Annual/Termination Reports:

[08/16/2005] [07/11/2006] [08/24/2007] [06/16/2008] [11/23/2009]

Report Information

Participants

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

Summer annual forage evaluations that are established in Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa will provide information on yield, growth distribution, and nutritional value of these crops that is needed to efficiently and economically extend grazing seasons beyond the capabilities of perennial grass or grass/legume pastures. These data will be used to develop recommendations, educational materials, and decision aids for graziers and their consultants to improve the nutritional status and profitable production of grazing cattle using crops that require fewer agricultural inputs than annual grain crops and may have a lower risk of erosion or environmental contamination.<br /> <br /> Several experiments demonstrated that feeding supplements based on dried distillers grains (DDGS) to yearling steers or heifers consuming grass hay or grazing native range in winter or in summer resulted in improved rates of gain and reduced forage intake, potentially increasing pasture carrying capacity. Economic analyses showed that this use of DDGS was profitable at current prices. Expanded economical use of DDGS by grazing livestock may reduce the environmental risk of extension feeding in a drylot.<br /> <br /> Diet samples collected from grazing cattle as well as samples of hand and mechanically harvested forages are being used to develop a nutrient composition database of forages in the NCR for use in developing supplements to balance the nutrient requirements of grazing livestock. This database, when used together with the NRC Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle model, should improve animal production and profitability while minimizing excretion of excess nutrients.<br /> <br /> During the next 12 months the summer annual forage evaluations will be completed for the first growing season and a second season will commence with several sites added and, hopefully, better establishment success at all sites. Forage quality analysis of samples collected from these evaluations will be on-going and will contribute to the developing nutrient composition database.<br /> <br /> Additional feeding trials using DDGS, especially with mature cows, will be initiated to further identify effective, economical, and environmentally advantageous uses of this co-product in livestock production systems.

Publications

Anderson, R. V., R. J. Rasby, T. J. Klopfenstein, and R. T. Clark. 2005. An evaluation of production and economic efficiency of two beef systems from calving to slaughter. J. Anim. Sci. 83:694-704.<br /> <br /> Klopfenstein, T., and D. Adams. 2005. Using ethanol industry coproducts in diets for forage-fed cattle. Midwest ASAS annual meeting, March 21-23, Des Moines, IA.<br /> <br /> Morris, S., T. Klopfenstein, and D. Adams. 2005. Effects of dried distillers grains on heifer consumption of low or high quality forage. Midwest ASAS annual meeting, March 21-23, Des Moines, IA.<br /> <br /> Morris, S., T. Klopfenstein, and D. Adams. 2005. Predicting forage intake of steers supplemented dried distillers grains while grazing native summer Sandhills range. ASAS Animal Meeting, July 24-28, Cincinnati, OH.<br /> <br /> Morris, S. T., T. J. Klopfenstein, D. C. Adams, G. E. Erickson, and K. J. Vander Pol. 2005. The effects of dried distillers grains on heifers consuming low or high quality forage. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report MP 83-A:18-20.<br /> <br /> Mousel, E.M., W.H. Schacht, C.W. Zanner, and L.E. Moser. 2005. Effects of summer grazing strategies on organic reserves and root characteristics of big bluestem. Crop Sci. (In press)<br /> <br /> Moyer, J. L. and J. O. Fritz. 2005. Allocating grazing resources with KansasGrazer© and making management decisions in a stocker operation. Proc. XX International Grassland Congress, Dublin Ireland. (In press)<br /> <br /> Schacht, W.H., A. Guru, P.E. Reece, J.D. Volesky, and D. Cotton. 2005. Using geospatial information technologies and field research to enhance classroom learning. J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci. Educ. (In press)<br /> <br /> Stalker, L. A., D. C. Adams, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2005. Effects of supplemental protein during gestation and grazing subirrigated meadow during the postpartum interval on pregnancy rates of spring calving cows and calf growth. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report MP 83-A:7-9.<br /> <br /> Stalker, L. A., T. J. Klopfenstein, and D. C. Adams. 2005. Effects of dried distillers grains supplementation frequency on heifer growth. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report MP 83-A:13-14. <br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D., W.H. Schacht, P.E. Reece, and T.J. Vaughn. 2005. Spring growth and use of cool-season graminoids in the Nebraska Sandhills. Rangeland Ecol. Manage. (In press)

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

NC1020 Participant List June 7-8, 2006 Kansas City

Alexander Smart SDSU
Cody Wright SDSU
Rick Rasby UNL
John Baker MSU
Walter Schacht UNL
Martin Massengale UNL
Lyle Lomas KSU
Joe Moyer KSU
Dale Blasi KSU
Ken Moore ISU
Terry Klopfenstein UNL
Keith Harmoney KSU
Steve Barnhart ISU
Walter Fick KSU
Eric Vanzant Univ. of Kentucky
Bruce Anderson UNL
Gary Gromwell CSREES
Jerry Volesky UNL
John Fritz KSU

Brief Summary of Minutes

NC-1020 and NC-1021 held a joint meeting in Kansas City on June 7-8, 2006. We agreed that we would pursue a two year extension of the current 3 year projects. NC-1020 and NC-1021 agreed that they would stay as separate committees. A letter was drafted to request this two year extension citing many reasons why the two committees would not merge into one. Justifications for the two year extension are as follows:
" The agronomic evaluation of alternative forages in NC-1020 requires at least two more growing seasons for successful completion.
" Over one-half dozen studies using distillers grains to supplement grazing cattle are on-going, with preliminary data published from most of them in state research reports.
" Time is needed to incorporate forage composition data that has been gathered into the Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle model to enhance its usefulness under grazing conditions.
" Regional educational programs being planned by NC-1020 are unlikely to be ready for presentation until 2008.
Committee officers were elected. Dr. Keith Harmoney (KSU) was elected as the new Secretary. Dr. Sandy Smart (SDSU) moved up as Chair. Next meeting will be held on July 18-19, 2007 in Brookings, SD.

Accomplishments

Objective 1a) Evaluate the adaptability, yield, and quality of summer annual forages across the NCR for use in complementary forage systems.<br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Nine summer annual forages were tested in replicated trials across nine research locations in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska in 2005. Results varied by location and more data are needed to analyze mechanisms underlying the consistency of establishment, yield, and quality over many environments. This study will be repeated in 2006. <br /> <br /> Objective 1b) Evaluate forage quality from September to March of different cultivars from 24 perennial forage species grown in monoculture and stockpiled form mid-July.<br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Kansas. Stockpiled forage that was harvested from the winters of 2003-05 and 2004-05 at the Southeast Research Center was greatest from tall fescue cultivars. However, forage durability, as indicated by January: December yield ratios, was similar for the cultivars harvested.<br /> <br /> Objective 1c) Evaluate the ability of the grain processing co-product, distillers grains, to substitute for forages in summer and winter grazing systems of growing cattle. <br /> <br /> Kansas. Trials were initiated at Manhattan and at the Southeast Research Center. Dried distillers grains can be supplemented to cattle grazing winter or summer pasture and increase average daily gain, stocking rate, and gain per acre. Levels of supplement can be fed as high as 1% live body weight. <br /> <br /> Nebraska. Trials were initiated to evaluate developing replacement heifers using diets with excess UIP from distillers grains. Distillers grains tended to improve conception rates when artificially insemination was used. Trials were initiated to evaluate the use of distillers grains to extend range capacity. Distillers grains can increase ADG and decrease forage utilization. Seven studies where distillers grains were supplemented to grazing cattle were summarized. Distillers grains were fed from 0.5% to 1.0% of BW. Average daily gains increased by 0.49 to 0.88 lb per day over the control when 0.5% or 1.0% BW of distillers grains was fed, respectively. Stocking rate studies are being proposed to evaluate forage utilization.<br /> <br /> Objective 1d) Evaluate the economic and environmental potential of alternative forages and/or distillers grains in cow-calf production systems with different resources or animal management systems.<br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Nebraska. Trials were initiated to evaluate supplementation of pregnant beef cows with distillers cube while grazing cornstalks and the effect on cow performance and profit potential. <br /> <br /> South Dakota. Trials were initiated to evaluate dried distillers grains with solubles as a feedstuff for heifers in the last trimester of gestation. Dried distillers are as effective as soybean hulls as a forage replacement at this critical production period to meet the nutritional needs for heifers and can be supplemented at 40 percent of the diet with no negative affects on cow performance, calf birth weight, or calving difficulty.<br /> <br /> <br /> Objective 2a) Create databases that can be used to expand the relevance of (i) 1996 Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle model to grazing conditions in the NRC and (ii) existing models/decision support tools for forage management and utilization to annual and perennial forages in the NRC. <br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Kansas. The KansasGrazer software by John Fritz has been made available on the web (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/forage/ksgrazer.htm). The program uses grazing models developed from state-wide data to calculate monthly carrying capacity in terms of AUMs and compares to animal requirements. Capabilities of the software were illustrated at field days and national and international meetings. <br /> <br /> <br /> Objective 2b) Conduct systems-based educational programs on integrated forage/cattle management systems for cattle producers.<br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Information disseminated at various meetings.<br /> 4-State Beef Conference (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska)<br /> Range Beef Cow Symposium<br /> Numerous workshops held in each state (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota)<br /> <br /> Objective 2c) Develop an educational program on the utilization of grain co-products.<br /> <br /> Accomplishments:<br /> Mini-symposium at Midwest Animal Science meetings targeted at extension educators.<br /> <br /> <br /> Plans for upcoming year:<br /> Annual forages study will continue in 2006 and 2007. Data will be analyzed and summarized. Several trials investigating feeding grain co-products to cattle will continue in Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota. System-based educational programs on integrated forage/cattle management systems for producers and extension staff will continue in each state. Plans for developing grain co-product educational programs will be discussed. Next NC 1020 meeting will be held in Brookings, SD in July 2007.<br />

Publications

Geisert, B.G., T.J. Klopfenstein, D.C. Adams, and J.A. Musgrave. 2006. Determination of diet protein and digestibility of native Sandhills Upland Range. Proc. Western Section, ASAS, Vol. 57.<br /> <br /> Geisert, B.G., T.J. Klopfenstein, D.C. Adams, and J. C. MacDonald. 2006. Comparison of in vivo digestibility of five forages fed to steers. Midwest ASAS abstracts.<br /> <br /> Gustad, K.H., T.J. Klopfenstein, G.E. Erickson, J.C. MacDonald, K.J. Vander Pol, and M.A. Greenquest. 2006. Dried distillers grains supplementation to calves grazing corn residue. Midwest ASAS abstracts.<br /> <br /> Lomas, L.W., and J.L. Moyer. 2006. Distillers grains supplementation for grazing stocker cattle. p.1-5. In: 2006 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center. Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn. Report of Progress 960. 78p.<br /> <br /> Morris, S.E., J.C. MacDonald, D.C. Adams, T.J. Klopfenstein. R.L. Davis, and JR. Teichert. 2006. Effects of supplementing dried distillers grains on performance of cattle grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP 84:30-32.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L., and E.C. Brummer. 2006. Dry matter of stockpiled forages. p.37-39. In: 2006 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center. Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn. Report of Progress 960. 78p.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L., J.O. Fritz, and S.L. Fogleman. 2006. Using KansasGrazer to aid in pasture management decisions. AFGC Proceedings 15:112-116.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L., and K.J. Moore. 2006. Growing annual crops for summer forage. p.34-36. In: 2006 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center. Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn. Report of Progress 960. 78p.<br /> <br /> Stalker, L.A., D.C. Adams, and T.J. Klopfenstein. 2006. Influence of dried distillers grains supplementation frequency on forage digestibility and growth performance. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP 84:33-35.<br />

