Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. (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. (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. 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. 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; 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. 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. 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. Kansas is updating leaflets that cover various topics for the Forage Facts notebook and could include information from this project.

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. 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 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. 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. 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. Florine, Sara E., Kenneth J. Moore, Steven L. Fales, Todd A. White, and C. Lee Burras. 2006. Yield and composition of herbaceous biomass harvested from naturalized grassland in southern Iowa. Biomass and Bioenergy 30:522-528. (doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2005.12.007) 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Singer, J. W., K. J. Moore, R. L. Hintz, P. K. Patrick, and P. Summer. 2007. Effect of source and rate of nitrogen and sulfur fertilizer on yield, quality, and mineral composition of stockpiled tall fescue. Crop Management doi:10.1094/CM-2007-0507-01-RS. Skinner, Howard R., and Kenneth J. Moore. 2006. Growth and development of forage plants. p. 53-66. In R. F Barnes, C. J. Nelson, K. J. Moore, and M. Collins, (ed.) Forages, 6th edition: The Science of Grassland Agriculture. Iowa State University Press, Ames, IA. 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. 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. 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.