Surviving the Drought
John Johns, Roy Burris and Kenny Burdine
University of Kentucky
Surviving
The Drought
Background
• High Corn Prices
• Scarce hay supply
• Drought
• Heat
Impact on• Summer Grazing
• Winter Feed
• Water Supply
• Nitrates / Poisonous Plants
What do I do to meet needs
when forage quality is not the
issue but forage quantity is?
DROUGHT!
Assess Situation
• Inventory Cattle
• Inventory Feed Supply
• Do the numbers match?
Animal Management
Issues
• Pregnancy check, cull opens
• Cull older, lower producing cows
• Cull problem cows, disposition, arthritic,
teat, udder and feet problems.
Conduct a feed and animal
inventory
• Use ASC-78 as a guide
• Group animals by their needs
• Compare how much feed is needed vs
what is on hand
Allocation of Hay to Various
Classes of Cattle Based on Quality
Quality of Hay
High
Low
Classes of Cattle
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Young Calves
Weaned Calves
Replacements
Yearlings
Bred Heifers
2-year old Cows
Lactating Cows
Mature Cows, last 1/3 of
gestation
Mature Bulls
Mature Pregnant Cows, first
2/3 of gestation
Nutritional Quality of
Forages
Crude Protein
TDN
Excellent
11.2%+
56%+
Good
9.5%-11.1%
50%-56%
Fair
8.2%-9.5%
50%-56%
Poor
7.3%-8.2%
50%-55%
Very Poor
<7.3%
<48%
Source: Parish, Jane et al. 2007. Producer Guide to Coping with Drought Conditions
Approximate forage intake by
beef cattle
Forage
TDN %
DMI (%BW)
Well-eared silage
Actively growing pasture
Legume hay, good
Grass hay, good
Mature grass hay
Grass hay, poor
Straw
60-70
70
55-60
50-55
45-50
40-45
35-40
2.5 to 3.3
2.0 to 2.5
2.5 to 3.0
2.0 to 2.5
1.5 to 2.0
1.0 to 1.5
1.0 or less
Are Alternatives Available on the
Farm?
• Corn that will make little or no grain yield
– Chop it as silage
– Do not graze or roll it for hay due to
nitrates
• Soybeans that will not set a bean
– Graze or roll as hay, prevent bloat if
grazing
– Cut and roll when all leaves are still green
Soybeans for Hay or Silage
•
•
•
•
•
For silage, harvest at R6 stage
May need to wilt after cutting
Forage beans yield 3-4 tons/ac of DM
Grain beans yield 2-3 tons/ac of DM
Animals do not like the silage, eat 20%
less than corn silage
Soybeans for Hay or Silage
• Hay may need to be harvested at a little
earlier stage
• Should be conditioned to crush stem or
hard to cure
• If too mature at cutting, will lose bean due
to conditioning
• May have feeding loss of up to 20% due to
stem refusal
Baling or Grazing Corn Stalks
• 120 bu corn = 4 to 5 tons residue/acre
• Cows consume grain, leaves, husks, cobs,
stalks in order
• 1 acre of stalks = 30 days grazing/cow with
mineral, protein supplementation
• Should be strip grazed
• Baling leaves much of the best (grain,
leaves, husks) in the field
Corn Stalks
• High Nitrates have been detected
• Low quality feed
• Requires protein and energy
supplementation
• Considerable waste in feeding
• Stores poorly
What is an Acre of Stalks Worth to
Graze?
Hay
Cost/Ton
$80
$100
$120
$/lb of hay
.04
.05
.06
$/Cow for
30 days
34
42.5
51
Performance of Cows fed Baled
Corn Stalks
Supplement Trt.
Int. Wt. lbs
CSM
1088
CSM + Corn
1092
Wt. loss, lbs
Int. BCS
BCS loss
28
5.3
-.45
36
5.4
-.50
Rosepine Res. Sta. Rep. 11, 2000; Free choice access to corn
stalk bales for 42 days. Supplements were cottonseed meal at
1.3 lbs dry matter or 1.3 lbs + 2.0 lbs of ground corn dry matter.