Impact Statements

1. Increased information of yield performance of a wide variety of annual forages grown across a wide geographic region will be communicated to producers and the scientific community
2. Quantified growth stages of annual forages across a variety of climatic conditions will enable modelers to develop predicted equations of cattle production and performance
3. Demonstration that cattle are efficient at using by-products from the ethanol industry
4. Demonstrated greater animal performance of grazing cattle supplemented by-products of the ethanol industry

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Report Information

Participants

John Baker- Administrative Advisor- Michigan State University
Sandy Smart- South Dakota State University
Cody Wright- South Dakota State University
Walt Schacht- University of Nebraska
Walt Fick- Kansas State University
Lyle Lomas- Kansas State University
Joe Moyer- Kansas State University
Karl Harborth- Kansas State University
Aaron Stalker- University of Nebraska
Bruce Anderson- University of Nebraska
Martin Massengale- University of Nebraska
Jerry Volesky- University of Nebraska
Keith Harmoney- Kansas State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

The NC 1020 Committee met in Brookings, SD on July 18-19, 2007. The meeting convened with opening remarks and comments by our Administrative Advisor, John Baker, from Michigan St. University. Participants were then given a personal tour of the SDSU research feedlot operation, renovated pastures of the SDSU sheep research unit, and the SDSU carbon sequestration and carbon flux measurement grassland site. State reports were then presented covering each of the objectives set forth in the NC 1020 project. The committee determined that an educational event should be planned in the near future to report the significant findings of distillers grains supplementation in beef grazing systems. Although more research is needed, the current information is timely and applicable to current producer inquiries. The alternative summer annual forages objective will not be seeded in 2008 to allow time for forage quality analysis of all prior years collected samples. Possible topics for further research were discussed to continue the project, and a writing committee was formed. Sandy Smart will chair the writing committee, with Bruce Anderson, Lyle Lomas, Aaron Stalker, Walt Fick and Walt Schacht each contributing to a portion of the next project proposal. Keith Harmoney will preside as chair and Jerry Volesky was elected secretary of the next meeting scheduled for May 20-21, 2008 in Manhattan, KS.

Accomplishments

Objective 1a- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the adaptability, yield, and quality of summer annual forages across the NCR for use in complementary forage systems. <br /> <br /> At the Kansas Southeast Research Center, total 2006 forage production from vegetative harvests was greater for sudangrass and millet than for other species, whereas corn produced more forage from harvests at the reproductive stage, followed by millet and sudangrass.<br /> <br /> At the Kansas Ag Research Center  Hays, one of the driest Jan.-July periods on record severely affected the 2006 trial. Of the species planted, only early planted oats reached a harvestable stage before succumbing to dry and hot conditions. Stands of other forages were considered poor and conditions worsened as the season progressed until desiccation resulted, so forages were released from the trial. <br /> <br /> In North Platte, NE under irrigation, all species increased yield substantially between vegetative and reproductive stages of growth. Species with significant regrowth after vegetative stage harvest had similar total season yields after multiple harvests as the same species harvested once at reproductive stages. <br /> <br /> In Lincoln, NE, low spring precipitation limited growth of early season forages, such as oat and Italian ryegrass. More timely rainfall later in the season improved regrowth and yields of later planted species. Corn and berseem clover produced poor stands, and brassica suffered from severe insect feeding following harvest and did not recover. <br /> <br /> At Ames, IA, good stands of all species except crabgrass were achieved in 2006. Corn, forage soybean, and oat were the three greatest yielding species. Berseem clover and Italian ryegrass had much lower yields than other species studied. <br /> <br /> Objective 1b- To evaluate the forage quality potential of 24 monoculture perennial forages allowed to accumulate forage following a July harvest when stockpiled and utilized from September through March.<br /> <br /> No activity took place on this objective, as evaluation had already been summarized and previously reported for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 winter seasons in past NC 1020 minutes.<br /> <br /> Objective 1c- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the ability of the grain processing co-product, distillers grains, to substitute for forages in summer and winter grazing systems of growing cattle.<br /> <br /> On Kansas smooth bromegrass pastures, supplementation with distillers grains increased average daily gain and final weight of steers. Animals maintained that weight in the feedlot, however no additional difference in average daily gain occurred in the feedlot. Although increased average daily gain from distillers grains supplementation on smooth bromegrass pasture resulted, the intake of distillers grains did not substitute for pasture forage. Supplementing distillers does not replace grazed forage. Supplementation of steers grazing bermudagrass with distillers grains had no effect on grazing or finishing performance, and did not substitute for pasture forage.<br /> <br /> A new Kansas trial is evaluating effects of restricting dry-matter intake during the receiving phase and its effects on performance of growing steers during the subsequent grass and feedlot phases. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the differences among a full-fed dry matter intake-based on feed/bunk management data obtained from previous groups of steers and then three restricted dry-matter intake levels of a corn gluten mixed ration fed at a percentage of their body weight (2.5, 2.25 and 2.0%). This project will evaluate early management feeding strategies of steers in the receiving yard and its implications on subsequent grazing and finishing phases. The results of this study will assist stocker producers and background operators consider alternatives to feeding when feed commodity prices become exorbitant.<br /> <br /> Distillers grains supplementation in stocker diets grazing Nebraska sandhills vegetation showed that average daily gain can be significantly increased with supplement. However, similar to findings in Kansas, distillers grains supplement did not replace or conserve the amount of grazed forage in stocker diets. Therefore, extending grazing or increasing stocking with distillers supplementation to make pasture forage last longer is not a reasonable management strategy. <br /> <br /> A study of wet, dry, and a mix of wet distillers grains mixed with straw all improved stocker average daily gains linearly as supplementation level increased from 0 to 6 lbs/hd/day. However, feed to gain ratios were more efficient when wet distillers was mixed with straw at the highest level of supplement. <br /> <br /> For steers grazing winter cornstalks in Nebraska, profits/head were greater when steers grazed cornstalks for the entire season and were supplemented with wet corn gluten feed compared to steers grazing cornstalks and then moved into drylots. Steers performed similarly, but feed and yardage costs were much lower for steers that stayed on cornstalks the whole season, thus creating the margin.<br /> <br /> Objective 1d- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the economic and environmental potential of alternative forages and/or distillers grains in cow-calf production systems with different resource or animal management systems.<br /> <br /> Nebraska studies showed that utilizing dry distillers grains in replacement heifer diets promoted moderate animal gains and enhanced AI conception and overall pregnancy rates. Supplementing distillers grains in beef cow diets on cornstalks during late gestation did not affect calf birth or weaning weights, cow weight before calving, or calving interval. Supplementation may help to increase cow body condition score from pre-calving to pre-breeding and may possibly initiate ovarian activity more quickly following calving. <br /> <br /> Objective 2a- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by creating databases that can be used to expand the relevance of (i) 1996 Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle model to grazing conditions in the NCR and (ii) existing models/decision support tools for forage management and utilization (e.g., KansasGrazer and Grazing Land Applications) to annual and perennial forages in the NCR. <br /> <br /> (i) An overview of the Nebraska Barta Ranch- 5400 acres, 3200 acres used in grazing studies, showed that 4 and 8 pasture rotations had no difference in production on cool- or warm-season grasses since 1999. Esophogeal fistulated animals used cool-season grasses early, and up to 50% leadplant in the summer with sand bluestem and prairie sandreed as other significant forages ingested. No difference in forage quality or animal gain was present with the 4 and 8 rotation system, in terms of crude protein and digestibility. Monthly diet samples collected from the central Nebraska sandhills were also evaluated for crude protein and digestibility. These data can be used to update current NRC information regarding rangeland animal intake and forage quality on a production scale.<br /> <br /> (ii) The KansasGrazer software by John Fritz has been made available on the web (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/forage/ksgrazer.htm). The program uses grazing models developed from state-wide data to calculate monthly carrying capacity in terms of AUMs and compares to animal requirements. <br /> <br /> A Grazing and Hay Records Spreadsheet template and companion publication was developed for Nebraska producers to maintain and summarize pasture grazing records as well as records of hay fed to livestock. Based on input data for individual pastures, it will automatically calculate the planned and available animal unit months (AUM) of grazing, days of grazing, stocking rates in AUM and animal unit days (AUD) /acre, used and remaining AUM. In addition, report sheets are generated that summarize seasonal distribution of grazing for each pasture, stocking rates for each pasture and entire ranch, hay fed from both pasture and drylot situations, and pasture forage demand (AUM). The template and publication will be available for download from the UNL Extension publications website.<br /> <br /> Objective 2b- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by conducting systems-based educational programs on integrated forage/cattle management systems for cattle producers; <br /> <br /> South Dakota State University released a Rangeland and Pasture Grazing Records booklet that provides producers with valuable information regarding carrying capacity of range and pasturelands throughout the state, animal unit equivalents, and stubble height or estimated utilization charts for desired 50% utilization of grazing lands. A record template was also included that helps producers document seasonal use of pastures and to score their pastures for plant vigor and health based on species, time of use, extent of use, and pasture precipitation. <br /> <br /> Objective 2c- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by developing an educational program on the utilization of grain co-products.<br /> <br /> The committee should have joint state extension meetings soon to show that information is being dispersed and is important to multiple states. The data is now available and needs to be compiled into a joint presentable form for the states involved in the project.<br /> <br /> Kansas is updating leaflets that cover various topics for the Forage Facts notebook and could include information from this project. <br />

