A Publication of:
OSU Extension - Fairfield County
831 College Ave., Suite D, Lancaster, OH 43130
and the
BEEF Cattle questions may be directed to the OSU Extension BEEF Team through Stephen Boyles or Stan Smith, Editor
You may subscribe to this weekly BEEF Cattle letter by sending a blank e-mail to beef-cattle-on@ag.osu.edu
Previous issues of the BEEF Cattle letter
Issue # 601
Forage Focus: Using Low Quality Hay - Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator, Athens County
Producing high quality hay depends upon cutting the forage plant at a vegetative stage and then getting enough dry sunny days to allow the plants to dry, ideally, to 15 to 18 percent moisture content before baling. While the frequent rainfalls we received earlier this year was good for forage growth, it also hindered quality hay production. Many hayfields were cut at a full bloom or later stage of development. Remember that for any grass or legume plant quality as measured by crude protein, energy and digestibility declines as the plant matures. It looks like hay supplies in terms of quantity are in good shape this year, but quality, particularly of first cutting hay, is generally low.
One management decision cattlemen should give more thought to this year is the timing of when poor quality hay is used. In the past, when corn and soybean meal were relatively inexpensive, they were used to plug the gap between the cow's nutritional need and what the low quality hay failed to provide in terms of energy and/or protein. In today's economic reality, that practice can quickly eat away potential profitability. Ideally the cattleman should strive to match hay quality to the nutritional needs of the cow while minimizing or eliminating expensive supplemental grain. Let's take a look at the nutritional needs of the spring calving cow at this time of year, along with some expected low quality hay values.
What kind of nutrient values might be expected in low quality hay? I found a reference to some research work in Virginia that analyzed orchardgrass hay harvested at various maturity stages. Full bloom orchardgrass hay was listed at 7.5 -8.0 % CP, and about 50% TDN. I would expect similar results for tall fescue hay at a comparable maturity stage. This year I have seen hayfields harvested where maturity went beyond full bloom and into seed production. Nutrient levels will be lower for that type of hay. I have seen hay analysis results here in Athens County in past years come back with crude protein levels below 6% and TDN levels around 45%. While book values can provide some approximate ballpark figures, the only way to gain more reliable information about the nutrient value of your hay is to do a good job of sampling it and then have it analyzed.
The following table lists the daily nutrient requirements as defined by total digestible nutrients (TDN) and crude protein (CP) for a 1200 lb cow at the end of lactation and continuing after weaning into mid-gestation. (Adapted from the 1996 NRC for beef cattle)
| Months Since Calving* | CP (%DM) | CP (lbs) | TDN (%DM) | TDN (lbs) |
| 6 | 9.0 | 1.88 | 52.5 | 13.3 |
| 7 | 6.5 | 1.45 | 47.0 | 10.5 |
| 8 | 6.5 | 1.49 | 47.3 | 10.8 |
| 9 | 6.7 | 1.56 | 48.0 | 11.2 |
* Month 6 is the final lactation month.
Notice that after the calf is weaned from the cow, the nutrient requirements of the cow decrease by about 20%. This represents an opportunity to use a poor quality hay to meet the cow's nutritional needs without having to spend money for additional supplementation.
Using our example of full bloom orchardgrass hay, it can be seen that this hay will meet and exceed the nutrient requirements of a dry cow in mid-gestation. It is likely that hay harvested after full bloom will be adequate in this situation. However, if this hay is fed beyond mid-gestation it is not likely to meet the cow's nutritional needs without supplementation. In addition, the NRC requirements are minimal requirements. As weather conditions deteriorate in the winter, nutritional needs increase above these minimal levels, causing a larger deficit between the nutrients supplied by poor quality hay and what the cow actually needs. All of this adds up to say that August and September and in to October may be good months for the cattle producer to feed poor quality hay rather than waiting for winter use.
