PflLiENT STITIOP
HPICUlTTJ? L
Oregon State College
A. Schoenfeld, Director
Corvallis
TW
Hovember 1943-
Ic. 321
Circular of Information
ACDTJCTI\T
PT2FCPJiHICO OF D.UIPC CITTLO III TILLAEOOK COUHTY
AHD LOSLOSLO RL\TTTiTSHIP TO AVOTLABLE FEED
(Progress report)
-
P. Jones, Dairy Ilusbandman
J. R. Haag, Chemist (Animal ITutrition)
Dairymen in Tillamook County have reoortod considerable difficulty in getting
cows with calf during the local breedin:, season from about April first to August
There is no definite indication from the analyses of pasture and hay crops
first.
in
the county that tLOse are generally deficient to the point of causing diff 1.Cro''
cult concectien.
sILlHRY
Difficult concenticn ras renorted and studied in several dairy herds in 1940Pesults
in 1941-42 and lncomlete studies for 1942-43 indicate that reproduc41.
tive performance was norial in most of about twenty herds.
The intervals between heat 'oriods followed a normal pattern and did not indicate concetion followed by abortion which is characteristic of infection.
The bulls used at tim showed neriods of tporary infertility often followIn a few cases bulls of low fertility were responsiing periods of hear service.
ble for the difficult breeding.
The hay grown in Tillamook County was of poor quality as evidenced by its
apeearance and low protein content. Phosphorus contents were likewise frequently
characteristic of poor hays and in some instances so low as to suggest the possibilIn a few instances the calcium contents were quite
ity of ohosnhorus deficiency.
There
were,
however,
no
widesoreth
comnlaints concerning depraved anpetite or
low.
other definite evidence of mineral deficiency.
The nutritive value of Tillainook County pastures is relatively high. This is
indicated by the analyses of 96 pasture clippings which had an average of 16.8 rerIf available
cent crude protein, 0.65 rercent calcium., and 0.36 percent phosphorus.
should
be adequate
in sufficient amounts for good milk production the pasture forage
f or reproduction.
Count-,r has excellent pasture but produces low
It is obvious that Tillainook
Greater
emhasis
should
be
uLaced
on -oroducing better quality winter
quality hay.
ossibilit,r
of
utilizing
a
large
anount
of early spring forage as grass
feeds.
The
silago is evident.
Reproductive Performance of
Oregon AgrL cultural nxperiment Station Bulletin 395
Dairy Cattle - avsilable u-oofl request discusses the main considerations invo.ved
in normal ro'roduction and indicates the factors under the general headings o
inheritance, nutrition) disease and management that may cause variations from the
normal resulting in either temporary or permanent sterility th malo or female.
In the spring of 1941 at the request of Tillamook County dairymen and offidais and with financial assistance from -bhe county, a study was begun to ascertain
if possible the causes of poor breeding results with dairy cattle in the county.
The pi:n of the investigation was to make fairly complete study of a limited number
of representative herds in the county. Dairymen selected as cooperators promised
to keep accurate breeding records. Hay and pasture samples were to be taken for
chemical analyses. Any disease condition or management practice thought to have a
bearing on the problem were to be studied.
A summary of the 1940 breeding records in eleven dairy herds is shown in
Table 1. Most of these herds were reported by the owners to have had breeding diff iculties during 1940.
Sunnary of 1940 Breeding
Table 1.
Herd
Ho.
No,
1
37
19
22
16
20
12
13
26
40
16
2
3
4
5
6
8
9
10
11
12
Total
24
245
% Conceived to Various Services
Pregnant Cows
Average
Total
Services
Services
5 or
1
3
13.5
31.6
13.6
13.3
11,5
50.0
41.2
16.7
34.7
24.5
56.7
26.3
40.9
645 Average 2.63
37
72
2
24.3
5.3
45.5
37.6
15.0
16.7
7.7
23.1
25.0
29.4
16.7
1.63
3.44
2.13
3.31
3.60
1.66
3,92
3,00
2.13
2,13
3.00
62
65
40
53
72
20
51
78
87
eccrds
-
--
33.3
-
30.0
-
4
5.4
26.3
more
10.6
--
12.5
35.0
13.7
20.0
--
33.3
23.1
30.8
10.0
17.6
20.8
30.7
7.7
2.5
5.9
12.5
18.3
15.5
6.5
30,7
26.9
12.5
-
Trimberger and Davis* have sunriarized several reports giving results of
breeding from natural service. The average number of services per conception for
22,684 fertile cows was 1.79. Of 16,555 of the cows on which records were available
64.3% conceived to the first service, 19.9% to the second, 3.6% to the third, 3.4%
to the fourth, and 3.9' to five or more.
