Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

At 8:00 am, the joint meeting between the NC-1020 and NC-1021 committees was called to order by Terry Klopfenstein. Dan Duncan, Director of the University of Nebraska Agricultural Research and Development Center, welcomed the groups and provided an overview of the ARDC. Following this, Darrell Nelson, Administrative Advisor to the NC-1020 committee, provided an overview of Nebraska agriculture and began a discussion of the current federal funding scenario, which was continued by Kevin Kephart, Admistrative Advisor to the NC-1021 committee, with substantive input from Dr. Martin Massengale, Director for the Center for Grassland Studies and chair of the advisory committee to the Secretary of Agriculture. Key in this discussion was the potentially tremendous impact to agricultural research arising from the current mindset of the Office of Management and Budget as reflected in the Executive Budget which contained major cuts in Hatch, McIntire-Stenis, and Animal Health/Disease funding. Subsequent discussion centered around the previous recommendation of the NCRA committee that the NC1020 and NC1021 committees consider integration based on considerable perceived overlap between the objectives of the two existing committees. Both committees are currently approved for 3-year terms which will expire September 30, 2007. Thus, both will be up for mid-term review next year (2006), which will entail, among other factors, consideration of meeting attendance by participants, review of all paperwork, and reviews by the administrative advisors. Gary Cromwell, CSREES representative, provided the group with an overview of the CSREES background, additional details on the proposed FY2006 budget, the appointment of Mike Johanns as Secretary of Agriculture, as well as other pertinent information regarding current staffing and contact information for staff at CSREES. Following introductions of all participants, Terry Klopfenstein headed up discussion of issues that would need to be considered prior to the following days discussion on combining the two committees. It was agreed that the discussion of committee combination would be resumed in the Friday session, and a break was taken at 9:30 during which participants registered with Pam Murray. At 9:50 am, participants of the NC-1020 committee began presentations of individual station reports. These continued until 12:00 pm at which time we broke for lunch. Following lunch, NC-1021 station reports were presented from 1:00 pm until 3:30 pm at which time we departed for a tour of ongoing research at the ARDC. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 6:00 pm, when participants returned to Lincoln. NC-1021 reconvened at 8:15 am Friday, June 17, 2005. The primary discussion revolved around consolidation of the NC-1020 and NC-1021 committees. Following considerable discussion, the consensus of the group was that we would like to maintain separate identities for the two committees, provided that sufficient interest existed amongst traditional participants of the NC-1021 committee who were unable to make it to the present meeting. It was agreed that we would delay the ultimate decision until we had a better idea of the current level of interest. To preserve the possibility for integration during the next meeting, we agreed to meet at the same location as the NC-1020 group at next years meeting, yet maintain the possibility of separate meetings should we have sufficient interest in participation in the NC-1021 objectives, per se. Toward this end, we also agreed to contact current participants to establish firmly what their levels of commitment were, and to identify and pursue involvement from new participants. Officer elections were held. Eric Vanzant was elected as incoming Chairman and Walter Schacht as secretary. Several potential invitees were also identified, and contact persons for each were agreed upon. Following a short break, the NC-1021 and NC-1020 groups met together at 9:45 am. Plans were finalized for both groups to meet June 7 & 8, 2006 at the Embassy Suites, Kansas City Airport, with the final decision on combining the groups to be reserved until that meeting (at which time interest levels of potential participants will be known). Pam Murray agreed to handle the arrangements for the meeting. Following closing comments from the administrative advisors, the meeting was adjourned at 11:00 a.m.

