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Ag Notes: Goal for winter

November 07, 2007|JERRY LITTLE

The current feed shortage has stimulated a lot of "panic buying" of low quality feeds and producers are baling anything that will roll up. We have to ask the question "what is your goal for this winter?"

Some people would say "just keep'em alive until spring." In that case, you might be OK. But, if the goal is to maintain a productive herd, some feedstuffs that are very low in their nutrient content will be a problem.

If we don't address this problem, Kentucky beef producers will see the effects of the '07 drought on their 2008 and 2009 calf crops.

There are at least three areas of concern for this coming winter/spring. They are: 1. very low protein levels prior to calving can cause weak calves; 2. low energy levels and poor body condition can cause cows to produce low quality colostrum milk that is much lower in maternal antibodies causing lower calf survival rates; and 3. poor body condition of the cows in the spring will dramatically decrease pregnancy rates.

Corn stalks and soybean stubble

These problems can be anticipated with extended feeding of corn stalks and soybean stubble.

These "feeds" are generally lower than 5 percent crude protein and 50 percent total digestible nutrients. Intake by cows will also be much lower than for good quality hay. In a demonstration, cows which were offered 28 pounds of baled corn stalks daily actually consumed about 18 pounds and refused (wasted) 10 pounds of the stalks.

If we don't feed the cows adequately this winter, we can expect increased calving losses in 2008 and decreased pregnancy rates in the spring, which will impact the 2009 calf crop.

If cows are permitted to lose weight or if thin cows don't regain weight before calving, low pregnancy rates will result. Body condition scores of 3 may not be uncommon on many Kentucky farms. Thus, pregnancy rates about 50 percent can be expected unless we, 1. purchase more nutritionally dense feeds than the nontraditional feedstuffs like corn stalks, 2. have good quality hay available, or 3. feed limited amounts of roughage with adequate energy and protein supplementation.

It's really a matter of "pay now or pay (more) later."

Jerry Little is Boyle County extension agent for agriculture/natural resources.

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