Judged by the Trimberger and Davis report, herds 1 and 6 gave normal reproductive performance during 1940, and herds 3, 10 and 11 were fairly normal. The
cows in herds
and 12 gave decided difficulty n conceiving, the average number of services for conception of 118 cows being 3.31. In addition a con-siderable number of cows did not conceive in the usual Tiliamook County breeding
season from approximately April 1 to August 1 and were either disposed of as nonbreeders or held cver until the following year.
2, 4, 5, 8, 9
The breeding records in 13 cooperating herds for the 1941 season are given
in Table 2. The herds include 11 of 12 herds summarized for 1940 in Table 1 and
are designated by the same herd number.
* Neb. Agr, Exp. Sta. Res. Bul.
129,
April
1943.
3
It will be noted that the 1941 breeding performance of 527 cows averaged
better than the normal reported by Tr:Lmberger and Davis. Only two herds, 5 and 23,
It is nrohable that overuse of a young bull contributed to
had real diFficulty.
the large number of services per pregnancy in herd 5 and that the purchase of cows
without due consideration to their fertility was the main factor in herd 23. On
eliminating herds 5 and. 23 it is found that 460 cows conceived with an average of
Thirty-one cows or 5.6 percent of the 559 cows
only 1.54 services er pregnancy.
of
bred .i.n the cooperating herds in 1941 did not becnme pregnant or were disposed
be
This record may be considered to
before pregnancy was definitely determined.
normal.
Table 2.
Herd
No.
No.
1
30
2
39
22
35
44
19
26
45
17
26
3
4
5
9
9
10
11
12
13
14
Pregnant Cows
iverage
Total
Services
Services
47
65
35
42
121
29
49
2
3
4
1,57
1.67
1.59
66.7
59.0
69.2
6.7
12.9
3.3
2.6
1,/.0
71.!.
2.75
31.0
63.2
57.7
57.8
76.5
42.4
76.7
70.2
72.0
76.4
64.3
56.5
50.0
39.1
20.0
23.1
19.2
20,0
25,0
26.3
27.0
26.7
23.5
50.0
20.0
19.2
21.0
14.7
21.4
30.4
29.5
13.0
t.53
38
27
62
1.48
1.35
1.61
1.65
1.93
2.70
527891
Average 1,69
25
16
19
21
22
23
34
28
45
23
14
23
Conceived to Various Services
1
1.85
1.58
1.23
1.57
1.20
1.49
71
21
44
36
70
37
46
30
47
15
Total
Summary of 1941 Breeding }tecords
1.1
5.7
6.0
5.2
3,0
9,9
3.9
15.9
5.2
3.9
6.7
3.9
3.3
3.8
4.3
4.3
4.0
5.9
7.1
8.7
7.1
13,0
5 or
more
3.3
2.6
4.5
20.5
7.7
-
2.1
4,0
30
-
3.6
3.6
7.1
17.4
7.1
17.4
61.123.26.64.7
4.4
-
season
The difficulty in getting cows with calf increased as the breed Lng
progressed as shovm in Table 3.
Table 3.
Pregnancies by Periods of Breeding Season
Covrs Pregnant
Period
April 1 to May 2
Nay 3 to June 3
June 4 to July 5
July 6 to August 6
Cows Bred
No.
195
227
137
239
137
115
65
34.6
Percent
74
69
60
57
4
advanced
It is believed that the decline in breeding efficiency as the season
service
rather
than
was due to the lessened chances of conception as co-vs return for
percentage
of
pregto a seasonal effect. A further study will he made to include
nancies to first services only throughout the breeding season.