Cow Rations with Baled Corn
Stalks
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
Stalks
12.5
10
10
10
10
SBHulls
3.5
10
3.3
2.2
CGF
4.0
3.3
4.4
Corn
2.3
DDGS
6.1
2.3
2.2
Protein
Block
X
Limest.
.1
IRM Min
.25
.25
X
.1
.1
.25
.25
.25
.25
1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-November; Corn stalks
valued at 48% TDN and 5.0% CP on DM basis.
Cow Rations with Baled Corn Stalks
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
Stalks
12.5
11
12.5
10
12.5
SB Hulls
11
11
5.5
4.5
3
CGF
1.1
2
5.5
4.5
3
Corn
5.7
DDGS
Protein
Block
3.3
X
X
Limest.
IRM min
.25
.25
X
.1
.1
.1
.25
.25
.25
1200 pound pregnant, dry cow in mid-January; Corn stalks valued
at 48% TDN and 5.0% CP on DM basis.
Gain of Stocker Cattle on Normal
or Drought Corn Silage
Normal
Drought
% Change
Trial 1
Head
44
44
ADG, lbs
2.06
1.88
9.6
18
1.72
56
1.32
30
Trial 2
Head
ADG, lbs
Nebraska
Nutrient Analysis
DM Basis
Feed
Corn Silage
DM %
34
TDN%
69.9
CP%
8.2
Grass Hay
SB Silage
91.9
61
56.6
56
10.7
16
SB Hay
Corn Stalks
91.6
51.7
60.9
54
16.3
7.6
Source: Dairy One Laboratory, Cornell University
Baseline Assumptions
Feed
Stuff
Tons /
Acre
CP tons
/ Acre
18
DM tons TDN
/ Acre
tons /
Acre
6.12
4.28
Corn
Silage
Grass
Hay
1.5
1.38
.148
0.78
0.50
Nutritional Needs
Spring Calving Cow, 1200 lbs, Winter 120 days
TDN lbs
CP lbs
Daily
12.37
1.81
Total
1484
217
What will it take?
Acres needed
per cow
Cows fed per
acre
Corn Silage
.17
5.7
Grass Hay
.951
1.08
What will it cost?
Value per Total cost
acre
per acre
Cost per
cow
Corn Silage
(120 bu)
$360
$511.56
$86.96
Grass Hay
(1.5 tons)
$150
$150
$142.65
What can I pay for
silage?
• Based on previous estimate, hay costs
$142.65 per cow to winter
• How many tons of corn silage will it take to
winter them?
=> 3.06 tons
• You can pay $46.62 per ton of corn silage
if hay is $100 per ton
What can I pay for Corn
Silage?
$80
$100
$120
$140
Corn Silage
(per ton)
$37.29
$46.62
$57.45
$65.26
Standing Corn
(per ton silage)
$29.32
$38.65
$49.48
$57.29
Standing Corn $527.76 $695.70 $890.64 $1,031.22
(per acre)
If I need to buy feed,
what should I buy, hay or
something else?
Nutrient dense feeds such as
grains, commodities, etc., are
cheaper per unit of nutrient
compared to hay.
Be sure and compare on a
dry matter basis.
Stretch Hay with
Supplement
Feed the hay on hand and buy
supplement
• Corn will replace hay at the rate of 1.0 lb.
Corn can replace 2.0 lb. of hay
Alternative Feeds
Feed
CP
Corn
9.8
UIP, %
CP
55
DDG
30.4
DBG
TDN, % Starch %
90
70
52
90
18
29
50
66
10.7
SBH
12
25
77
6
CGF
23.8
22
80
25.4
W Midds
18.7
21
69
37.8
NRC – Beef 2000 Update, PAS 16:69 - 99
How much hay does a
cow have to have
daily?
Limit fed Corn vs. Hay Rations
for Cows, 3 Year Summary
Ration
Corn
Hay
Wt. Loss, lbs
-53
-72
Calf B. Wt. Lb
102
96
Wean Wt. Lbs
634
613
Conception %
91
84
Average Daily Feed Intake, lb
Hay
2.1
30
S. Corn
11.3
------
Supplement
2.5
------
Limit Feeding High Energy
Rations for Growing Cattle
Corn Silage GEC + Supp.