Feeding some of that low quality first cutting hay now in August through October offers another advantage to the cattle producer. It provides a window of opportunity to stockpile some pastures for winter grazing (see the article in this newsletter on stockpiling for more information). In most cases that stockpiled forage will be higher quality than mature first cutting grass hay. Feeding hay now can also provide any pasture paddocks that may have been overgrazed an adequate rest period to recover and recharge root reserves.
Matching forage quality to a cow's nutritional needs takes some management skills. In a year when there is plenty of low quality hay and high grain prices, feeding that hay at a non-traditional time of year can make dollars and cents.
EDITORs NOTE: You will find more information on the subject of managing hay quality in the OSU Extension fact sheet Forage Testing for Beef Cattle, and a list of forage testing labs you might consider using under this link.
Potential for Nitrate Problems in Stressed Corn - Peter Thomison, OSU Extension Corn Specialist
Very dry to extremely dry soil conditions across Ohio have raised questions concerning the potential for toxic levels of nitrates in corn harvested for silage. Nitrates absorbed from the soil by plant roots are normally incorporated into plant tissue as amino acids, proteins and other nitrogenous compounds. Thus, the concentration of nitrate in the plant is usually low. The primary site for converting nitrates to these products is in growing green leaves. Under unfavorable growing conditions, especially drought, this conversion process is retarded, causing nitrate to accumulate in the stalks, stems and other conductive tissue. The highest concentration of nitrates is in the lower part of the stalk or stem. For example, the bulk of the nitrate in a drought-stricken corn plant can be found in the bottom third of the stalk. If moisture conditions improve, the conversion process accelerates and within a few days nitrate levels in the plant returns too normal.
The highest levels of nitrate accumulate when drought occurs during a period of heavy nitrate uptake by the corn plant. A drought during or immediately after pollination is often associated with the highest accumulation of nitrates. Extended drought prior to pollination is not necessarily a prelude to high accumulations of nitrate. The resumption of normal plant growth from a heavy rainfall will reduce nitrate accumulation in corn plants, and harvest should be delayed for at least 1 to 2 weeks after the rainfall. Not all drought conditions cause high nitrate levels in plant. If the supply of soil nitrates is in the dry soil surface, plant roots will not absorb nitrates. Some soil moisture is necessary for absorption and accumulation of the nitrates.
If growers want to salvage part of their drought damaged corn crop as silage, it's best to delay harvesting to maximize grain filling, if ears have formed. Even though leaves may be dying, the stalk and ear often have enough extra water for good keep. Kernels will continue to fill and the increases in dry matter will more than compensate for leaf loss unless plants are actually dying or dead. Moreover if nitrate levels are high or questionable, they will decrease as plant gets older and nitrates are converted to proteins in the ear.
For information on testing and feeding corn with varying nitrate-nitrogen levels, check out the following publication: Nitrates in Dairy Rations - Maurice Eastridge and Bill Weiss, Ohio State University Fact Sheet AS-0003-99 available on-line at http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu/as-fact/0003.html
Corn Silage Management - Mark Sulc, OSU Extension Forage Specialist
Last week I posted three articles (one by Bill Weiss and two I wrote) about corn silage being ready for harvest in much of Ohio and how to determine dry matter content, see them at our Ohio Forages Blog: http://ohioforages.blogspot.com/ for more information. The articles were:
Corn Silage Ready for Harvest in Ohio
How to Determine Corn Silage Moisture
Dry Forage Samples With a Hair Dryer
OSU Offers Low Stress Cattle Handling Workshop September 20
Less stress for cattle can mean less stress for cattle farmers, too. Hear why at Ohio State University's first-ever Low Stress Cattle Handling Workshop, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center's (OARDC) Jackson Agricultural Research Station in Jackson, Ohio.
The topics: Cattle behavior, low-stress handling methods, and how those methods can improve the animals' performance, health and welfare while keeping handlers safe.
Speaking will be Ron Gill, livestock extension specialist, Texas A&M University, and Curt Pate, rancher and livestock handling clinician, Helena, Montana.
Cattle flight zones and other behaviors will be discussed. Effective ways to sort cattle and move cattle through working facilities will be demonstrated.