A tabulation of the intozals between 882 repeat services showed 47 percent
of these between 18 and 24 days from the Drevious service. About 11 oercent of the
and the
heat periods were less than 18 days, another 11 nercent more than 45 days
th trichimonad infection
remaining 30 percent from 25 to 45 days. Pregnant cows
after
three
to
five
normal
21-day periods have
usually are said to return in heat
between
None of the herds studied showed the tendency for a long delay
passed.
heat periods.
complete as all
The records for the 1942 breedin season are as yet not
to
1943 calving records have not been obtained. However, incomplete results seem
indicate that the results for 1942 will be as favorable as for 1941.
of the
The chemical analyses of hay samples taken from the farms of some
dairenen cooperating in the breeding study are shoca in Table 4. These include
of these
samples from both the 1939 and 1940 hay crops. It will be noted that none
expected considerhay samples 'veraged particularly high in protein, which is to be
of many of the
Also
the
ohosphorus
content
ing that they are largely grass hays.
hay should have more
It
is
believed
that
a
good
dairy
cow
samples is quite low.
Also a few of the
protein and phosphorus than is contained in most of these hays.
samples may be low in their calcium content.
Table 4.
Crude
Farm
______
1939 Crop Year
1
5
5
6
6
8
10
13
Chemical Analyses of Hay Samples
Calcium
Phosphorus
cripi
S am
direbruary 4-
1940
Native hay, bottom land
Ryegrass and clover, bottom sub-irrigated
Prairie hay, first bench
Native hay upland
Native hay upland
Prairie hay
Native, bottom land
1Tegrass and clover, irrigated, ohosphated
6.94
(.20
6.93
7.43
9.02
5.65
7.53
7.61
0.52
0.83
0.40
0.44
0.60
0.19
0.62
0.51
0.22
0.16
0.18
0.22
0.20
5.40
6.00
5.90
6.00
4.80
5.00
5.70
4.40
0.28
0.75
0.20
0.30
0.45
0.33
0.34
0.11
0.15
0.12
0.15
0.12
0.10
0.14
0.23
0.24
1940 Cropear - Sampled March 5-8l941
3
5
7
8
9
9
12
20
Prairie hay
iyegrass and clover, now seeding, upland
Native hay, hill land
Prairie hay
Native hay, bottom, no phosphate
Native hay, upland, much sweet vernal
Native hay, upland
Prairie hay, Mesquite
0.35
0.15
0.11
5
Table 4.
Chemical Analyses of Hay Samples
(Continued)
Crude
Farm
Description
No.
Aver
Calcium
Phosphorus
0.59
0,38
0.44
0.60
0.43
0.32
0.19
0.15
0,16
0.21
0.16
0.12
Protein_
of Hay_Samphes:
Bottom land (5 samples)
Upland, prairie and bill land (11 samples)
til samples
Five highest protein samples
Oecond five highest nrotein samples
.Louest six protein sarrsles
7.02
6.13
6.41
7.98
6.36
5.16
It will be noted at the bottom of Table 4 that the average bottomland hay
shows a better chemical anol7Tsis than the average unianci, prairie and hill land hays.
hher
Also it will be noted that the hays higher in protein have correspondingly
higher
in
better
feeding
value
for
these
calcium and phosphorus contents, resulting
protein hays.
During the 1941 season pasture clippings were obtained from the farms of twelv
cooperating dairymen. cages were set up in the pastures on June 3 or 4 in areas
considered to be representative of tile entire pasture. It is estimated that the
wee
rro
I
grass when the cages were set un rrpj'nteci a 7 to 10 days gro :th.
first, cut in these protecteO areas on June 25 whLch means that the period ci: gro'th
for the first clipping was longer than for later clippinos which were made i'erc:'f
Tnesmuch as the last clipping was made cm either pec'suber °
mately every. 21 days.
A
or December 11, t,he yield data cover approximately a two-hundred day reriod
twenty-five square foot area was clipped during ecb clinging' period.
The clipping data included green PrCgdt yields and an estimation of the type
matter in the pewiure
of forage growthg. As would be exnected the percentage of dry
thE
grass when olinped showed wide variations depending on the season of the year,
the percentage of dry moiter
amount of growth and relative dryness o± the grass.
low
of
9.4 and a high of 52.0. The
in the 96 samples when clineed ranged between a
average dry matter of all somlos -rhei dinned nas 17.7 percent. If we ass mao
the dry matter of the grass was 72 neroent diesaible. there :culf 5 12,
A 900-11.h, cow sbud o:nsure
of total digestible nutrients in 100 nounds of grass.
would
allow
her tome inta:n er oey
at loast 100 pounds of such grass daily which
and produce 16 pound-s of 4.5 percent milk 10ily. Pea-cnd this uroduction foam 2sd1mg would be necessary at the rate of one nounci for each tw pounds of milk urciuced.
