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Title: STRETCHING THE GRAZING SEASON WITH CROP RESIDUES AND STOCKPILED FORAGES

Author
item RUSSELL, JAMES - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item HITZ, ANDREW - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item MORRICAL, DANIEL - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Radke, Jerry
item LAWRENCE, JOHN - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Great Lakes Grazing Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/20/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The Iowa State University Beef Cow Business Record has shown that the most expensive period for feeding beef cows is during the winter when producers rely on stored feeds. Feeding stored feeds is the largest expense in cow-calf production, accounting for approximately one-third of the costs. Crop residues and stockpiled hay crop forages are available resources to extend the grazing season into the fall and winter in Midwestern states. A good winter grazing system must supply adequate nutrition to maintain reproductive performance in beef cattle and sheep and milk production in lactating dairy cattle while preserving soil and forage resources for subsequent years. Winter grazing of stockpiled forages and corn stalk residue produced more beef cow weight gain and better body condition compared to those maintained in a dry lot. Best performance was on tall fescue-alfalfa followed by smooth bromegrass-red clover and corn crop residue. Profits per cow from two integrated summer and winter forage grazing systems were better than for drylot cows. Supplemental feed costs reduced profits per cow for winter corn stalk grazing.