Head
45
44
ADG, lbs
1.94
2.46
F/G, lbs DM
7.42
4.68
KY, PR-337, p 54
Economics of Corn vs.
Hay to Cows
Feed
Price, $
Unit
$ / lb
Shell Corn
$4.50
Bushel
$0.0714
Supplement $300
Ton
$0.15
Hay
$100
Ton
$0.05
Daily Feed Cost, $ Per Day
Ration
Corn Based Hay Only
Three Trial Average
$1.39
$1.50
Winter Feeding Cost* $180.57
$195.00
*Assumes 130 day winter feeding period
Assuming 130 Day
Winter Feeding
• Corn based may be cheaper if hay
price exceeds $93 per ton
• Even if hay is cheaper, what is the goal
• Do we want to minimize costs, or
maximize profit?
• What is the value of a 21 lb increase in
weaning weight and a 7% increase in
conception rate?
Value of Increased
Production
Hay Only
Corn Based
Avg. WW
613 lbs
634 lbs
Conception Rate
84%
91%
Lbs. weaned / cow
515 lbs
576 lbs
Income per cow*
$515
$565
Difference
--------
+$50
*613# @ $100 / cwt, 634# @ $98 / cow
What about by-products?
Limitations
• Moisture content
• Economics
• Nutrient profile
• Availability
• Storage
• Transportation
• Contaminants
Soy Hulls
• Excellent palatability
• Less starch content
than grains;
therefore, less
negative effect on
forage utilization
• Safer, less incidence
of founder
Type of Energy Supplement and Gain
of Steers on Hay Based Rations
Supplement
Corn/SBM
Soyhulls
Steer Wt. lbs
626
629
Sup. Intake
lbs
7
($.75 / day)
7
($.49 / day)
Hay Intake
lbs
ADG, lbs
11.7
11.5
1.8
2.2
KY PR – 417, p. 86
Corn Gluten
• By-product of soft
drink industry
• May be wet or dried
• Corn gluten “feed” is
around 22-25% CP;
corn gluten meal is
about 60% CP
• Low starch
Trial 5: Different Feeding Regimes for Conditioning Weaned Calves (45 days postweaning)
Feed
Soyhulls/
Corn/SBM1
Corn Gluten Feed2
Commercial3
15
3
5
15
3
5
15
3
5
Initial (Weaning) Wt, lb
Final Wt, lb
Postweaning gain, lb
517.4
628.1
111.5
515.9
655.3
138.7
516.5
658.3
141.7
Postweaning ADG, lb
Suppl. intake, lb/da
Hay intake, lb/da
2.48
10.4
11.8
3.08
10.4
15.1
3.15
10.4
11.5
Steer calves, no.
Pens
Calves/Pen
33
27
Feed Cost per lb of gain, ¢ 4
1
Diet consisted 88% corn and 12% soybean meal with hay ad lib.
2
Diet consisted of 67% soyhulls and 33% corn gluten feed with hay ad lib.
3
Diet consisted of a commercial preconditioning feed (14.6% CP) with hay ad lib.
4
Feed costs based on corn - $2.50/bu; soybean meal - $200/T; soyhulls - $70/T;
corn gluten feed - $120/T; commercial feed - $220/T; and hay - 2.5¢/lb.