The pastures, with the excention of the tideland pastures (largely tideland
bent grass) consisted mostly of ryegrass and white clover with the clover more
prevalent in the early season.
The entire samples clipoed were dried and brought
Ii will
for analysis with the results given in Table 5.
considerable variation in the air-dry (equivalent to the
froVnLng on these protected plots on different farms. As
to the experiment station
be noted that there was
dryness of hay) material
reported on an acre basis
these vary from more than five tons per acre to only a little more than two tons per
The variation on pasture yields on different farms is probably due to differacre
ences in soil types, fertilization, kind of grasses and clover grordng and pasture
ovc how much or when water was applied in the case of the
It is not
management.
The
value of irrigation is indicated by farms designated as 2
irrigated pastures.
end 4 as the yields were much greater dcin, July and lugust than on farms without
irrigation.
It should be kept in mind that the pasture yields are not for the entire
season as they do not include the large early spring growth rredous to about May
25.
The nutritive value of the pastures as indicated by the crude protein content
of the individual pasture clippin:s is for the most art relatively high. Is given,
the crude protein content is on an air-dry basis which means apnroximatel: the same
dry matter as would be found in hay. In comparison average alfalfa hay contains
l4.8 crude protein and very leafy alfalfa l6.5 crude protein. It will be noted
that the average pasture on seven of the twelve farns had a higher crude protein
content than even very leafy alfaMfa hay, and on only three farms was the protein
content a little less than average alfalfa hay.
The average calcium content of the 96 clipnings was n.65 percent, about 50
With the exception
percent higher than average Tillamook hays as shown in Table 4.
of farm No. 19 the calcium content of the pastures should be sufficiently high for
good feeding value.
In comparison with the hay crops the phosphorus content of the dried pasture
clippings is much better, averaging 0.36 mercent in comparison with 0.16 iercent
The pasture forage should in most coses be adefor Tillamook Count-i-grown hays,
It is obvious that
quate for good milk production and for normal reproduction.
this county has excellent pasture but psoduces poor quality hay.
In order to obtain further information on the composition of Tillemook
feedstuffs, clippings are being obtained from the farms of fourteen dairymen
the present (1943) season. Hay samples will also be obtained from the farms
than 20 dairymen cooperating at the present time in keeping breeding records
Further reports will be put out as results of additional
their dairy herds.
become available.
County
during
of more
on
studies
7
Table 5.
Date of
Clipping
Air Dry Ot.
Per Acre
June 25
July 16
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 28
Nov. 18
Pasture Yields and Composition, 1941
Crude
Protein
14.61
l3l9
257
417
113
141
128
113
265
15.77
17.24
18.96
19.71
21.49
21.61
20.11
Total A Average
8493
15.73
1336
June 25
July 16
Aug. 6
Aug. 27
Sept.17
Oct. 8
Oct. 29
Nov. 19
Dec. 11
33)6
1389
2517
401
326
418
118
94
96
17.61
17.81
21.48
22,85
23.60
23.81
24.51
24.39
22.71
Total & verage 10022
15.27
1530
June 24
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 28
Nov. 18
Dec. 9
2575
15,43
16.66
16.73
397
20. 49
l:L2
23.00
19.28
20,51
20.01
18.50
129
105
68
54
53
Total & Average
6589
17,67
1164
flee. 9
675
572
342
188
871
756
479
330
188
948
526
545
560
545
330
272
288
Remarks
Lbs.
Lbs.
1758
3158
713
817
Crude
?roiein
Per Acre
Farm No. 2. Irrigated bottomland
pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
O.722
0.420
73
41
53
Farm No. 4. Irrigated pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
O.433
0.4O3
73
57
25
18
it-c-'
0 c-c
L)O
Farm M0
14. Irrigated bottomland
pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
O.703
0.397
8
Table
Date of
cliuoing
Air Dry t.
Per Acre
.