Accomplishments Objective 1: Quantify N efficiency of forage-based ecosystems and determine the fate of excreta N. Researchers at Nebraska have been evaluating the efficiency of N use in varous forage and grazing systems. Their work, looking primarily at effects of different forage species, will allow for the selection of forage systems that will optimize efficiency of N use. At Utah, evaluation of different forage species (grasses and legumes) is focusing on effects on leaching losses. Substantial variation was found between different forage types, and differences appear to be at least partly related to root length density. Objective 2: Quantify the effect of dietary and animal factors on utilization and excretion of forage N by beef and dairy cattle. Arkansas researchers presented detailed examinations of ruminal DM, fiber, and N degradation characteristics of a variety of forages. Their studies have evaluated effects of plant maturity on degradation characteristics of crabgrass, highlighting its potential to replace warm season perennial grasses in some systems. Additional data has been generated with bermudagrass, orchardgrass, alfalfa, fescue, and a variety of cereal grains, along with evaluation of the impact of various management and environmental factors on forage utilization criteria. Besides the immediate implications of each of these studies for forage producers, this work will be useful for enhancing our ability to predict the fate of forage N and fiber components within the ruminant GI tract. Workers at Nebraska are evaluating the influence of various supplementation and grazing management strategies on nitrogen dynamics in cattle. Additionally, they are measuring both the content and digestibility of forage UIP as influenced by season and forage maturity and are comparing ruminal protein degradation kinetics for harvested and grazed forages. Research at Kentucky is geared toward understanding factors that affect the N-use efficiency complex within ruminant animals. Intensive studies are underway to evaluate effects of level of intake, and site and amount of digested carbohydrate, on high-quality forage N use by animal tissues. Studies, using a variety of invasive techniques, are focusing on efficiency of N-recycling to the GI tract, and effects of GI tract nutrient utilization on availability of amino acids to the peripheral tissues. Results from these studies will be used to enhance current predictive models of N utilization by ruminants. Objective 3: Determine the influence of plant/soil manipulations on efficiency of N utilization by forages. Currently, work specifically addressing objective 3 is being conducted at Wisconsin. This research is evaluating effects of livestock management practices on N fluxes from pastures to the atmosphere and ground/surface water. Current data suggest that, under the systems evaluated, N losses to the atmosphere are minimal. Additional work has evaluated the influence of arthropods on nitrogen fluxes in pasture ecosystems. Although soil respiration was affected by the presence of arthropods, nitrous oxide flux to the atmosphere was not. Additionally, preparations have been made to initiate participatory research with a number of Wisconsin farmers. These studies will involve comparison of N and C fluxes, microbial communities, and arthropod diversity as affected by pasture management. Work Planned for Next Year Most of the studies described above are long-term studies that will continue into the coming year. The primary focus of the group during the coming year will be to prepare materials for the upcoming project revision. Toward this end, the following tasks will be undertaken: 1) contact 8 individuals, identified at our meeting, to invite for participation on the committee; 2) gauge the level of interest of current members, to help ensure adequate levels of representation at next years meeting; 3) begin electronic communications among the participants, in anticipation of writing a new project at our next meeting.

Refereed Publications Ogden, R. K., W. K. Coblentz, K. P. Coffey, J. E. Turner, D. A. Scarbrough, J. A. Jennings, and M. D. Richardson. 2005. In situ disappearance kinetics of nitrogen an dneutral detergent insoluble nitrogen for common crabgrass sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. (submitted). Ogden, R. K., W. K. Coblentz, K. P. Coffey, J. E. Turner, D. A. Scarbrough, J. A. Jennings, and M. D. Richardson. 2005. Ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and fiber in growing steers for common crabgrass sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. 83:1142-1152. Scarbrough, D. A., W. K. Coblentz, J. B. Humphry, K. P. Coffey, T. C. Daniel, T. J. Sauer, J. A. Jennings, J. E. Turner, and D. W. Kellogg. 