Justin Waggoner, Ph.D. Beef Systems Specialist, Garden City September 1, 2022 (Featured in the Beef Tips Newsletter) - Traditionally, when cowherd supplementation is discussed we focus on meeting the protein needs of the cow, with the goal of maximizing forage intake by supplementing protein, the most limiting nutrient in dormant native forages. However, drought often limits the supply of both grazed and harvested forages in many regions. In this scenario both energy and protein are limiting cow performance and therefore, supplements should be evaluated on both their energy and protein contributions to the nutrition program. When evaluating potential feedstuffs as supplements consider both the cost per unit of energy (TDN, net energy maintenance or metabolizable energy) and crude protein basis. Read the full story here.
I was recently asked how the drought of 2022 will affect forage growth in 2023 and how drought-stricken pastures should be managed during the fall and winter prior to next growing season. These questions point me to results of a grazing study during the driest year on record at the KSU Agricultural Research Center at Hays in 1956. Looking back at 1956 and nearly 80 years of grazing studies to date, the stocking rate study being conducted that year also produced the lowest pasture yields that have been recorded at the Research Center.
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Some grazing practices that may have seemed like common sense in years past may not be so efficacious in times of drought. Article on AgProud from Keith Harmoney, range scientist and Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist.
September 29, 2022 (Featured in the K-State Agronomy eUpdate) - Millions of tons of crop residue and other low-quality forages are produced every year in the United States. However, because of their bulkiness, relatively low energy and protein feeding value, and value for covering the soil, little of this abundant feed source is utilized for livestock. Ammoniation is a procedure designed to increase the energy availability of low-quality forages such as wheat, barley and oat straw, corn or grain sorghum stover, and very mature warm-season grasses. Research over the last few decades has demonstrated that ammonia treatment of low-quality roughages will substantially improve digestibility, voluntary intake, and cattle performance. Most forages with less than 5 percent crude protein and 45 percent TDN (total digestible nutrients) on a dry matter basis are candidates for ammonia treatment. Ammoniating higher quality forages is not advised, therefore it’s important to test any materials taken off the field to ensure the crude protein is not above the recommended range.
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