Publications

Adams, D., T. Klopfenstein, and G. Erickson. 2007. Evaluation of storage methods for wet distillers grains plus soluble with forages and byproducts in silo bags and bunker silos. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):833.<br /> <br /> Adams, D., T. Klopfenstein, G. Erickson, M. Luebbe, and M. Greenquist. 2007. The effects of sorting steers by weight into calf-fed, summer yearling and fall yearling feeding systems. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):661<br /> <br /> Barnhardt, B.B., M.P. Epp, A.M. Bryant, P.J. Guiroy and D.A. Blasi.2007. Supplementation of stocker steers grazing native Flint Hills pasture with a protein and mineral supplement increases average daily gains. In KSU Cattlemens Day Proceedings. Kansas Agr. Exp. Stn. Rept. of Progress 978.<br /> <br /> Corrigan, M., G. Erickson, T. Klopfenstein, K. Vander Pol, M. Greenquist, M. Luebbe, K. Karges, and M. Gibson. Effect of distillers grains composition and level on steers consuming high-quality forage. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:17-18.<br /> <br /> Corrigan, M., G. Erickson, T. Klopfenstein, K. Vander Pol, M. Greenquist, M. Luebbe, K. Karges, and M. Gibson. Effect of distillers grains composition and level on performance of steers consuming high-quality forage. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:17-18.<br /> <br /> Florine, Sara E., Kenneth J. Moore, Steven L. Fales, Todd A. White, and C. Lee<br /> Burras. 2006. Yield and composition of herbaceous biomass harvested from<br /> naturalized grassland in southern Iowa. Biomass and Bioenergy 30:522-528.<br /> (doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.12.007)<br /> <br /> Geisert, B., T. Klopfenstein, D. Adams, and J. MacDonald. 2007. Comparison of in vivo digestibility to in vitro digestibility of five forages fed to steers. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:109-111.<br /> <br /> Griffin, W., T. Klopfenstein, G. Erickson, D. Feuz, and J. MacDonald. 2007. Comparison of a long yearling system and calf-fed performance and economics. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:58-60.<br /> <br /> Griffin, W., T. Klopfenstein, G. Erickson, W. Luedtke, and M. Schroeder. 2007. The effect of tillage practice and corn stalk grazing on crop yields. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):832.<br /> <br /> Harmoney, K.R. 2007. Persistence of Heavily-Grazed Cool-Season Grasses in the Central Great Plains. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2007-0625-01-RS.<br /> <br /> Klopfenstein, T.J., L. Lomas, D. Blasi, D. Adams, W. Schacht, S. Morris, K. Gustad, M. Greenquist, R. Funston, J. MacDonald, and M. Epp. 2007. Summary analysis of grazing yearling response to distillers grains. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:10-11.<br /> <br /> Lomas, L.W. and J.L. Moyer. 2007. Supplementation of grazing stocker cattle with distillers's grains. p.9-16. In 2007 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center. Kansas Agr. Exp. Stn. Rept. of Progress 979.<br /> <br /> MacDonald, J., T. Klopfenstein, G. Erickson, C. Macken, J. Folmer, and M. Blackford. 2006. Sorting strategies for long yearling cattle grown in an extensive forage utilization beef production system. Prof. Anim. Sci. 22:225-235.<br /> <br /> Martin, J.L., A.S. Cupp, R.J. Rasby, Z.C. Hall, and R.N. Funston. 2007. Utilization of dried distillers grains for developing beef heifers. J. Anim. Sci. Submitted.<br /> <br /> Martin, J., A. Cupp, R. Rasby, and R. Funston. 2006. Utilization of dried distillers grains for developing replacement heifers. J. Anim. Sci. 84(Suppl. 2):130.<br /> <br /> Martin, J.L., A.S. Cupp, R.J. Rasby, K.L. Moline, J.W. Bergman, M. Dragastin, and R.N. Funston. 2007. Utilization of dried distillers grains for developing beef heifers. MP 90 2007 Nebraska Beef Report.<br /> <br /> Mousel, E.M., W.H. Schacht, C.W. Zanner, and D.A. Wedin. 2007. Comparison of botanical composition, soil carbon content, and root distribution of subirrigated meadows in the Nebraska Sandhills. Great Plains Research. 17:47-60.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J. L., J. O. Fritz, and S. L. Fogleman. 2006. Using electronic decision aids in pasture management decisions. 265-6. In ASA-CSSA-SSSA Abstracts 2006. [CD-ROM] ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J. L. and K. J. Moore. 2007. Growing annual crops for summer forage. p. 31-33. In: 2007 Agricultural Research, Southeast Agricultural Research Center. Kansas Agric. Exp. Stn Rept. of Progress 979. http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/srp979.pdf<br /> <br /> Reece, P.E., W.H. Schacht, and J.D. Volesky. 2007. Skillful grazing management on semiarid rangelands. EC162, Ext. Circ., IANR, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.<br /> <br /> Singer, J. W., K. J. Moore, R. L. Hintz, P. K. Patrick, and P. Summer. 2007.<br /> Effect of source and rate of nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer on yield, quality, and mineral composition of stockpiled tall fescue. Crop Management<br /> doi:10.1094/CM-2007-0507-01-RS.<br /> <br /> Skinner, Howard R., and Kenneth J. Moore. 2006. Growth and development of<br /> forage plants. p. 53-66. In R. F Barnes, C. J. Nelson, K. J. Moore, and M.<br /> Collins, (ed.) Forages, 6th edition: The Science of Grassland Agriculture.<br /> Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA.<br /> <br /> Smart, A.J., W.H. Schacht, J.D. Volesky, and L.E. Moser. 2006. Seasonal changes in dry matter partitioning, yield, and crude protein of intermediate wheatgrass and smooth bromegrass. Agron. J. 98:986-991.<br /> <br /> Sweeney, D. W. and J. L. Moyer. 2007. Nitrogen management affects sorghum grown for grain and forage. Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2007-0323-01-RS.<br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D., W.H. Schacht, P.E. Reece, and T.J. Vaughn. 2007. Diet composition of cattle grazing Sandhills range during spring. Rangeland Ecol. Manage. 60:65-70.<br />

Impact Statements

1. Seasonal uniformity of the nutrient supply can be improved by identifying forage species and cultivars that complement productivity and nutritional value of common forage species on pasture and rangeland during the summer. Diverse climatic conditions across the region may require specific recommendations of crops that could be used in summer for a particular area.
2. Inexpensive co-products from the grain processing industry can be used to lower production costs as an economically and nutritionally acceptable replacement for more expensive grain products, especially for supplementation when the season of use or forage maturity limits pasture and range forage production and/or nutritional value. Benefits from lowering costs while maintaining or improving cow/calf and stocker animal production can be achieved through the use of grain processing by-products.
3. Grain processing byproducts will not replace consumed pasture forage intake during periods of drought and other periods of low forage availability. Feeding by-products is not a viable option to replace, extend, or conserve pasture forage, but is rather a beneficial supplement to animals utilizing grazed forage.
4. Computer programs, computer template spreadsheets, and written hand manuals will enable producers to evaluate forage based beef cattle systems in greater detail and could enable producers to make better-informed decisions to reduce costs, conserve lands, and improve production efficiency.

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Report Information

Participants

Harmoney, Keith - Kansas State University;
Fick, Walt - Kansas State University;
Moyer, Joe - Kansas State University;
Lomas, Lyle - Kansas State University;
Klopfenstein, Terry - University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
Anderson, Bruce - University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
Schacht, Walt - University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
Stalker, Aaron - University of Nebraska-Lincoln;
Smart, Sandy - South Dakota State University;
Blasi, Dale - Kansas State University;
Harborth, Karl - Kansas State University;
Baker, John - Administrative Advisor, Michigan State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

K. Harmoney opened the meeting at 8:30 a.m. on May 20 with a welcome and a review of the agenda.

Kansas State University provided the first state report.
- J. Moyer reported on the performance of legumes interseeded into tall fescue as a method of improving tall fescue stands.
- L. Lomas reported on supplementation of grazing stocker cattle with distillers grains on smooth bromegrass.
- K. Harmoney reported on research that hypothesized that grazing animals on less costly forages, such as native rangeland or seeded forage crops, before placing in the feedlot would help to add value to animals being placed in the feedlot by increasing size and reducing the time on feed and need for grain for finishing. He also presented a summary of a study that hypothesized that by using intensive-early stocking at less than double the density, and then allowing some animals to remain on pasture season-long, that land use efficiency and gains per acre could be increased without limiting individual animal gain potential.

S. Smart, from South Dakota State University, reported on three studies.
- Evaluation of six cool-season grasses for fall/winter stockpiling (orchardgrass responded most favorably to fall fertilization).
- Suppression of smooth bromegrass in the year after legume establishment in grass (grazing appeared to be a good suppression method).
- Patch grazing as an alternative to patch burning and grazing.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln made the final state report.
- B. Anderson reported on evaluation of production and quality of warm-season annual forages.
- W. Schacht reported on the effect of grazing system on diet quality and animal performance in the Nebraska Sandhills.
- Terry Klopfenstein reported on research related to the utilization distillers grains.

A review and discussion of the education objective followed the tour. For the past year, a number of accomplishments were identified:
- Further revision of the Kansas Grazer, KSU.
- Further revision and publication of the Grazing and Hay Records Spreadsheet, UNL.
- Summary analysis of grazing yearling response to distillers grains in 2007 UNL Beef Cattle Report. Much of the research referred to in the report was associated with NC-1020.
- Much of the information presented at the Ethanol Co-Products Storage and Utilization Conference in May 2008 at UNL is based on research associated with this project.
- There was an emphasis on utilization of distillers grains at the 2008 Four-State Beef Conference and at the KOMA (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas) Conference. Much of the information presented was based on research associated with this project.

Educational accomplishments for the upcoming year will include:
- Joint sponsorship of the Ethanol Co-Products Storage and Utilization Conference in May 2009 in Grand Island or Kearney, Nebraska. The committee will meet immediately before the conference.
- Joint sponsorship of a section in the agenda of the 2009 Four-State Cow-Calf Conference on distillers grains.
- Include an article in the Kansas State Cattlemen based on the distillers grains summary in the 2007 UNL Beef Cattle Report.
- Write a manuscript for submission to a scientific journal and for use in extension publications on annual forage crop research conducted by committee members. B. Anderson will check with Ken Moore, ISU, on forage quality analysis.
- Other forms of distribution of project outputs will be explored, including: the beefstockerUSA.org website and Beef Cast on beefcast.com (an Elanco supported website).

A discussion of the next 5-year project. All agreed that there is excellent justification for a new project. There is increasing worldwide demand for beef, increasing grain prices, increasing food prices, increasing concerns about the effects of agricultural production on the environment, and an increasing demand for efficient resource use and food production. The product of the discussion was the following outline of the new project.

Sustaining Forage-based Beef Cattle Production in a Bioenergy Environment
Statement of Issues
Rising costs of fuel, land, harvested feedstuffs &
Justification
Legumes and bioenergy coproducts can be used to alleviate &
Objectives
1) Reduce use of commercial fertilizer
a. Interseeding of legumes in grass pastures
i. Establishment  identifying barriers that are involved failures
1. Use of fungicides, pesticides, sterilization of soil etc.
2. Sod suppression (physical or chemical)
3. Soil fertility (phosphorus)
4. Moisture (supplemental irrigation vs none)
5. Rhizobia (interaction with soil microhabitat)
6. Seeding techniques (overseeding, drilling)
ii. Production response  grazing studies (animal and forage productivity)
1. What percent of the stand should be legume?
2. What grazing strategy should be used?
3. Include grass-N fertilized control.
b. Look at the effect of nutrients added from feeding the mixture of distillers grains and low quality forages (e.g., estimated to be 35 lb/acre N) on pasture productivity and species composition.

2) Use of biofuel coproducts in forage based diets to optimize utilization of forage resources.
This project will address the situations of summer drought, summer slump (cool-season dominated pastures), and winter grazing whereby feeding biofuel coproducts will increase the efficiency of livestock production systems.
a. Supplementation of forages to improve efficiency of grazing livestock production.
i. Feeding of distillers on pasture.
ii. Feeding a mixture of distillers grains and low quality forages (wheat straw, corn stalks, low quality hay, etc.).
b. Substitution of grass.

S. Smart is the chair of the writing committee with S. Smart and B. Anderson leading in the development of the legume establishment objective, A. Stalker and L. Lomas leading in the development of the co-product objective, and W. Fick and W. Schacht integrating environmental factors in the project proposal. Each member of the writing committee is to submit his components to S. Smart for compilation and development of the Statement of Issues and Justification. Jerry Volesky will become chair for 2009. Walt Fick was elected secretary for 2008/2009. The 2009 annual meeting will be held in Nebraska in association with the Ethanol Co-Product Storage and Utilization Conference.