"The event will be very hands-on," said Kenny Wells, Jackson station manager. "We will be spending most of our time in the corrals and working facilities watching and listening to the presenters as they work with cattle. It will be completely focused on working with commercial cattle in a real production environment."
Registration costs $5 per person. Lunch, given by the Jackson County Cattlemen's Association, and refreshments, provided by the Jackson Soil and Water Conservation District, are included in the cost.
Contact Wells at (740) 286-3803 or wells.296@osu.edu for details and to register. Participants are asked to register by September 12. OARDC and Ohio State University Extension are the sponsors.
Throughout the program, Wells said, the speakers will emphasize the importance of reducing stress on cattle. Minimizing stress, he said, improves safety for both cattle and people, reduces adverse effects on the animals' growth and performance, and makes cattle farming easier.
Wells and Steve Boyles, an OSU Extension beef cattle specialist, will discuss and demonstrate another lower-stress method, fenceline weaning. "Fenceline weaning is a method where calves are exposed to their dams across a fenceline for about a week post-weaning," Wells explained. "This is different from most traditional methods, in which calves are abruptly separated from dams at the time of weaning. Fenceline weaning results in less stress on calves and their mothers."
The station is located two miles southeast of Jackson on State Route 93, at 019 Standpipe Road in Jackson County. OARDC and OSU Extension are the research and outreach arms, respectively, of Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Ohio Cattlemen's Association Bred Heifer Sale Set for December 13
The Ohio Cattlemen's Association will be holding a bred heifer sale Saturday, December 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the Claylick Run Sale Facility near Newark, Ohio. The sale will offer approximately 100 lots of top quality bred replacement females. This event is an opportunity to market purebred, commercial and club calf type bred females. Heifers currently participating in the Ohio Beef Heifer Development Program also qualify to sell.
The sale is open to consignments of bred heifers from current OCA members. Heifers must be born between Sept. 1, 2006, and May 1, 2007. Heifers must be bred to calve prior to June 1, 2009. Pregnancy must be confirmed by a veterinarian. Heifers must meet a minimum weight requirement of 900 lbs to sell. Additionally, all heifers must have completed a standard health protocol as determined by the sale committee.
A non-refundable $100 entry fee per heifer will go toward the sale commission of 12 percent. Any remaining commission not covered by the $100 entry fee will deducted from the consignors sale check. A picture of the heifer can be included in the sale catalog for an additional charge of $15 per heifer. Sale order will be determined by the sale committee.
If you are interested in consigning heifers, or would like to request a sale catalog, contact Bill Doig at 614-873-6736 or email bdoig@ohiobeef.org. Sale consignment deadline is October 1, 2008. Additional information will be available on the OCA website at www.ohiocattle.org under the beef improvement tab.
Cattle Markets Influenced by Inventory and Timing - Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
The most recent USDA Cattle on Feed report confirms that overall feedlot inventories remain below last year's levels. The August 1 feedlot inventory of 9.689 million head is the lowest monthly feedlot total since August, 2004. The July marketings number was well anticipated in pre-report estimates at 102 percent of one year ago. However, the July placements number of 102 percent of a year earlier was below most analysts' estimates and below the average estimate of 106 percent of last year. This likely is partly due to continued shifts in seasonal cattle production patterns. The high cost of feedlot finishing and the resulting forage production incentives appear to be keeping more cattle in the country through the summer.
It is one more sign that the industry is returning once again to a more yearling based production system and more dominated by the annual forage cycle. This might suggest a relatively large run of yearling feeders in the fall but there is also increased incentive for retained ownership of calves and likely smaller runs of calves in the traditional fall weaning period. In general it appears that the beef industry is adding 3 to 5 months of age to most cattle in order to utilize more forage in beef production.
