winter annual legumes: Red*, Crimson (not Arrowleaf)  Sometimes on small grains  Don’t turn them out hungry  Monensin or ionophore Grass Tetany (Hypomagnesia)  Plant unable to take up enough Mg  Often where N and K fertilization is high  K may interfere w/ Mg absorption in blood  Mineral supplement (MagOx) Bloat  Buildup of gas in the rumen  Winter annual legumes: Red*, Crimson (not Arrowleaf)  Sometimes on small grains  Don’t turn them out hungry  Monensin or ionophore

QUESTIONS?