Accomplishments

Objective 1a- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the adaptability, yield, and quality of summer annual forages across the NCR for use in complementary forage systems. <br /> <br /> At the KSU Southeast Research Center in 2007, oat, Italian ryegrass, berseem clover, and forage rape were not were not planted because soil was wet through the earlier planting period. For the same reason, mid-vegetative yields corn and soybean were not obtained. Forage yields of sudangrass, millet, and crabgrass were similar when cut at the vegetative stage, in terms of initial growth, regrowth, and total production. At the reproductive stage, total yields of the five species were highest for corn, and sudangrass, with pearl millet and soybean intermediate. Crabgrass production at the reproductive stage was lowest of the five species. Sudangrass was the only species grown in 2007 that produced harvestable regrowth after the initial cutting at the reproductive stage. In the three years of the study at this location, forage production was greatest for corn, millet, and sudangrass. In the two years that the earlier-spring-seeded species were grown, oat appeared more productive than berseem clover, rape, and ryegrass.<br /> <br /> During 2007, North Platte, NE plots received 100 lbs N/acre and 10.96 inches of irrigation to supplement the 16.01 inches of growing season (Apr.-Sep.) precipitation. Just over one-third of the precipitation occurred in June. Daily temperatures and other pertinent weather information were gathered at each site. All species, except Italian ryegrass increased yield substantially between vegetative and reproductive stages of growth. Warm-season annual grasses including sudangrass, sorghum-sudangrass hybrid, pearl millet, and crabgrass exhibited the greatest amount of regrowth following either a vegetative or reproductive stage first harvest. <br /> <br /> An additional study was initiated at North Platte that evaluated production of 5 warm-season annual grass entries, including teff, crabgrass, and foxtail millet. Total yield of teff varieties and Red River crabgrass averaged 0.62 tons/acre greater than foxtail millet. Across multiple harvests, quality of teff was greater than that of the other species.<br /> <br /> Objective 1b- To evaluate the forage quality potential of 24 monoculture perennial forages allowed to accumulate forage following a July harvest when stockpiled and utilized from September through March. <br /> <br /> No activity took place on this objective, as evaluation had already been summarized and previously reported for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 winter seasons in past NC 1020 minutes. <br /> <br /> Objective 1c- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the ability of the grain processing co-product, distillers grains, to substitute for forages in summer and winter grazing systems of growing cattle. <br /> <br /> At the KSU Southeast Research Center, stocker steers that grazed smooth bromegrass and were supplemented with dried distillers grains at 0.5 or 1.0% of body weight per head daily had greater grazing body weight gains than those that received no supplementation. Grazing body weight gains were similar for steers supplemented with dried distillers grains at 0.5 or 1.0% of body weight. Supplementation with dried distillers grains during the grazing phase had no effect on subsequent finishing body weight gains or carcass traits. Steers that were supplemented with dried distillers grains during the grazing phase maintained their weight advantage through the finishing phase. Stocker steers that grazed bermudagrass pastures and were supplemented with dried distillers grains at 0.5% or 1.0% of body weight per head daily had greater grazing body weight gains than those that received no supplementation. Steers that were supplemented with dried distillers grains at 1.0% of body weight had greater body weight gains than those that were supplemented with dried distillers grains at 0.5% of body weight.<br /> <br /> In a three year study in Nebraska, dried distillers grains (DDG) were evaluated as a substitute for forage and N fertilizer in yearling steers grazing smooth bromegrass. One hundred and thirty-five steers (332 ± 10 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design to measure animal and pasture performance of DDG supplementation and N fertilization. Steers were initially stocked at 6.8 AUM"ha-1 on non-fertilized smooth bromegrass pastures (CONT), 9.9 AUM"ha-1 on smooth bromegrass pastures fertilized with 90 kg N"ha-1 (FERT), or 9.9 AUM"ha-1 on non-fertilized smooth bromegrass pastures with 2.3 kg (DM) of DDGS supplemented daily (SUPP). Pasture was the experimental unit and was replicated three times within year. Pastures were strip-grazed within each of the 5 cycles while put and take cattle and days within each strip were adjusted to maintain similar grazing pressure among treatment pastures. In vitro DM digestibility and TTDMD declined quadratically (P < 0.01), while crude protein, standing crop per head, and standing crop per ha showed cubic responses (P < 0.01) through the grazing season. Crude protein was higher (P < 0.05) for FERT compared to CONT and SUPP. Standing crop per ha was 18% greater (P < 0.01) for FERT than CONT and 10% greater (P < 0.01) than SUPP. However, standing crop on a per hd basis was greater (P < 0.01) for CONT compared to FERT and SUPP. Calculated AUM"ha-1 were significantly (P < 0.01) more for FERT and SUPP compared to CONT. Final BW was increased (P < 0.01) for SUPP steers compared to CONT and FERT steers, respectively. Body weight gain increased (P < 0.01) 34% with SUPP compared to CONT for the entire grazing period. Similar results were observed in ADG values with SUPP steers gaining more (P < 0.01) compared to CONT and FERT. On a per hectare basis, total gain increased (P < 0.01) by 53% for FERT and more than double for SUPP (105%). Feedlot ADG was similar among treatments (P = 0.08) and steers maintained their weight advantage through the finishing phase. Dried distillers grains can be used to effectively substitute for N fertilizer by increasing performance of yearlings grazing smooth bromegrass. <br /> <br /> An economic analysis was conducted on the three year study. A fourth scenario was calculated with fertilizer (90 kg N"ha-1) and DDG (2.3 kg DM) and analyzed (F+S). Total costs per steer were significantly (P < 0.01) lower for FERT, intermediate for CONT, and highest for SUPP and F+S. However, the additional weight gain from DDG decreased (P < 0.01) costs of gain for the SUPP and F+S compared to CONT and FERT. Costs of gain were not different for CONT and FERT (P = 0.07). Profitability was lowest for CONT, intermediate for SUPP, and highest for FERT and F+S. The weight advantage (9%) of steers supplemented with DDG during the grazing period was maintained through the finishing period (9%). Finishing performance was similar (P = 0.88) among treatments. Supplemented and F +S steers had higher (P < 0.01) feed costs, but similar (P = 0.66) costs of gain. Slaughter values were significantly (P < 0.01) greater for SUPP and F+S because of the additional weight maintained through the feeding period. Total production system breakevens were lowest (P < 0.01) for SUPP and F+S and profitability was significantly (P < 0.01) greater for SUPP and F+S compared to CONT and FERT. Cost of gain breakpoints for cash rent and fertilizer prices were $21.2 AUM-1 and $1.13 kg-1 N, respectively, for FERT compared to CONT. Cost of gain breakpoints for DDG were $226 Mt-1 and $257 Mt-1 for SUPP compared to FERT and CONT, respectively. Profitability for steers supplemented with DDG at the end of the gazing period was significantly reduced, despite an exceptional performance advantage, due to the price slides on heavier cattle. Therefore, to maximize profits from DDG supplementation in the grazing period, ownership of the steers through the finishing period must be maintained to avoid weight slides and loss of profitability. <br /> <br /> In a second Nebraska study, 120 individually fed growing steers (BW=314 ± 21 kg) were used to compare corn distillers solubles (SOL) to corn wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) when ensiled with corn stalks. In addition, the effect of feeding ensiled WDGS and stalks was compared to feeding the mix of WDGS and stalks fresh daily. The byproducts and stalks were mixed and bagged in a 50:50 ratio (DM basis) and fed to provide byproduct level in the diet of 15, 20, 25, and 30% DM. The byproduct mix was blended with grass hay at feeding time to achieve the desired levels of byproduct in the diet. A 2 x 4 factorial treatment design was used with factors of byproduct type (solubles and WDGS) fed at 4 levels (15, 20, 25, 30). An additional treatment was included where 30% WDGS was fed fresh daily to compare performance of ensiled vs. non-ensiled WDGS and stalks. Steers were assigned randomly to treatments with 11 steers per treatment for the 2 x 4 factorial treatment design. However, 22 steers were fed ensiled WDGS fed at 30 % and 21 steers fed 30% WDGS that was fed fresh daily (non-ensiled). Excluding non-ensiled diets, there were no type by level interactions for final BW (P=0.90), ADG (P=0.97), and G:F (P=0.24). There were linear increases in ADG and G:F with increasing levels of byproduct (P<0.05). Calves fed SOL diets gained less (0.47 vs. 0.57 kg/d) and had lower G:F (0.064 vs. 0.080) compared to calves fed WDGS diets. Diets mixed at feeding had lower DMI (5.5 kg/d), ADG (0.46 kg/d), and G:F (0.084) than ensiled WDGS diets (6.4, 0.65, and 0.102, respectively). Feeding ensiled byproducts, solubles or WDGS, with stalks can be effective when backgrounding calves, and WDGS have higher feeding values than SOL. Ensiling WDGS with corn stalks appears to be better than mixing fresh daily, as DMI and ADG were improved. <br /> <br /> A 56-d grazing study was conducted to quantify the effect of supplementing cows with wet distillers grains mixed with grass hay during the summer grazing season on 1) grazed forage intake and 2) cow and calf performance. The study was conducted at the University of Nebraska Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory from June to August, 2007. Cows and calves were supplemented 55% wet distillers grains plus solubles and 45% grass hay that was mixed and stored for forty-five days (MIX). Twenty-four three year old lactating, non-gestating cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: 1) grazing upland range at the recommended stocking rate of 1.48 AUM/ha with no supplementation (CON), 2) grazing upland range at double the recommended stocking rate (2.96 AUM/ha) and supplemented 6.64 kg/hd daily of MIX to replace 50% of daily intake (SUPP), and 3) grazing upland range at double the recommended stocking rate (2.96 AUM/ha) with no supplementation (2X). Cattle were rotated through seven paddocks. Forage utilization was determined by clipping twenty, 1-m2 quadrates pre- and post-grazing. Forage IVOMD, CP, and NDF were determined from masticate diet samples collected at grazing period mid-point using espohageally fistulated cows. There was no difference in cow ADG between CON and 2X (P=0.29) (-0.45 and -052 kg/d); however, SUPP had higher ADG (0.25 kg/d; P<0.01) than non-supplemented groups. Supplemented calves had higher ADG (1.07 kg/d; P<0.01) than CON or 2X; CON tended to gain more than 2X calves (0.92 vs 0.75 kg/d; P=0.07). Forage utilization (% standing green) was 18.3% less for CON than for SUPP (P,0.01) and 24.0% less for CON than 2X (P<0.01 ). The IVOMD was 57.26%, 52.47%, and 50.54% for CON, SUPP, and 2X, respectively. Supplemented cows and calves grazing Sandhills rangeland during the summer gained more weight than the non-supplemented cattle; however, MIX did not replace grazed forage such that range conditions can be positively maintained at double stocking rate.