45
Corn Gluten Feed
• High level of Sulfur (around 0.6%)
• Limit to 50% of DMI due to its high sulfur
content (Cu deficiency and polio)
Distillers Grain
Distiller’s Grain (30%CP)
DM%
Price
$/T
Cost
#/DM
120
DM #
Ton
Feed
1760
Dried
88
Modified
50
58
1000
5.8
Wet
30
38
600
6.3
6.8
Storage of Wet Distillers
Grains
Challenges
• Transportation costs
• Equipment needs for handling and storage
• Rancidity
Methods of Ensiling
• Silo Bags
• Bunker Silos
• Covered Piles
Ensiling WDG With
Soy Hulls
Advantages of a 70:30 Mixture
(50:50 DM basis)
• Reduces dust in soybean hulls
• Reduces seepage
• Decreases CP content to 21%
• Maintains high energy values
Ensiling WDG with Crop
Residues
• On farm study
• Blended corn stalks
with MWDG
Garcia et al., 2004
• Blend was 60% DM
– Cool at bag
opening
– Heated quickly
Recommendations
• DM of blends should be no more than 50%
• Drier blends do not preserve as well
• Use of WDG over MWDG is preferred
Commodity Rations for Limit Feeding
Cows, Early Winter
Feed/Ration
1
CGF
2
3
4
5
7.8
2
5.5
3
SBH
12
4.5
9
6.0
6.5
Grass Hay
3
3
3
3
10
DDGS
Limestone
Protein
Block
.2
X
.1
Commodity Rations for Limit Feeding
Cows, Late Winter
Feed/Ration
CGF
SBH
Grass Hay
DDGS
Lime
Protein
Block
1
2
3
4
5
15
6.7
7.3
5.5
6.0
2.3
9.0
11
3
3
3
2.0
3
2.2
.1
.1
.1
10
X
Meet the nutritional
needs
You must maintain body condition
–Calving
–Rebreeding
Energy Deficiencies
Affect
• Cow Rebreeding
• Calf Health/Survival
• Calf Growth Rate
Energy Deficiencies Decrease Calf
Survival Through Lowered
Immunoglobulin Transfer to Calf
Timing of Deficiency
Influences Effect
• Pre-calving deficiency  days of post
partum interval
• Post-calving deficiency  %
conception
BCS and Cow-calf
Performance
BCS
3
4
5
6
Wean
age, da
Calf
ADG, lbs
Wean
Wt. Lbs
% Preg
194
200
216
215
1.88
1.93
1.97
2.00
441
452
504
512
51
76
92
100
JAVMA 207:1292
Limit Forage Consumption
•
•
•
•
•
Supplement Forage
Feed in Hay racks
Utilize all hay before moving rack
Delay feeding by 12 hours after roll eaten
Move feeding area to reduce mud
Rumensin for Wintering
Cows
•
•
•
•
50 – 60% of total cost is winter feed
Prevent and control coccidiosis
Improved feed efficiency
Feed in 1 lb of feed daily
Cow and Calf Performance,
Feed Intake, lbs
Control
Rumensin
Precalving Hay
26.8
23.2
Postcalving Hay
30.5
26.2
3.5
3.0
SBH
Feed Prices
• Soybean Hulls = $70/ton
• Supplement = 5.35 or 6.85 ¢/lb
• Hay = $120 or $40/ton
Total Feed Costs and Savings
Hay @
$120
Hay @
$40
Control
$168.50
Rumensin
$146.27
$63.86
$56.51
Difference
$22.23
(13.2%)
$7.35
(11.5%)
Cost per day on
Purchased Hay
Disappearance per day
Cost of hay per ton
$75
$100
$125
$150
25 lb
$0.94
$1.25
$1.56
$1.88
30 lb
$1.13
$1.50
$1.88
$2.25
Cost per day on Hulls / Hay
Substituting Concept (Late Winter)
Cost per ton of soy hulls
Cost per ton of hay
$100
$125
$150
$140
$1.20
$1.24
$1.28
$160
$1.35
$1.39
$1.43
$180
$1.50
$1.54
$1.58
*Ration: 15 lbs soy hulls, 3 lbs grass hay
Cost per day on Hulls / Hay
Stretching Concept (Late Winter)
Cost per ton of soy hulls
Cost per ton of hay
$100
$125
$150
$140
$1.57
$1.70
$1.82
$160
$1.68
$1.81
$1.93
$180
$1.79
$1.92
$2.04
*Ration: 11 lbs soy hulls, 10 lbs grass hay, w/ protein block
Cost per day on Stockpiled
Fescue / Fall Fertilization
Lbs of DM per lb of N
Cost per lb of Nitrogen
$0.50
$0.55
$0.60
20 : 1
$0.89
$0.98
$1.07
25 : 1
$0.71
$0.79
$0.86
30 : 1
$0.59
$0.65
$0.71
Note: Considers only additional fescue production from fertilizer
(70% utilization)
Restricting Hay Intake for Cows
Nursing Calves
Hay
Access, hrs
B. Wt. Ch.
Final BCS
BCS Ch.