On August 19, USDA also issued the United States and Canadian Cattle report. The report pegs the all cattle and calves total for July 1 at 119.495 million head, down one percent from last year. This value is also the lowest July 1 total for the two countries in the last decade. The BSE-induced build of cattle inventories in Canada is just about liquidated and the more recent trend of larger imports of Canadian cattle to the U.S., resulting from exchange rate impacts and poor competitiveness of Canadian cattle feeding and packing, should also moderate as market flows of animals catch up with inventories. U.S. imports of Mexican cattle are down 35 percent this year from last year's reduced levels as a result of limited inventories and strong beef demand in Mexico. All in all it appears that the fundamental cattle supply situation in North America will remain tight and supportive of prices for the next couple of years at least and likely longer.
Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report - Mike Roberts, Commodity Marketing Agent, Virginia Tech
Index Funds and large speculators keep the "Fun" in Fund influence. The USDA World Agriculture Supply Demand Estimate (WASDE) report was bearish for corn, neutral for soybeans, and bullish for wheat. However, corn futures were oversold so index funds took prices up . . . way up. Soybeans tagged along while wheat rode its own fundamentals lower. The volatility of the market has been dizzying. It looks like the corn market has put in a major bottom. I'm through with my measuring objective of $4.81/bu for corn. An old friend talked with me today about the fact that the US no longer produces an excess corn. We can now burn in our gas tanks what we couldn't use up before. With supply and demand so closely aligned, any shift in weather, actual use vs. production, and/or exports can change market momentum in a minute . . . even a New York minute.
That is what happened last week. Traders didn't believe USDA's report about yield potential due to late planting, dry conditions, and the possibility of an early frost . . . and . . . the U.S. dollar weakened helping oil prices rebound. Result . . . more money in large speculative pockets. This provided large amounts of cash to buy commodities such as grains and oilseeds and livestock therefore driving those prices up. In addition, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) showed oversold in many markets. Put all this together and you have large speculators with a lot of cash with mostly "buy-only" position rules bidding up prices.
LIVE CATTLE futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) were gainers on Monday. The AUG'08LC contract closed at $102.000/cwt, up $0.150/cwt from Friday and $0.075/cwt higher than this time last week. The August contract will expire this week. OCT'08LC futures were up $0.025/cwt at $105.800/cwt but $0.150/cwt lower than last Monday. Lower corn futures; short covering; and USDA's Cattle on Feed report issued last Friday was supportive. Funds were major buyers of October and December '08 futures. The USDA report showed placements up only 2% (vs. expectations for around 7%) and cattle-on-feed supplies as of August 1 down 4% from last year. Cash cattle were posted $1-$2/cwt lower with USDA's 5-area price placed at $98.57/cwt - $98.76/cwt on Monday. USDA put the choice boxed beef cutout at $161.4/cwt, up $0.64/cwt. According to HedgersEdge.com, the estimated average packer margin was off $17.70/head placed at a positive $4.80/head based on the average buy of $99.29/cwt vs. a breakeven of $99.66/cwt. Corn and soybeans remain very volatile in technical selling and buying as the market doesn't believe the most recent USDA report. It is still a good idea to price short term feed needs on down ticks in the market.
FEEDER CATTLE at the CME closed mixed on Monday. AUG'08FC futures were up $0.250/cwt at $113.100/cwt; $0.55/cwt lower than last Monday. The SEPT'08 contract finished the day at $112.900/cwt, off $0.050/cwt from Friday's close and $0.675/cwt lower than last Monday. August/September and October/September spreads provided mixed finishes. Feeders never recovered after corn futures opened higher and then finished lower. However, higher live cattle were supportive. Cash feeders in Oklahoma City were steady with a volume of 8,200 head on Monday vs. 6,105 head last week and 11,724 head a year ago. The latest CME Feeder Cattle index for August 21 was placed at $113.21/cwt, down $0.05/cwt. The feed markets are still volatile. Try and price short-term needs on technical selling in the grains.
Visit the OSU Beef Team calendar of meetings and upcoming events
BEEF Cattle is a weekly publication of Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County and the OSU Beef Team. Contributors include members of the Beef Team and other beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U.S.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868
Fairfield County Agriculture and Natural Resources
