Maximizing Forages as an Economical Feed Resource

1. Southeast Cattle Advisor Marketing School | March 8th Maximizing Forages as an Economical Feed Resource Dr. Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Specialist Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA

2. Looking Ahead • Gain/acre vs. ADG • Stocking Rate • Grazing Days Photo credit: Noble Foundation.

3. Looking Ahead • Focusing on Forage Quality • Optimizing Digestibility (TDN, IVDMD, etc.) • Maximizing Dry Matter Intake (DMI) • Maximizing Feed Efficiency (FE) Photo credit: Noble Foundation.

4. Looking Ahead • Observations of Stocker Productivity in Major Forage System Types • Legumes!!! Photo credit: Noble Foundation.

5. Forage Needed – Forage Provided Winter annual (small grain/ annual ryegrass) Cool-season perennial grasses Warm-season perennial grasses Relative Forage Provided

6. Forage Productivity Differs Throughout the Year

7. Dry Cow Quality Differences in the Major Forage Species Stocker’s Needs

8. The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Intake to Meet Needs Intake is Physically Limited Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Dig. Energy Intake Intake Fiber (NDF) Level

9. Intake to Meet Needs Intake is Physically Limited The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Dry Matter Intake (DMI) Intake Dig. Energy Intake Fiber (NDF) Level

10. Georgia’s Stocker ForagesHigh Quality Forage Systems • NE Tall fescue + Clover • Winter Annual Grass • Prepared Seedbed • A. Ryegrass Hay/Baleage • Supplementation

11. Georgia’s Stocker ForagesHigh Quality Forage Systems • NE Tall fescue + Clover (Upper Pied.) • Spring Only • Winter Annual Grasses (& Legumes?) • Sodseeded • A. Ryegrass Hay/Baleage • Supplementation

12. Georgia’s Stocker ForagesHigh Quality Forage Systems • Winter Annual Grasses (& Legumes!) • Sodseeded or Prepared Ground • Tifton 85 Bermudagrass • Summer Annuals (distant 3rd) • A. Ryegrass Hay/Baleage • Supplementation

13. Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest

14. Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest

15. Product acre Undergrazing Overgrazing Grazing Pressure Productivity Per Animal vs. Per Acre Gain/acre ADG Product animal

16. Product animal Undergrazing Overgrazing Grazing Pressure Productivity Per Animal vs. Per Acre

17. Product acre Optimum Undergrazing Overgrazing Productivity Per Animal vs. Per Acre Product animal Grazing Pressure

18. Productivity Per Animal vs. Per Acre Gain/acre ADG Grazing Days Stocking Rate • Bottomline: • When evaluating grazing research, look at ADG, Gain/acre, Grazing Time, and Stocking Rate simultaneously.

19. Effect of Tall Fescue and the Endophyte on Stocker Production In the fall, tall fescue is either “Boom or Bust.” Parish, 2001. University of Georgia Ph.D. Dissertation.

20. Effect of Tall Fescue and the Endophyte on Stocker Production Parish, 2001. University of Georgia Ph.D. Dissertation.

21. Effect of Tall Fescue, Endophyte, and White Clover on Stocker Production in the Spring Jesup Tall Fescue and Durana White Clover. 3-yr trial. Eatonton, GA. Hill, Andrae, and Bouton (unpublished data)

23. Winter Annual Forage Systems Overseeding Winter Annuals into Bermuda • Ryegrass (Annual) • Rye • Oats • Wheat • Triticale • Arrowleaf clover • Crimson clover • Red clover*

24. Winter Annual Forage Quality Quality ranges are approximate and are highly dependant upon forage maturity at grazing/harvest. Yields are 3-yr averages from GA and AL.

25. Winter Annual Forage Distribution

26. Winter Annuals: When and How Much

27. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

28. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

29. Effect of Winter Annual Mixture on Beef Production Beck et al., 2007. J. Anim. Sci. 85:536-544 (SW Arkansas, Avg. of 2 yrs)

30. Winter Annual Forage Systems Rye Yields: Tifton

31. Winter Annual Forage Systems Ryegrass Yields: Tifton

32. Efficiencies of Grazing and Mechanized Harvest

33. Winter Annual Forage: Ryegrass Cost per ton of INTAKE Cost of Intake for Hay ($60/1000 lb roll and 70% Efficiency)

34. Beef Production on Selected Winter Annual Regimens vs. No Winter Annual Hoveland et al., 1978. Agron. J. 70:418-420.

35. Stocker Performance on Rye and Rye-Based Mixtures – Eatonton, GA 2010 Hancock et al., Unpublished data.

36. Stocker Performance on Rye and Rye-Based Mixtures – Eatonton, GA 2010 Hancock et al., Unpublished data.

37. Forage Productivity Differs Throughout the Year

38. Stocker Steer Performance on Alfalfa Bates et al., 1996. J. Prod. Ag. 9:418-423. (Avg. of 3 yrs: 1989, 90, 91.)

39. Steer Performance when Rotationally Grazing Alfalfa or High-Tannin (HT) or Low-Tannin (LT) Sericea Lespedeza Schmidt et al., 1987. AL Ag. Exp. St. Circular 288 (Avg. of 3 yrs)

40. Broad-Scope Assessment of Pasture Systems for Stockers

41. Forage Systems with Highest ADG Adapted from Ball and Prevatt (2009) and other studies presented herein.

42. Forage Systems with Highest ADG High ADG ≠ High Profitability Production is vanity… Profit is sanity! Adapted from Ball and Prevatt (2009) and other studies presented herein.

43. Forage Systems with Lowest Cost Source: Ball and Prevatt (2009).

44. Forage Systems with Lowest Cost Low Cost ≠ High Profitability You get what you pay for! (Usually.) Source: Ball and Prevatt (2009).

45. Forage Systems with Highest Profitability NE Tall fescue + w. clover NE Tall fescue Verify by using the costs per acre and estimates of gain per acre from Ball and Prevatt (2009) and market price for selling calves.

46. THE SEVEN LOWEST PASTURE COSTS/LB OF GAIN INVOLVED LEGUMES 4 OF THE TOP 5 MOST PROFITABLE FORAGE OPTIONS USE LEGUMES EXTENSIVELY!!!

47. QUESTIONS? www.georgiaforages.com1-800-ASK-UGA1