<br /> <br /> A meta-analysis of grazing trials in which cattle were supplemented dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) was conducted to determine the effects of supplementation on daily gain and final body weight in pasture grazing situations. Additionally, pen studies were evaluated to determine supplementation of DDGS on cattle intake, forage replacement, daily gain, and final BW. In both the pasture and the pen studies, daily gain and final BW were increased quadratically with increased level of DDGS supplementation. Feeding DDGS quadratically decreased forage intake even though total intake for cattle supplemented DDGS quadratically increased with increased level of supplementation.<br /> <br /> Objective 1d- To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the economic and environmental potential of alternative forages and/or distillers grains in cow-calf production systems with different resource or animal management systems. <br /> <br /> Extreme volatility and fluctuation has occurred in grain markets the last two seasons. With the current emphasis on renewable fuels, grain ethanol production has driven grain prices rapidly upwards, thus greatly increasing the cost of feed when finishing animals in a feedlot. It has been hypothesized that grazing animals on less costly forages, such as native rangeland or seeded forage crops, before placing in the feedlot would help to add value to animals being placed in the feedlot by increasing size and reducing the time on feed and need for grain for finishing. A two year study at Hays, KS has evaluated two different production systems for marketing fall born calves. In 2006 and 2007, 40 angus and angus X steers in each of two treatments were either placed directly in the feedlot after spring weaning or placed on native shortgrass rangeland for summer grazing prior to being placed in the feedlot. Steers were all fed to an endpoint of 0.40 inches of backfat, and feedlot only animals were harvested in early or mid-November, while steers from the rangeland treatment were harvested in mid- to late March. Average steer weight was similar between treatments at the experiment inception. Animals from the rangeland treatment gained 220 lbs/hd on grass prior to entering the feedlot. Slaughter weights and carcass weights were 81 and 57 lbs/hd greater for the rangeland treatment. Days on feed was less for the rangeland treatment group, but grain intake during finishing for each group was similar at 70.5 and 70.9 bu/hd for the feedlot only and rangeland groups, respectively. Using actual market values for both years, budgets showed that steers in the feedlot only treatment lost $12.10 /hd averaged over both years, while steers grazing rangeland before entering the feedlot lost $25.74 /hd more than the feedlot only treatment. This translates into an added value of $-12.74 /acre when stocked at 3.5 acres/hd.<br /> <br /> Other Nebraska studies showed that utilizing dry distillers grains in replacement heifer diets promoted moderate animal gains and enhanced AI conception and overall pregnancy rates. Supplementing distillers grains in beef cow diets on cornstalks during late gestation did not affect calf birth or weaning weights, cow weight before calving, or calving interval. Supplementation may help to increase cow body condition score from pre-calving to pre-breeding and may possibly initiate ovarian activity more quickly following calving. <br /> <br /> In Kansas, 3 grazing systems {native range (NR), western wheatgrass/native range (WW/NR), and tall wheatgrass/native range (TW/NR)} were compared for beef cow/calf production in 2007. It was hypothesized that sequential grazing of cool-season complementary forage then warm-season dominated rangeland would increase cow/calf production compared to grazing warm-season dominated rangeland alone. The NR treatment will allow 10.6 ac/ hd, while the WW/NR and TW/NR will allow 8.2 ac/hd on native rangeland and 2.4 ac/hd on seeded complementary forage, equaling 10.6 ac/hd for all treatments. Cows were weighed, condition scored, and insonated for backfat, marbling, and muscle depth prior to grazing and at each transition from grazed forage sources. Cows on the WW, TW, and NR only treatments all had similar cow and calf gains April through July. All three treatments also had similar cow and calf gains from July through November. Cow body condition score change from April to November was within 0.20 scoring units from each other, and backfat changes were within 0.10 inches in all three treatments. Much above average precipitation during the spring of 2007 resulted in cool-season grass yields of nearly 130-170% of the expected average. Abundant spring rainfall also resulted in 25-28% western-wheatgrass composition in the native rangeland only treatment, which produced an abundant grazable cool-season grass component at the same time period that complementary cool-season grasses were being grazed in the WW and TW treatments. <br /> <br /> On Kansas shortgrass rangeland, intensive-early stocking (IES) using double stocking the first half of the grazing season was found to have no production advantage over continuous season-long (CS) stocking from May to October. It was hypothesized that by using IES at less than double the density, and then allowing some animals to remain on pasture season-long, that land use efficiency and gains per acre could be increased without limiting individual animal gain potential. A comparison was made for 6 years between CS stocking of steers May to October from 2002-2007on shortgrass native rangeland at a rate of 3.5 ac/steer, and modified IES at 2.0 ac/steer from May to July, then removing the heaviest animals and stocking at 3.5 ac/steer until October. Removal of heavy animals from the IES system occurred mid-July each year. No difference has been found between average daily gains and total animal gain for the CS and 1.6X + 1 systems during the first or last half of the season. Unlike a previous modified 2x + 1 IES study, animal gains were not reduced during either part of the grazing season, and total season-long gain from animals that remained on pasture from May to October in both the CS and the modified 1.6X + 1 systems were equal. Because animal gains were similar yet stocking rate was greater for the modified 1.6X + 1 IES system, beef production per acre was greater for the modified IES system than the CS system (85 lb/acre vs. 69 lb/acre). The increased beef production also created an increase in net income above CS of $9.84/acre above purchase and interest costs. The only difference thus far in vegetative production or composition has been that buffalograss composition in the modified 1.6X + 1 IES system has increased by 0.5 percentage points per year more quickly than the SLS system. The total season stocking rate with the modified 1.6X + 1 system is about 20-25% greater than the CS stocking rate, and is likely at the maximum level expected to not reduce animals gains or vegetative productivity since 3X IES and 2X + 1 IES, with stocking rates 50% greater than CS rates, have resulted in rapid declines in animal gain and vegetative productivity. It was hypothesized that total season animal production would initially increase from greater initial stocking, but that less desirable vegetation would eventually increase and pasture productivity would eventually decrease from annual use of the 1.6X + 1 system because of the greater total season stocking rate. The latter expectation has not yet happened, and animal and vegetative responses between stocking treatments have remained consistent across years. <br /> <br /> Objective 2a- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by creating databases that can be used to expand the relevance of (i) 1996 Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle model to grazing conditions in the NCR and (ii) existing models/decision support tools for forage management and utilization (e.g., KansasGrazer and Grazing Land Applications) to annual and perennial forages in the NCR. <br /> <br /> The Grazing and Hay Records Spreadsheet template and companion publication was developed for producers to maintain and summarize pasture grazing records as well as records of hay fed to livestock. Based on input data for individual pastures, it calculates the planned and available animal unit months (AUM) of grazing, days of grazing, stocking rates in AUM and animal unit days (AUD) /acre, used and remaining AUM. In addition, report sheets are generated that summarize seasonal distribution of grazing for each pasture, stocking rates for each pasture and entire ranch, hay fed from both pasture and drylot situations, and pasture forage demand (AUM). The template and publication are available for download from the UNL Extension publications website (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec165.pdf).<br /> <br /> The KansasGrazer software by John Fritz has been made available on the web (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/forage/ksgrazer.htm). Revisions and improvements to this program were made in 2007. The program uses grazing models developed from state-wide data to calculate monthly carrying capacity in terms of AUMs and compares to animal requirements.<br /> <br /> Objective 2b- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by conducting systems-based educational programs on integrated forage/cattle management systems for cattle producers. <br /> <br /> South Dakota State University released a Rangeland and Pasture Grazing Records booklet that provides producers with valuable information regarding carrying capacity of range and pasturelands throughout the state, animal unit equivalents, and stubble height or estimated utilization charts for desired 50% utilization of grazing lands. A record template was also included that helps producers document seasonal use of pastures and to score their pastures for plant vigor and health based on species, time of use, extent of use, and pasture precipitation. <br /> <br /> Objective 2c- To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by developing an educational program on the utilization of grain co-products. <br /> <br /> The Ethanol Co-Products Storage and Utilization Conference was held in May 2008 at UNL. The conference featured presentation of compiled data from the states involved in the project. A summary analysis of grazing yearling response to distillers grains was published in the 2007 UNL Beef Cattle Report. Much of the research referred to in the report was associated with NC-1020. There was an emphasis on utilization of distillers grains at the 2008 Four-State Beef Conference (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) and the KOMA (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas) Beef Conference. Much of the information presented was based on research associated with this project. Several additional workshops and conferences are planned for the coming year.<br />

