OLD SERA41: Beef Cattle Production Utilizing Forages in the Southeast to Integrate Research and Extension Programs across State Boundaries
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
OLD SERA41: Beef Cattle Production Utilizing Forages in the Southeast to Integrate Research and Extension Programs across State Boundaries
Duration: 10/01/2014 to 09/30/2015
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
As of February 2010 the USDA reports that the SE region has over 12 million cows that are born and raised on a forage-based diet. Based on this approximately 1/3 of the feeder cattle came from states in this region. Cow-calf producers in the US typically market calves at weaning in the fall; however, large economic benefits exist for these producers to retain ownership after weaning by growing calves to a heavier sale weight. Each year, more than 6 million calves graze cool-season pastures in the Southeastern United States and the Southern Great Plains to add valuable weight as stocker calves. Use of pasture and forage is the world’s most common beef production system. Successful livestock production depends on forage programs which supply large quantities of adequate quality, homegrown feed. Major percentages of the feed units for beef (83%) and dairy (61%) cattle come from forages. In addition, forages supply an estimated 91%, 72%, 15% and 99% of the nutrients consumed by sheep and goats, horses, swine and ruminant wildlife, respectively. Development of a forage?based system necessitates research to evaluate its potential for weaning and continuation in forage?based stockering steers, replacement heifer and/or harvest (market) for forage-fed beef systems. The environment in this region of the country is especially conducive to growing a variety of both cool- and warm-season forages in support of cow/calf, and post-weaning development of cattle, making this region ideal for grazing livestock. Individual cow longevity, prolificacy and lifetime profitability is greatly impacted during the developmental period (from weaning to second confirmed pregnancy at two years of age) in beef and dairy cattle production. This period represents a tremendous economic investment, most of which is not recouped unless the female produces a live calf the following four to five years. Replacement heifer development in the SE region is predominantly accomplished through forage-based nutrition systems. As beef cattle numbers continue to decline in SE states and demand for beef remains high, most economists conservatively forecast a sustained period of rebuilding. This rebuilding will bring a greater demand for high quality replacement heifers to the already established trend. In the past years there have been regional efforts (Southern Regional Information Exchange Group, SERA36, and finally this SERA41 that we are proposing to renew) to work and develop research and outreach program in the southeastern states. Extension Specialists from these states have created several groups that deliver important and timely information to producers in their respective states. SERA41 group conducted several online workshops to deliver timely information to professionals and producers in all our states. Also, during the lifetime of SERA41 collaborative research was conducted and AFRI-NIFA funding was pursued. Since this work was producing some results we encouraged this new project to follow these steps and maintain the structure that SERA41 had with the intention of using this powerful tool to solve common problems for the region associated with grazing beef cattle.
Objectives
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Identify and prioritize beef-forage research and Extension issues in the Southeast that leads to development of multi-institutional projects assisting producers to achieve greater efficiency and productivity, as well as to maximize knowledge transfer and impact through local and regional county agents/educators.
Procedures and Activities
(1) Seek input from stakeholders and create advisory groups that will help develop priorities for Research and Extension programs in beef cattle and forage management and secure financial support for developing these programs. (2) Conduct translational forage plot research on variety/cultivar evaluation, optimization of fertilizer use (types/rates), forage nutrient availability, defoliation regimes. (3) Evaluate the performance and production systems of beef cattle utilizing forages for cow-calf, stocker, and finishing cattle including: a) Forage-Animal interface research with both basic and translational research into grazing research including stocking methods, energy and protein supplementation, soil and nutrient cycling, water use and management; and b) Management effects on animal performance, reproduction, and health. (4) Evaluate the influence of forage based heifer development systems on reproductive performance, longevity and lifetime economic return. (5) Evaluate the role of harvested forage management and co-products of grain milling industries for use of supplemental nutrients to enhance animal production, immunity, reproduction, and health on southern forages. (6) Design and deliver multi-state and multi-disciplinary educational programs (on site and online) that address southeast specific issues for beef production systems. Coordinate the “Bill E. Kunkle Interdisciplinary Beef Symposium” at the annual meeting of the Southern Section American Society of Animal Sciences (ASAS) to enhance knowledge sharing within the region and promote regional collaboration.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- The SERA 041 members will continue to meet at the annual Southern Section ASAS meeting to review and plan group objectives, activities, evaluation tools, and outcomes.
- Create a network between specialists and researchers with their stakeholders. Securing funding through our stakeholders is also a possibility Joint Research and Extension funding proposals with support of stakeholder groups for addressing priority areas of forage-based beef cattle production in the Southeast will be developed.
- Research and extension Faculty will share in our meeting(s) the information and/or programs that are working on which will help identify any gap in information. This will also allow for the development of complementary research and Extension programming across state boundaries.
- In the last few years research efforts derived in the development of cooperative work (reducing hay feeding in cow-calf systems), proposals submitted to AFRI, and sharing of information on topics of common interest such as evaluation of different feedstuffs for grazing stockers and forage-fed beef production (forage systems and final product). In all cases, these efforts should continue since there is an increasing demand for information.
- The use of harvested forages, efficiency of use, new management strategies, etc. have been evaluated for many years. There is still the need to evaluate some strategies (i.e., balage) in beef cattle systems. The continue supply of by-products from the grain industry also provide opportunity to evaluate their impact on different systems. These supplements availability may differ among states in the region and we will adapt to that reality.
- Specialists in this group have been very successful in developing multi-state programs (Deep South Stocker Conference, UGA, AU, MSU; Southeast Cattle Advisor, UGA, UF, AU, CU; Mid-South Stocker Conference, UK, UT; Tri-State Cow/Calf Conference, UT, VPI, and NCSU). Because of significantly decreased travel funds, Southern Region Extension Specialists and agents have used technology, such as interactive videoconferencing to deliver information collaboratively. . Extension Specialists and agents will work collaboratively to design, implement and execute timely educational seminars to be delivered to the region. The “Bill E. Kunkle Interdisciplinary Beef Symposium” will be held at the annual meeting of the Southern Section ASAS every year. This symposium has been conducted for the last 6 years and was recently named in honor of Dr. Kunkle.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Information exchanged by members of this project will be of critical value to the beef cattle industry, and to research scientists and Extension specialists working in the area of beef/forage production systems in the Southeast region. The participants of the SERA 041 will combine forces with the existing beef cattle commodity groups including NCBA and state beef committees to form a linkage between the Land Grant Universities and our commodity groups. This linkage will be valuable as we exchange information to support and enhance beef production in the Southeast.
Organization/Governance
The recommended Standard Governance for this multistate activity will be to elect of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers will serve a one-year term with progression of leadership from Secretary to Chair-elect to Chair to provide continuity. Guidelines for officer election will be a rotational basis between Experiment Station and Extension. Administrative guidance will be provided by assigned Administrative Advisors (Extension and Research) and a USDA/NIFA Representative. The Chair will be responsible for organizing the next annual meeting and for coordinating meeting arrangements with the host location. The Secretary will be responsible for writing and submitting minutes of the meeting to the Administrative Advisors and to the website coordinator. Current officers are Dr. Lawton Stewart, Chair (UGA), Dr. Paul Beck, Chair-Elect (UA) and Dr. Jason Banta, Secretary (TAMU). Our meetings are held during the Southern Section meetings of the ASAS in the first week of February annually.