Calf ADG lb
Milk, lbs
Hay Disap.
%<24 hr.
4
8
-125
-61
5.4
5.5
-.63
-.25
2.17
2.15
9.9
9.9
22.4
32
38
11.1
PAS 21:182-189
24
-44
6.1
.15
2.21
10.1
36
-------
Restricting Hay Intake for Cows in
Last Trimester of Gestation
Hay
Access hrs
B. Wt. Ch.
3
5
7
+52
+70
+106
Final BCS
5.3
5.3
5.6
Hay Disap.
15.4
17.6
20
%<7 hours
23
12
---------
PAS 21:182-189
Savings from Limit Hay Feeding
Lactating Cows
Access
4 Hours 8 Hours 24 Hours
Hay Consumed
22.4
Hay Savings / Day
13.6 lbs 4 lbs
---------
$ per day*
$0.68
$0.20
---------
Saving over 130
days
0.88
tons
0.26 tons ---------
$88.4
$26.00
Total $ Savings*
* Hay valued @ $100 per ton
32
36
---------
Savings from Limit Hay Feeding
Dry Cows
Access
3 Hours
5 Hours
7 Hours
Hay Consumed
15.4
17.6
20
2.4 lbs
$0.12
-----------------
Hay Savings / Day 4.6 lbs
$ per day*
$0.23
Saving over 130
days
.299 tons .156 tons
---------
Total $
Savings*
$29.9
---------
* Hay valued @ $100 per ton
$15.6
Early Weaning of Calves
•
•
•
•
•
•
Decreases nutrient needs of the cow
Cheaper to feed calf than cow
Calves as old as 50 days can be weaned
Feed conversion 4 to 5 lbs/lb of gain
Good health practices
Must be able to reach feed and water
Early Weaning Rations, 300 lb
Calf, ADG = 2.0 lbs
Feed/Ration
Corn
CGF
Soy Hulls
Alfalfa hay
Grass hay
SBM-44%
SBM-49%
DDGS
Limestone
Dical Phos.
1
2.0
2
2.3
3
4
1.5
5
3.3
3.3
5.5
2
5
2.2
.15
.1
1.7
1.3
.1
1.0
1.65
.15
Preconditioning Rations - Normal Wn. Weights
Ration
1
2
3
Grass
Hay
3.3
4.4
6
Alf. Hay
SB
Hulls
4.4
CGF
3.3
6.5
5.5
5.0
6.4
1.1
5.7
2.0
DDGS
IRM St.
Min.
5
1.1
Corn
SB Meal
4
.7
2.0
1.8
1.6
.25
.25
2.2
.25
.25
.25
500 lb calf, ADG = 2.5 lbs for 45 days. Grass hay 50% TDN and 9% CP; Alfalfa
62% TDN and 19.9 CP DM basis.
Feed Price Assumptions
Feed
Sh. Corn
Price
$171 / ton
Feed
DDG’s
Price
$167 / ton
Corn
Gluten
Soy Hulls
$145 / ton
Alfalfa Hay $150 / ton
$160 / ton
Grass Hay $100 / ton
SBM 44%
$288 / ton
Limestone $3.05 / bag
SBM 48%
$296 / ton
Dical
$11.15 /
bag
Cost of Gain on John’s
Rations
Ration
Cost per Day
Cost / lb gain
1 – Alf, corn,
SBM
2 – Hay, Corn,
SBM
3 – Hull, Gluten,
SBM, DDG
4 - Hull, Gluten,
SBM, DDG
$0.89
$0.45
$0.77
$0.39
$0.87
$0.43
$0.80
$0.40
Warning
Consider all alternatives before you
pay too much for poor-quality large
round hay bales or other sources of
roughage.
Long Term Adjustment
• Store a surplus of hay (carry-over)
• Consider some warm season grass pasture
• Select cattle for reproductive efficiency
• Calving season
QUESTIONS?