NDSU BEEF COLLEGEDOUG LANDBLOM, RE CENTER SPEC.

DICKINSON RESEARCH EXTENSION CENTERFEBRUARY 11, 2010

Alternative Beef Systems:Weaning Age and Backgrounding

Alternatives

Beef System Research Questions

Can early weaning be used for more than drought management?

What effect does EW have on the range biomass disappearance, cow weight, and cow body condition?

After weaning, how should EW calves be managed? Feedlot? or Grazing? BRD and Other Health Issues?

Can cow wintering cost be reduced using an EW system?

EWNW

EW

NW

EWNW

Weaning Comparisons: Normal Weaned Control - Direct to Feedlot (1st Wk November) Normal Weaned - Unharvested Standing Corn (1st Wk November)

Early Weaned - Direct to Feedlot (Mid-August) Early Weaned - Unharvested Standing Corn (Mid-August )

Effect of Early Weaning on Native Range & Cow Condition

Native Range: Reduces forage disappearance

~ 36% Extends grazing season or

compensate for drought

Cow Weight and Condition: Increased cow weight Increased Condition ~ 0.80 BCS Increases Young Cow

Reproductive Performance Cows < 5 Years of age

Winter feed can be reduced to maintain BCS of 5.5

Lower inputs preserve/build equity

Corn Grain and Forage Nutrient Quality

CP, % NDF, % IVDMD, %

Corn Grain

Sept. (14% Moist. ) 14.1 12.2 90.8

Whole Plant

Sept. 9.16 61.0 75.2

Nov. 8.66 70.2 59.0

Jan. 4.36 79.8 43.5

Litter

Jan. (Trash on Ground) 9.57 72.1 64.7

Corn Production & Utilization, DM

Early Wean-Aug

(Corn)

Normal Wean–Nov

(Corn)

Peak Production, (DM) T/A 3.18 2.76

Start Graze, (DM) T/A 2.88 1.51

End Graze, (DM) T/A 0.87 0.44

Utilization , (DM) T/A 2.01 1.07

Field Disappearance, (DM) T/A -0.30 -1.26

Residual Stalks, (DM) T/A 0.87 0.44

Backgrounding Systems Economics

Pasture Control(Feedlot

)

Normal Wean–Nov

(Corn)

Early Wean-Aug

(Corn)

Early Wean

(Feedlot)

System Days

80 38.5 81 86

End Wt 620 703 645 611

Gain 165 85.2 179 206

ADG 2.06 2.21 2.21 2.40

Net Ret/Hd $87.50 -$5.82 $93.19 $69.56

Cost/Lb. Ga.

$0.59 $1.08 $0.52 $0.66

Beef Value Corn Grain Equivalent

Early Wean Normal Wean

Beef Value/Ac., $ 329.66 153.66

Corn Grain Equiv. (Bu/Ac @ $3.50/Bu)

94.19 43.90

Steer Health, Pulls & Treatment Cost

Pasture Control

(Feedlot)

Normal Wean–Nov

(Corn)

Early Wean-Aug

(Corn)

Early Wean

(Feedlot)

Pull 1, % 3.7 0.00 0.0 17.5

2, % 8.77

3, % 3.51

Ave Treatment Cost, $

$1.72 $0.00 $0.00 $9.92

Cows Follow Calves and Graze Corn Stalk Residue

ADG: 2009 Corn Stalk Grazing(70 Days)

Per 1 (D to J) - 37d Per 2 (J to F) - 33d Overall - 70d

-4

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

EW-StalksNW-Stalks

Corn Stalk Residue Value

Months Grazing/Cow Range: 1.0 to 2.3 Months

Ac./Cow/Month Range: 0.50 to 0.87 Ac.

Hay Value $50.00/Ton

Hay Savings 0.50 Ton/Cow/Month

Winter Cost Reduction Range: $25 to $57/Cow

Cash Beef and Winter Hay Savings Value

EW Cash Beef Value: $329/ac+

Hay Savings: $57/hd ($49/ac)=

Combined Value : $378

Corn Grain Equivalent: 108 bu/ac

System EW Advantages

Cows: EW Reduced range forage disappearance ~36% EW improved cow BW and BCS

Rebreeding performance expected to improve with improved BCS among young cows

Grazing corn stalk residue following calves reduces winter feed and feeding cost

Extensive grazing management distributes waste Provides soil nutrients Reduces time required for manure hauling Reduces manure handling and labor costs

System EW Advantages

Calves: EW & Corn Grazing - Better performance than grazing Nat.

Rge.

EW & Corn Grazing - Greater Net Return/Hd than either Range or feedlot

EW & Corn Grazing - Minimized health problems

EW & Corn Grazing - Eliminated daily feeding, equipment, labor, fuel, and depreciation costs

EW & Corn Grazing - Cash Beef value/ac and Winter hay

savings exceed value/ac of corn grown for grain

Extensive EW System Disadvantages

Adequate Fencing and Water Supply

Early Weaning and Corn Grazing:

“At the end of backgrounding, beef value from cash crop calves combined with hay savings from corn stalk grazing (cows) will yield a

greater net return than either conventional beef production or corn grown for grain

only.”

Questions