2005. Evaluation of dry matter loss, nutritive value an din situ dry matter disappearance for wilting orchardgrass and bermudagrass forages damaged by simulated rainfall. Agron. J. 97:604-614. Non-Refereed Publications Proceedings (3) Larsen, J. O., R. L. Miller, L. A. Petersen, and V. J. Thacker. 2004. Characteristic of root growth in a management intensive grazing system. In: Proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Science  Pacific Division Annual Meetings. Ashland, Oregon. Miller, R. L., V. Thacker, and L. Petersen. 2005. Nutrient leaching under management intensive grazing. Proceedings of the Western Nutrient Management Conference. 6:20-24. Ogden, R. K., M. J. Alman, K. P. Coffey, W. K. Coblentz, J. K. Reynolds, and C. V. Maxwell. 2005. In situ solubility of macrominerals from tall fescue fertilized with different swine manure treatments and harvested on four dates. Proceedings of American Forage and Grassland Council. June 11-15, 2005, Bloomington, IL. Abstracts (8) Bauer, B. D., W. H. Schacht, and J. D. Volesky. 2004. Yield and forage quality of cool and warm-season plant communities on wet meadows. Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. January 24-30, Salt Lake City, UT. Elam, N.A., K. R. McLeod, D. L. Harmon, and E. S. Vanzant. 2005. Quantitative assessment of visceral energy metabolism in beef steers consuming graded levels of forage. 2005 Joint ADSA-ASAS-CSAS Meeting Abstracts. Larsen, J. O., R. L. Miller, L. A. Petersen, and V. J. Thacker. 2004. Root growth characteristics and nutrient leaching in a management intensive grazing system. In 2004 Agronomy Abstracts. Madison, WI: American Society of Agronomy. MacDonald, J. C., J. Benton, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2005. Variation in digestibility of undegradable intake protein among feedstuffs. ASAS Annual Meeting, July 24-28, Cincinnati, OH. MacDonald, J. C and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2005. Supplementation of grazed forage with distillers dried grains, corn oil, or corn gluten meal. ASAS Annual Meeting, July 24-28, Cincinnati, OH. Petersen, L. A., V. J. Thacker, R. L., Miller, and J. O. Larsen. 2004. Nitrogen leaching in a management intensive grazing system. In: 2004 WSSA Abstracts. Western Soil Science Society of America. Prohmann, P. E. F., E. S. Vanzant, K. R. McLeod, D. L. Harmon, N.A. Elam, and W. G. Doig. 2005. Influence of increasing ME intake on nutrient utilization by beef steers consuming alfalfa hay. 2005 ASAS ADSA Midwestern Section Meeting Abstracts. March 21-23, 2005. p. 64. Schlueter, K. R., W. H. Schacht, L. E. Moser, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2005. Seasonal dry matter and crude protein removal by grazing from a grass/legume mixture. Society for Range Management Annual Meeting, February 7-11, Fort Worth, TX. Experiment Station/Field Day Reports (6) Coblentz, W. K., J. L. Gunsaulis, R. K. Ogden, R. K. Bacon, K. P. Coffey, D. S. Hubbell, III, J. V. Skinner, Jr., R. W. Cox, and K. S. Lusby. 2005. Fall-growth potential of cereal-grain forages for livestock. Proceedings of Batesville Livestock and Forestry Branch Station Field Day. April 19, 2005. Batesville, AR. Haugen, H. J., S. K. Ivan, and T. J. Klopfenstein. 2005. Determination of undegradable intake protein digestibility in forages. Nebraska Beef Cattle Report MP 83-A:25-27. Miller, R., J. MacAdam, and R. Koenig. 2004. Management intensive grazing systems and the environment. Nitrogen and phosphorus leaching. USU Extension AG/Pasture/2004-01. Logan, UT: Utah State University. Ogden, R. K., W. K. Coblentz, K. P. Coffey, J. E. Turner, D. A. Scarbrough, J. A. Jennings, and M. D. Richardson. 2004. Degradation of NDF for crabgrass harvested on seven dates in northern Arkansas. Research Series 522. Ark. Anim. Sci. 7:14-17. Ogden, R. K., W. K. Coblentz, K. P. Coffey, J. E. Turner, D. A. Scarbrough, J. A. Jennings, and M. D. Richardson. 2004. Protein degradation kinetics for crabgrass harvested on seven dates in northern Arkansas. Research Series 522. Ark. Anim. Sci. 7:18-22. Scarbrough, D. A., W. K. Coblentz, J. B. Humphry, K. P. Coffey, T. C. Daniel, T. J. Sauer, J. A. Jennings, J. E. Turner, and D. W. Kellogg. 2004. Evaluation of dry matter loss, nutritive value an din situ dry matter disappearance for wilting orchardgrass forages damaged by simulated rainfall. Research Series 522. Ark. Anim. Sci. 7:35-38. Scarbrough, D. A., W. K. Coblentz, R. K. Ogden, J. E. Turner, J. B. Humphry, K. P. Coffey, T. C. Daniel, T. J. Sauer, J. A. Jennings, and D. W. Kellogg. 2005. Nitrogen partitioning and estimates of degradable intake protein in wilting orchardgrass and bermudagrass hays damaged by simulated rainfall. Agron. J. (submitted).