Pasture Yields and Composition; 1941
(Continued)
Crude
Protein
Crude
Protein
Per Acre
Remarks
311
199
140
June 25
July 16
Aug. 5
Aug. 27
Sept.17
Oct. 8
Oct. 29
Nov. 19
Dec. 11
1646
986
660
403
10. 07
537
21.88
117
414
307
177
138
20.84
22.35
22.20
20.91
86
69
39
29
Total & Average
5260
20.37
1073
June 25
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
1098
1144
303
468
514
Oct. 7
Oct. 28
Nov. 18
Dec. 9
307
265
161
92
15.00
15.52
16.52
19.41
22.07
20.31
21.59
21.20
19.95
173
178
50
91
113
62
57
34
18
4352
17.03
776
1266
664
683
315
040
231
101
100
441
188
18.22
15.19
15.05
15.07
22.52
22.50
25.01
20.04
22.80
5326
19.28
1027
Total &
Average
June 24
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 20
Nov. 18
Dec. 9
Total &
522
407
verage
20.23
21.16
20.60
83
47
189
138
102
80
43
Farm No. 21. Bottomland pasture
Average calcium
Average nhosphorus
O.8l7
0./09
Farm No. 10. E3ottomlond pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
0.599
0.359
Farm Nb. 16. Dottomland pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
O.980
0.45l
Table
-
Tas Lure Yields and Composition, 1941
(Continued)
Crude
Protein
Per Acre
Crude
Protein
Clipping
Air Dry 7..
Per Acre
Lbs
June 24
July 15
794
1220
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
sept.16
Oct. 7
595
13.37
12.55
14.00
15.01
17.56
17.66
13.43
17.65
15.69
106
154
04
Date oI'
Oct. '23
Nov. 10
Dec. 9
480
434
250
261
230
134
Remarks
Lbs.
72
76
Farm No. 5.
Bottomland pasture
Average calcium
Average phosohorus
1.115%
0,366
44
48
41
21
Total A Average
4406
1/..
6
646
June 24
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 23
Nov. 18
Dec. 9
2909
2069
161
100
645
422
383
100
134
11.30
9.49
11.64
12.37
15.30
17.82
19.55
20.61
19.55
329
196
Total & Average
7083
12.40
878
June 24
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 28
Nov. 18
Dec. 9
1025
1727
300
380
837
549
345
257
123
16.75
19.08
19.83
20.01
24.36
24.06
24.23
25.51
21.70
172
330
Total A Average
5623
20.72
1165
19
22
99
75
75
37
26
75
76
204
132
84
65
27
Farm No. 24. lTpland posture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
0.407%
0.216%
Farm No. 9. Prairie pasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
0.561%
0.344%
Table
.
Oasture Yields and Composition, 1941
(Continued)
Crude
Protein
Per cre
Air Dry Nt.
Per Acre
Lbs
Crude
Protein
June 24
July 15
Aug. 5
Aug. 26
Sept.16
Oct. 7
Oct. 29
Nov. 10
Dec. 9
1312
1366
ioo
210
30
299
272
253
123
13.74
15,34
15,24
16.36
21.90
22.70
23.62
21,99
20.09
Total P Average
4523
17.09
773
June
July
Aug.
Aug.
26A9
1431
760
10.52
276
101
599
583
480
334
138
107
15,20
15.59
16.99
15,96
17.65
14.82
Total P Average
7080
13,14
930
June 24
July 16
Aug. 6
Aug. 27
Sept.17
1305
867
119
11. 55
151
116
19
67
157
192
Date of
Clipping
25
16
5
27
Sept .17
Oct.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
8
29
19
11
Oc. 8
Oct. 29
Nov. 19
Dee, 11
Total P Average
200
257
Li.l
610
Lbs.
12. 03
13. fl9
13.35
15.93
11.11
215
161
26.08
21.20
21.94
22.16
20.65
5196
16.90
503
902
434
42
97
60
64
56
26
106
92
97
82
53
Nemarks
Farm No. 8. Prairie pasture
Average calcium
Iverage nhanhorus
0.463
C.393%
Farm Th. 19. Untamed tideland
nasture
vorac;e calcium
Average PhosphOruS
C), 259
0 21°
24
16
95
48
33
070
Farm No. 11. Di:ed tideland
iasture
Average calcium
Average phosphorus
o.600
0.340