Publications

Harmoney, K.R. 2007. Persistence of heavily-grazed cool-season grasses in the Central Great Plains. Online. Forage and Grazinglands doi:10.1094/FG-2007-0625-01-RS.<br /> <br /> Harmoney, K.R. 2007. Grazing and burning japanese brome (Bromus japonicus) on mixed grass rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 60:479-486.<br /> <br /> Harmoney, K., and J. Jaeger. 2008. Modified intensive-early stocking on shortgrass rangeland. Society for Range Management Annual Abstracts # 1661.<br /> <br /> Leiker, J., R. Nicholson, and K. Harmoney. 2007. Artificial lawns as an attractant to steer foraging behavior. Society for Range Management Annual Abstracts #255.<br /> <br /> Lomas, L.W., and J.L. Moyer. 2008. Evaluation of forage production, stand <br /> persistence, and grazing performance of steers grazing tall fescue cultivars with the novel endophyte. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 996. Pg. 1-10.<br /> <br /> Lomas, L.W., and J.L. Moyer. 2008. Supplementation of grazing stocker cattle with distillers grains. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 996. Pg. 11-22.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L. 2008. Evaluation of tall fescue cultivars. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 996. Pg. 23-24.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L. 2008. Performance of legumes interseeded into tall fescue. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 996. Pg. 25-29.<br /> <br /> Moyer, J.L., and K.J. Moore. 2008. Growing annual crops for summer forage. <br /> Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 996. Pg. 30-31.<br /> <br /> Schmidt, C.D., K.R. Hickman, R. Channell, K. Harmoney, and W. Stark. 2007. <br /> Competitive abilities of native grasses and non-native ( Bothriochloa spp.) grasses. Plant Ecology doi: 10.1007/s11258-007-9361-2.<br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D. and B.E. Anderson. 2007. Defoliation effects on production and nutritive value of four irrigated cool-season perennial grasses. Agronomy Journal. 99:494-500. <br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D. and B.E. Anderson. 2008. Nebraska 2005 - 2006 Orchardgrass Variety Trial Results - North Platte. Forage and Grazinglands. available at: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/fg/trials/ <br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D. and B.E. Anderson. 2008. Nebraska 2005 - 2006 Cool-season Grass Variety Trial Results - North Platte. Forage and Grazinglands. available at: http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/fg/trials/ <br /> <br /> Volesky, J.D., W.H. Schacht, P.E. Reece, and A.M. Petersen. 2008. Grazing and Hay Records: Spreadsheet Template. University of Nebraska Extension Circular EC-165. <br /> <br /> Loy, T. W., J. C. MacDonald, T. J. Klopfenstein, and G. E. Erickson. 2007. Effect of distillers grains or corn supplementation frequency on forage intake and digestibility. J. Anim. Sci. 85:2625-2630.<br /> <br /> MacDonald, J. C., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, and W. A. Griffin. 2007. Effects of dried distillers grains and equivalent undegradable intake protein or ether extract on performance and forage intake of heifers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. J. Anim. Sci. 85:2614-2624.<br /> <br /> Griffin, W. A., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson. D. M. Feuz, J. C. MacDonald and D. J. Jordon. 2007. Comparison of performance and economics of a long-yearling and calf-fed system. The Prof. Anim. Sci 23:490-499.<br /> <br /> Stalker, L. A., D. C. Adams, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2007. Urea inclusion in distillers dried grains supplements. The Prof. Anim. Scientist. 23:390-394.<br /> <br /> Stockton, M. C., D. C. Adams, R. K. Wilson, T. J. Klopfenstein, R. T. Clark, and G. L. Carriker. 2007. Production and economic comparisons of two calving dates for beef cows in the Nebraska Sandhills. The Prof. Anim. Scientist 23: 500-508.<br /> <br /> Kirch, B. H., L. E. Moser, S. S. Waller, T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Aiken, and J. R. Strickland. 2007. Selection and dietary quality of beef cattle grazing smooth bromegrass, switchgrass, and big bluestem. The Prof. Anim. Scientist 23:672-680.<br /> <br /> Griffin, W. A., J. D. Folmer, T. J. Klopfenstein, and G. E. Erickson. 2007. Comparison of yearling steers sorted into heavy, medium, and light weight groups at feedlot entry. Midwest ASAS/ADSA Abstract #23, page 8.<br /> <br /> Corrigan, M., T. Klopfenstein, G. Erickson, K. Vander Pol, M. Greenquist, M. Luebbe, K. Karges, and M. Gibson. 2007. Effects of distillers grains composition and level on performance of steers consuming high quality forage. Midwest ASAS/ADSA Abstract #279, page 89.<br /> <br /> Buckner, C. D., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, K. J. Vander Pol, K. K. Karges, and M. L. Gibson. 2007. Characterization of a modified dry distillers byproduct and dry distillers grains for use in growing beef cattle. Midwest ASAS/ADSA Abstract #284, page 91.<br /> <br /> Greenquist, M. A., T. J. Klopfenstein, L. Lomas, D. Blasi, D. C. Adams, W. H. Schacht, S. E. Morris, K. H. Gustad, R. N. Funston, J. C. MacDonald and M. Epp. 2007. Summary analysis of yearling cattle response to distillers grains supplementation. Midwest ASAS/ADSA Abstract #290, page 92. <br /> <br /> Baleseng, L. B., M. A. Greenquist, K. J. Vander Pol, T. J. Klopfenstein, W. H. Schacht, and G. E. Erickson. 2007. The quality of smooth bromegrass in monoculture pastures before and after grazing by yearling steers. Midwest ASAS/ADSA Abstract #293, page 93.<br /> <br /> Adams, D. R., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, M. K. Luebbe, and M. A. Greenquist. 2007. The effects of sorting steers by weight into calf-fed, summer yearling and fall yearling feeding systems. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):661.<br /> <br /> Griffin W. A., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, W. Luedtke, and M. A. Schroeder. 2007. The effect of tillage practice and corn stalk grazing on crop yields. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):832.<br /> <br /> Adams, D. R., T. J. Klopfenstein, and G. E. Erickson. Evaluation of storage methods for wet distillers grains plus solubles with forages and byproducts in silo bags and bunker silos. J. Anim. Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):833.<br /> <br /> Klopfenstein, Terry J., Lyle Lomas, Dale Blasi, Don C. Adams, Walter H. Schacht, Sarah E. Morris, Kristin H. Gustad, Matthew A. Greenquist, Rick N. Funston, Jim C. MacDonald, and Marc Epp. 2007. Summary analysis of grazing yearling response to distillers grains. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:10-11.<br /> <br /> Greenquist, Matthew A., Kyle J. Vander Pol, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Leonard Baleseng, and Walter H. Schacht. 2007. Dried distillers grains substitute for forage and nitrogen on pasture: N dynamics and use efficiency. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:12-14.<br /> <br /> Buckner, Crystal D., Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Kyle J. Vander Pol, Kip K. Karges, and Matthew L. Gibson. 2007. Comparing a modified dry by-product to dry distillers grains with solubles in growing calf diets. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:15-16.<br /> <br /> Corrigan, Mark C., Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Kyle J. Vander Pol, Matthew A. Greenquist, Matthew K. Luebbe, Kip Karges, and Matt L. Gibson. 2007. Effect of distillers grains composition and level on steers consuming high-quality forage. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:17-18.<br /> <br /> Griffin, William A., Terry J. Klopfenstein, Galen E. Erickson, Dillon M. Feuz, and Jim C. MacDonald. 2007. Comparison of a long yearling system and calf-fed performance and economics. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:58-60.<br /> <br /> Geisert, Bobbi Gene, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Don C. Adams, and Jim C. MacDonald. 2007. Comparison of in vivo digestibility to in vitro digestibility of five forages fed to steers. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP-90:109-111.<br /> <br /> Schacht, W.H., J.D. Volesky, and P.R. Schroeder. 2008. Herbage production and animal performance response to grazing system in the Nebraska Sandhills. Abstract, Society for Range Management, Louisville, KY.<br />

Impact Statements

1. 1. Uniformity of the nutrient supply can be improved by identifying forage species and cultivars that complement productivity and nutritional value of common forage species on pasture and rangeland during the summer. Diverse climatic conditions across the region may require specific recommendations of crops that could be used in summer for a particular area.
2. 2. Less expensive co-products from the grain processing industry can be used to lower production costs as an economically and nutritionally acceptable replacement for more expensive grain products, especially for supplementation when the season of use or forage maturity limits pasture and range forage production and/or nutritional value. Benefits from lowering costs while maintaining or improving cow/calf and stocker animal production can be achieved through the use of grain processing by-products.
3. 3. Grazing animals on rangeland was not beneficial as grain prices continued to increase while animals grazed, thus increasing feeding costs the later animals were moved into the feedlot. Until grain prices stabilize and end their rapid increase, growing calves larger on grass will have less economic benefit if retaining ownership and finishing on grain. Use of a sequential complementary cool-season grass forage may not be as beneficial when greater spring precipitation increases the native cool-season grass component in native rangelands.
4. 4. Grain processing byproducts will not replace consumed pasture forage intake during periods of drought and other periods of low forage availability. Feeding by-products is not a viable option to replace, extend, or conserve pasture forage, but is rather a beneficial supplement to animals utilizing grazed forage.
5. 5. Extension outreach programs, workshops, decision-support tools, and published information will enable producers to evaluate forage based beef cattle systems in greater detail and could enable producers to make better-informed decisions to reduce costs, conserve lands, and improve production efficiency.

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Report Information

Participants

Volesky, Jerry - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Fick, Walter - Kansas State University; Harmoney, Keith - Kansas State University; Massengale, Martin - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Anderson, Bruce - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Moyer, Joe - Kansas State University; Smart, Sandy - South Dakota State University; Stalker, Aaron - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Klopfenstein, Terry - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Schacht, Walter - University of Nebraska - Lincoln; Lomas, Lyle - Kansas State University; Blasi, Dale - Kansas State University; Baker, John - Administrative Advisor, Michigan State University;

Brief Summary of Minutes

Jerry Volesky called the meeting to order at 12:50 p.m. on June 3 at the ARDC near Meade, NE.

John Baker indicated that our project renewal was approved with minor revisions. Project approved for another 5 years with a project no. of NC-1181. Appreciation extended to Sandy Smart for leading the revision effort. A desire was expressed to expand the number of states participating on the project.

Kansas State University provided the first state report. Joe Moyer summarized the summer annual forage study. Still no quality data as Iowa State originally agreed to complete the forage quality analyses. Lyle Lomas reported that co-products at 0.5% of diet most efficient and cattle had a better response on smooth brome than on bermudagrass. Keith Harmoney reported on study comparing summer grazing + feedlot vs direct placement in the feedlot. In 2007 it was more economical to go directly to feedlot. Grazing animals on rangeland was not beneficial as grain prices continued to increase while animals grazed. Results from a 7-year study comparing seasonlong (SLG) grazing vs IES 1.6X + 1: 234 vs 222 lb total gain SLS vs system; 1.53 vs 1.45 ADG on SLS vs system. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, and sideoats grams composition did not change. Buffalograss increased in both, but increased at a slightly greater rate in system.

University of Nebraska Report(Schacht, Klopfenstein, Volesky, and Stalker): Project 1. 4-pasture deferred rotation vs 8 pasture SDG. Both stocked at 1.9 AUM/acre; little difference in composition except DR favored cool-season gramanoids. Deferment did not increase w-s grasses. No difference in livestock gains. Project 2. Energy value of distillers grain. In two experiments, the metabolizable protein requirements were met for the corn fed cattle so the response to WDGS was due to energy rather than protein. Project 3. Feeding WDGS on the ground. Supplemented cattle gained more and range condition was not affected. Project 4. Bagging WDGS with straw. Cattle fed WDGS ensiled with wheat straw gained more rapidly and more efficiently that those fed the same ratio of WDGS and straw mixed at feeding. Project 5. DDGS as alternative to N fertilization. Yearlings supplemented with 5 lb/d DDGS gained over 0.4 lb/day more that animals on fertilized or unfertilized smooth brome. The DDGS supplement either replaced grazed forage or the N which passed through the cattle increaed forage growth. Project 6. Forage replacement with WDGS and straw. Cow and calf gains increase with increasing rates of WDGS and it appears possible to replace grazed forage with a mixture of wheat straw and WDGS.

The South Dakota Report was given by Sandy Smart. He reported on educational outreach efforts including presentations made at Co-Products conferences in 2008 and 2009 and dissemination of information at various extension meetings, workshops, and practicums.

Discussion ensued on planning educational outreach efforts for the next project.
Suggestions included: 1) tie in with Nebraska Grazing Conferences held in August earch year, 2) present data at Kansas Forage & Grassland Conferences, and 3) collaboration with veterinarians.

The objectives for NC-1181 (new project):

1. Identify factors in the sub-humid and semi-arid regions of the central Great Plains that limit establishment, persistence, and production of interseeded legumes in grass pastures.
2. Compare forage and animal production of grass pastures in the sub-humid and semi-arid regions of the central Great Plains that are managed with different levels of nitrogen fertilization, legumes, and biofuel co-products.
3. Determine the influence of different mixtures of biofuel co-products and low quality forage (e.g. wheat straw) on nutrient availability, palatability, and utilization by beef cattle.
4. Determine optimum practices for storing and feeding different forms and mixtures of biofuel co-products.
5. Evaluate nutrient availability and cycling, botanical composition, and forage production and quality of range and pasture when feeding biofuel co-products to grazing cattle.
6. Determine the economic potential of using biofuel co-products as a supplement or forage replacement in cattle production systems with different resource or animal management systems.
7. Conduct multi-faceted education/extension program to disseminate research results, to include extension papers as well as regional conferences on the use of co-products in beef cattle production systems and on the practice of interseeding and managing legumes in grass pastures.

Adjourned at 4:30 p.m.

On June 4, 2009 the meeting reconvened on the University of Nebraska campus at 8:10 a.m. Attending were Volesky, Schacht, Baker, Stalker, Blasi, Harmoney, Lomas, Smart, Fick, Moyer, Massengale, and Klopfenstein.

Broke into 2 groups to discuss objectives (legume and biofuels). Reconvened at 10:40 a.m. Those working on objectives related to legumes suggested using similar protocol as much as possible, e.g. what legumes, clipping, measuring frequency, etc. Group discussing biofuels indicated continuation of certain projects will accomplish objectives.

John Baker thought we were on track discussing ways to collaborate, coordinate as a multi-state project. Suggested that new participants should be contacted and invited to participate in meeting next year. Smart will contact Peterson; Fick contact Updike.

Further discussion about outreach plans. Good idea to tie in with existing conferences, e.g. Nebraska Grazing Conference held in Kearney. Another suggestion was to tie in with program conducted by Veterinarians at Clay Center. AVC (Academy of Vet. Consultants).

Moved by Klopfenstein and seconded by Lomas to hold next annual meeting in conjunction with Nebraska Grazing Conference in August 2010 at Kearney, NE. (probably August 10-11). Approved. NC-1181 will meet August 11 and 12.

It would be good idea to get an economist involved. Continue to recruit new members.

Sandy Smart elected new secretary.

Meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m

Accomplishments

Objective 1a - To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the adaptability, yield, and quality of summer annual forages across the NCR for use in complementary forage systems.<br /> <br /> Nine summer annual forages (sudangrass, pearl millet, corn, oats, soybean, berseem clover, Italian ryegrass, crabgrass, and typhon) were established across nine locations in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska in 2005 with yields determined through 2007. No new activity took place on this objective in 2009, but evaluations were previously reported. Some quality data is still lacking. Forage yields varied across locations and years. At the Kansas Southeast Research Center vegetative harvests were greatest for sudangrass and millet, whereas at the reproductive stage corn produced the greatest yields. Dry weather in 2006 greatly impacted establishment of forage crops at both Hays and Manahattan, KS. Weather patterns and insect damage affected growth of forages at Lincoln, NE. Under irrigation at North Platte, NE all species increased yields substantially between vegetative and reproductive stages of growth. At Ames, IA good stands of all species except crabgrass were achieved in 2006. Corn, soybean, and oat were the three greatest yielding species.<br /> <br /> Objective 1b - To evaluate the forage quality potential of 24 monoculture perennial forages allowed to accumulate forage following a July harvest when stockpiled and utilized from September through March.<br /> <br /> At the Southeast Research Center in Kansas, tall fescue produced the greatest yields of stockpiled forage that was harvested from the winters of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005. However, forage durability, as indicated by January:December yield ratios, was similar for the cultivars harvested. No further activity took place on this objective.<br /> <br /> Objective 1c - To develop strategies that better match nutrient requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutritional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by ebvaluating the ability of the grain processing co-product, distillers grains, to substitute for forages in summer and winter grazing systems of growing cattle.<br /> <br /> Two experiments were conducted to determine the energy value of WDGS in high-forage diets using corn as the energy standard. In both experiments, the metabolizable protein requirements were met for the corn fed cattle so the response to WDGS was due to energy rather than protein. In Exp. 1, 160 calves were fed in 10 pens in a 67-day growing trial. WDGS was 25% of diet dry matter and corn plus supplement was 33.6% and the WDGS grained more rapidly and efficiently than corn-fed calves. Energy value of WDGS was calculated to be 130% that of corn. In Exp. 2, individually supplemented calves were fed similar diets but with WDGS fed at 15.25 or 35% while corn was 22.41 or 60%. Gains were more rapid and efficient for WDGS fed calves giving 142-149% energy values for WDGS.<br /> <br /> DGS was fed (5 lb DM/d) to 120 yearling steers grazing Sandhills range. A similar group of 120 yearlings was not supplemented (controls). The WDGS was fed daily on the ground. Range condition was not affected as area of feeding was moved daily. Supplemented cattle gained significantly more than controls.<br /> <br /> WDGS was ensiled with wheat straw (37.5%:62.5%) either with or without a microbial inoculum. The control was similar WDGS mixed with similar straw daily at feeding time. Sixty individually fed calves were pair-fed so as to have equal intakes. Calves fed the ensiled mixture gained more rapidly and more efficiently than those fed the same ratio of WDGS and straw mixed at feeding.<br /> <br /> DDGS (5 lb/d) was supplemented to yearlings grazing unfertilized smooth brome pastures. Performance was compared to similar yearlings grazing fertilized brome and to yearlings grazing unfertilized brome. Yearlings grazing unfertilized brome had 45% more area to graze than the ones on fertilized brome or those supplemented with DDGS. The supplemented cattle gained more than the other two treatments which did not differ. The DDGS supplement either replaced grazed forage or the N which passed through the cattle increased forage growth.<br /> <br /> Two-year old lactating cows were used in a rotational grazing system in the Sandhills. Cows were unsupplemented or supplemented with WDGS:straw mixes of 50, 60 and 70% straw. Cow and calf gains increased with increasing percentages of WDGS. Forage utilization decreased as straw level increased. It is possible to replace grazed forage with a mixture of wheat straw and WDGS.<br /> <br /> Two-experiments determined the effects of feeding wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) either on the ground or in a bunk to cattle grazing native Sandhills winter range. In Experiment 1 (Exp. 1), 120 multiparous March-calving cows (536 ± 53.5 kg BW) were stratified by age and assigned to one of four treatments: WDGS fed on the ground, either three or six d/wk; or WDGS fed in a bunk either three or six d/wk. In Experiment 2 (Exp. 2), 63 March-born steer calves (201.2 ± 27.5 kg BW) were stratified by weight and assigned to one of two feeding treatments: WDGS fed in a bunk or on the ground. Both experiments were conducted at the University of Nebraska Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Exp. 1 was conducted for 90 d from Dec 1, 2007 to Mar 1, 2008, while Exp. 2 ran for 60 d from mid-Oct to mid-Dec 2008. Cows in Exp. 1 were supplemented with the daily equivalent of 0.45 kg/cow (DMB) and supplement was delivered three or six d/wk. Steers in Exp. 2 were supplemented with the daily equivalent of 1.02 kg/steer (DMB) and supplement was delivered 5 d/wk. In Exp. 1, frequency had no effect on cow BW (P = 0.55) or BCS (P = 0.27). Body condition score of cows fed in a bunk increased, while that of cows fed on the ground did not change (0.4 vs. 0.0; P = 0.01). Cows fed in a bunk lost less BW than cows fed on the ground (9.1 vs. 29.0 kg; P = 0.07). In Exp. 2, steers fed in a bunk had higher ADG than steers fed on the ground (0.29 vs. 0.20; P = 0.04). A retrospective analysis using the NRC (1996) showed a 0.14 kg/d reduction in WDGS intake would have resulted in the 0.09 kg reduction in ADG. This is the equivalent of 13% waste. Frequency of delivery of WDGS did not affect animal performance. An advantage in animal performance to feeding WDGS in a bunk versus on the ground was seen in the current studies. Calf sale value would have to be less than $0.81/0.45 kg to justify not feeding in a bunk based on cost of feeding in a bunk being about $0.16/d.<br /> <br /> objective 1d - To develop strategies that better match nutrent requirements of grazing cattle to the quantity and nutrional value of the forage supply in the North Central Region by evaluating the economic and environmental potential of alternative forages and/or distillers grains in cow-calf production systems with different resource or animal management systems.<br /> <br /> Research is conducted on upland range at the University of Nebraska Barta Brothers Ranch in the northeastern Nebraska Sandhills near Ainsworth to determine the effect of grazing system on diet quality and animal performance. The study was initiated in 1999 with the establishment of 2 replications of an 8-pasture SDG systems and a 4-pasture deferred rotation system. Each system has been grazed annually by cow-calf pairs at 1.9 AUM/ha from 15 May to 15 October with two, 6 to 14 day occupations for SDG pastures and a single 30 to 45 day occupation for deferred rotation pastures. Standing crop was estimated by clipping in 240 grazing exclosures (1.2 m2) distributed through six pastures of each treatment. The exclosures were moved to a new location in May of each year and all standing vegetation was clipped to ground level in 0.25 m2 quadrants in mid-June and mid-August of each year. Weight gains of 20 spayed heifers grazing with each cow herd were recorded in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Herbage production varied (P<0.1) over the 10 years of the study, standing crop in mid August ranged from about 900 kg/ha to 2500 kg/ha in several years. The DR rotation pastures were about 9% more productive in June than the SDG pastures. There were no production differences in August. There were no differences between the two grazing systems in terms of warm-season grass production but DR rotation appeared to favor cool-season graminoids (perennial and annual cool-season grasses and sedges). Cool-season graminoids were susceptible to grazing in spring (May 15  June 15) in only 1 of every 4 years in DR. Weight gains of the spayed heifers during the growing season varied by year but did not differ (p>0.1) between grazing systems. Weight gains per ha ranged from 26.3 kg/ha 31.6 kg/ha. Relatively high herbage production, range condition, and animal performance appear to be sustainable in both grazing systems.<br /> <br /> Three grazing systems {native range (NR)}, western wheatgrass/native range (WW/NR), and tall wheatgrass/native range (TW/NR) were compared in Kansas for beef cow/calf production in 2008. It was hypothesized that sequential grazing of cool-season complementary forage then warm-season dominated rangeland would increase cow/calf production compared to grazing warm-season dominated rangeland alone. The NR treatment allows 10.6 acres/hd, while the WW/NR and TW/NR allows 8.2 acres/hd on native rangeland and 2.4 acres/hd on seeded complementary forage, equaling 10.6 acres/hd for all treatments. Cows were weighed, condition scored, and insonated for backfat, marbling, and muscle depth prior to grazing and at each transition from grazed forage sources. Cows on the WW treatment had greater April through July gain than the TW and NR treatments. However, calves on the NR only treatment had greater gains April through July than the TW and WW treatments. Gains were greater July through November for the NR treatment for both cows and calves when all animals were only grazing native range, and cows on the NR only treatment were one body condition score greater. Complementary cool-season grass had 2130 lb/acre and 2630 lb/acre standing dry matter for the WW and TW treatments, respectively, at the end of an 80 day grazing period. Native range only teatments had 2960 lb/acre and the rangeland component of the WW and TW treatments had 3110 lb/acre and 2870 lb/acre available at the time of cattle transition from cool-season to rangeland forage. Western wheatgrass composition in the rangelands was 47 and 50% at the July sampling in the WW and TW treatment rangeland component, and was 60% in the NR only treatment. Precipitation in 2008 was well above average.<br /> <br /> On Kansas shortgrass rangeland, intensive-early stocking (IES) using double stocking the first half of the grazing season was found to have no production advantage over continuous season-long (CS) stocking from May to October. It was hypothesized that by using IES at less than double the density, and then allowing some animals to remain on pasture season-long, that land use efficiency and gains per acre could be increased without limiting individual animal gain potential. A comparison was made for 7 years between CS stocking of steers May to October from 2002 to 2008 on shortgrass native rangeland at a rate of 3.5 acres/steer, and modidified IES at 2.0 acres/steer from May to July, then removing the heaviest animals and stocking at 3.5 acres/steer until October. Removal of heavy animals from the IES system occurred mid-July each year. Average daily gains (1.71 vs 1.54 lb/day) and total gains per animal (128 vs 115 lb) were different between the SLS and IES 1,6X +1 animals druing the first half of the grazing season. No difference was found between average daily gains (1.35 vs 1.37 lb/day) and total gains per animal (106 vs 107 lb) for the SLS and IES 1.6X +1 systems during the last half of the season. Total individual animal gain (234 vs 222 lb) and average daily gain (1.53 vs 1.45 lb/day) were not different between the two systems for animals on pasture the entire grazing season. Each year, total gain on a land area basis (86 vs 69 lb/acre) was greater for the IES system with greater animal densities. After initial costs of purchase and interest on grazing animals, returns per acre was greater in 3 of 7 years for the 1.6X + 1 system, equal the remaining 4 years, and averaged $11.74/acre greater across all years. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, and sideoats grama composition changes have not differed between the two systems. End-of-season standing dry matter has been similar. Buffalograss incresed in both grazing systems, but increased at a slightly greater rate (0.6% annually) in the 1.6X + 1 system than in the SLS system. The total season stocking rate with the modified 1.6X +1 system is about 20-25% greater than the CS stocking rate, and is likely at the maximum level expected to non reduce animal gains or vegetative productivity snce the 3X IES and 2X + 1 IES, with stocking rates 50% greater than the CS rates, have resulted in rapid declines in animal gain and vegetative productivity. It was hypothesized that total season animal production would initially increase from greater initial stocking, but that less desirable vegetation would eventually increase and pasture productivity would eventually decrease from annual use of the 1.6X +1 system because of the greater total season stocking rate. The latter expectation has not yet happened, and animal and vegetative responses between stocking treatments have remained consistent across year.<br /> <br /> objective 2a - To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based production systems by creating databases that can be used to expand the relevance of (i) 1996 Nutrient Requirements for Beef Cattle model to grazing conditions in the NCR and (ii) existing models/decision support tools for forage managment and utilization (e.g. KansasGrazer and Grazing Land Applications) to annual and perennial forages in the NCR.<br /> <br /> The KansasGrazer software by John Fritz has been made available on the web (http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/forage/ksgrazer.htm). Revisions and improvements to this program were made in 2007. The program uses grazing models developed from state-wide data to calculate monthly carrying capacity in terms of AUMs and compares to animal requirements. <br /> <br /> Monthly diet samples collected from the central Nebraska Sandhills were evaluated for crude protein and digestibility. These data can be used to update current NRC information regarding rangeland animal intake and forage quality on a production scale.<br /> <br /> The Grazing and Hay Records Spreadsheet template and companion publication was developed for producers to maintain and summarize pasture grazing records as well as records of hay fed to livestock. Based on input data for individual pastures, it calculates the planned and available animal unit months (AUM) of grazing, days of grazing, stocking rates in AUM and animal unit days (AUD) /acre, used and remaining AUM. In addition, report sheets are generated that summarize seasonal distribution of grazing for each pasture, stocking rates for each pasture and entire ranch, hay fed from both pasture and drylot situations, and pasture forage demand (AUM). The template and publication are available for download from the UNL Extension publications website (http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/sendIt/ec165.pdf).<br /> <br /> Objective 2b - To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for graing-based beef production systems by conducting systems-based educational programs on integrated forage/cattle management systems for cattle producers.<br /> <br /> Information has been disseminated at various meetings including the 4-State Beef Conference (Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska), Range Beef Cow Symposium, and numerous workshops held in each state (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota)<br /> <br /> South Dakota State University released a Rangeland and Pasture Grazing Records booklet that provides producers with valuable information regarding carrying capacity of range and pasturelands throughout the state, animal unit equivalents, and stubble height or estimated utilization charts for desired 50% utilization of grazing lands. A record template was also included that helps producers document seasonal use of pastures and to score their pastures for plant vigor and health based on species, time of use, extent of use, and pasture precipitation.<br /> <br /> Objective 2c - To develop educational materials and programs to improve decision-making for grazing-based beef production systems by developing an educational program on the utilization of grain co-products.<br /> <br /> Mini-symposium at Midwest Animal Science meetings targeted at extension educators.<br /> <br /> The Ethanol Co-Products Storage and Utilization Conference was held in May 2008 at UNL. The conference featured presentation of compiled data from the states involved in the project. A summary analysis of grazing yearling response to distillers grains was published in the 2007 UNL Beef Cattle Report. Much of the research referred to in the report was associated with NC-1020. There was an emphasis on utilization of distillers grains at the 2008 Four-State Beef Conference (Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri) and the KOMA (Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas) Beef Conference. Much of the information presented was based on research associated with this project. <br /> <br /> A conference on Distillers Storage and Utilization in Pasture, Range, and Grazing Systems was held at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ARDC, near Mead, NE on June 2-3, 2009. Many of the presenters were members of NC-1020 and information provided was based on research conducted under this project.<br />

Publications

Bartosh, A.J. 2008. Effect of supplemental fat from dried distillers grains with solubles or corn oil on cow performance, nutrient digestibility, and plasma concentrations of long chain fatty acids, insulin-like growth factor-1, growth hormone, and non-esterified fatty acids. M.S. Thesis. South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD.<br /> <br /> Folmer, J. D., W. A. Griffin, C. N. Macken, M. P. Blackford, T. J. Klopfenstein, and G. E. Erickson. 2008. Effect of intensive winter management, partial season grazing, and sorting on performance and economics of a long yearling steer production system. Prof. Anim. Sci. 24:411-419.<br /> <br /> Kalscheur, K., A. Garcia, K. Rosentrater, and C. Wright. 2008. Ethanol co-products for ruminant livestock diets. FS974. South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.<br /> <br /> Loy, T. W., T. J. Klopfenstein, G. E. Erickson, C. N. Macken, and J. C. MacDonald. 2008. Effect of supplemental energy source and frequency on growing calf performance. J. Anim. Sci. published on line August 15, 2008 as dois: 10.2527/,as.2008-0920.<br /> <br /> Milby, J. 2008. Botanical composition response to topographical position in the Nebraska Sandhills. Abstract, Society for Range Management, Albuquerque, NM.<br /> <br /> Rosentrater, K.A., K.L. Kalscheur, A. Garcia and C. Wright. 2008. The South Dakota fuel ethanol industry. FS945. South Dakota Cooperative Extension Service.<br /> <br /> Schacht, W.H., J.D. Volesky, and P.R. Schroeder. 2008. Timing of grazing affects sandhills grassland productivity and diet quality (p. 76). In: Organizing Committee of 2008 IGC/IRC Conference (eds.), Multifunctional grasslands in a changing world, Volume II. Proceedings of the XXI International Grassland Congress and VIII International Rangeland Congress, June/July 2008, Hohhot, China. Guangdong Peoples Publishing House, Guangzhou, China.<br /> <br /> Schacht, W.H. and P.E. Reece. 2008. Impact of livestock grazing on extensively-managed grazing lands. In: R. McDowell (ed.), Impacts of pastoral grazing on the environment. CAB International.<br /> <br /> Stalker, L. A., D. C. Adams, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2008. Influence of distillers dried grains supplementation frequency on forage digestibility and growth performance of beef cattle. Prof. Anim. Sci. 24:<br /> <br /> Adams, Daniel R., Matt K. Luebbe, William A. Griffin, Terry J. Klopfenstein, and Galen E. Erickson. 2009. Effects of sorting cattle by weight and time of year on finishing performance, carcass characteristics and economics. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:43-46.<br /> <br /> Greenquist, Matthew A., Terry J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, Galen E. Erickson, Kyle J. Vander Pol, Matthew K. Luebbe, Kelly R. Brink, Andrea K. Schwarz, and Leonard B. Baleseng. 2009. Replacing fertilizer nitrogen with dried distillers grains supplement to yearling steers grazing bromegrass pastures: Daily gain and nitrogen use efficiency. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:22-24.<br /> <br /> Greenquist, Matthew A., Terry J. Klopfenstein, Walter H. Schacht, and Galen E. Erickson. 2009. Replacing fertilizer nitrogen with dried distillers grains supplement to yearling steers grazing bromegrass pastures: Economics and modeling. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92: 25-27.<br /> <br /> Griffin, William A., Virgil R. Bremer, Terry J. Klopfenstein, L. Aaron Stalker, Lyle W. Lomas, Joe L. Moyer, and Galen E. Erickson. 2009. Summary of grazing trials using dried distillers grains supplementation. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:37-39.<br /> <br /> Harmoney, K.R., and J.R. Jaeger. 2009 Beef production and vegetation trends from modified intensive-early stocking. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station. Report of Progress 1016. p. 36-42.<br /> <br /> Harmoney, K.R., and J.R. Jaeger. 2009. Comparison of stocker calf replacement on native rangeland vs direct feedlot finishing. 62nd Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. Paper 65-4.<br /> <br /> Lomas, L.W., and J.L. Moyer. 2009. Supplementation of grazing stocker cattle with distillers grains. Kansas State University Ag Experiment Station Report of Progress 1013. p. 1-8.<br /> <br /> Meyer, T. L., Don C. Adams, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Jerry D. Volesky, L. Aaron Stalker, and Rick N. Funston. 2009. Estimating livestock forage demand: Defining the animal unit. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:13-14.<br /> <br /> Nuttelman, Brandon L., Matthew K. Luebbe, Josh R. Benton, Terry J. Klopfenstein, L. Aaron Stalker, and Galen E. Erickson. 2009. Energy value of wet distillers grains in high forage diets. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:28-29.<br /> <br /> Smart, A. 2009. Mixing roughages with wet corn distillers grains. Midwest Forage Focus. April Issue, p. 8.<br /> <br /> Wilken, Mallorie F., Matthew K. Luebbe, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, and Josh R. Benton. 2009. Feeding corn distillers solubles or wet distillers grains plus solubles and cornstalks to growing calves. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. MP92:30-32.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />

Impact Statements

1. Annual forages and stockpiled perennial forages can improve the nutrient supply available to beef cattle and complement the productivity and nutritional value of common forage species available from rangeland and pasture. Diverse climatic conditions across the region require specific recommendations of crops that could be used for a particular area.
2. Less expensive co-products from the grain processing industry can be used to lower production costs as an economically and nutritionally acceptable replacement for more expensive grain products, especially for supplementation when the season of use or forage maturity limits pasture and range forage production and/or nutritional value. Benefits from lowering costs while maintaining or improving cow/calf and stocker animal production can be achieved through the use of grain processing by-products.
3. Grazing animals on rangeland was not beneficial as grain prices continued to increase while animals grazed, thus increasing feeding consts the later animals moved into the feedlot. Until grain prices stabilize and end their rapid increase, growing calves larger on grass will have less economic benefit if retaining ownership and finishing on grain. Use of sequential complementary cool-season grass forage may not be as beneficial when greater spring precipitaion increases the native cool-season grass component in native rangelands.
4. Grain processing by-products will not replace consumed pasture forage intake during periods of drought and other periods of low forage availabiliity. Feeding by-products is not a viable option to replace, extend, or conserve pasture forage, but is rather a beneficial supplement to animals utilizing grazed forage.
5. Extension outreach programs, workshops, decision-support tools, and published information will enable producers to evaluat forage based beef cattle systems in greater detail and could enable producers to make better-informed decisions to reduce costs, conserve lands, and improve production efficiency.

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