Page 13 - MWC 8-6-20s

The Midwest Cattleman · August 6, 2020 · P13
Could early weaning increase your profits?

By Dean Kreager, OSU Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator
Over the last couple of years,
making hay in a timely man- for stored forage.
ner has been nearly impossi- Studies in both North and
ble. There just were not 3- or South Dakota have reported
4-day windows of dry weather reductions in daily forage con-
without water standing in the sumption between 25 and 40%
fields. The result was a lot of associated with early weaning.
poor-quality hay resulting in We know that cows nursing
poor body condition scores of calves require more forage, but
cows coming out of the winter. we also need to remember that
This year, hay production has those calves are eating between
started out much better for 2 and 2.5% of their body weight
most people. We had a couple a day in dry matter. This re-
nice dry periods in late May and duction in forage use is only
early June that allowed baling valuable if managed in a way
of good quality hay. The issue Early weaning can reduce daily forage consumption between 25 and 40%. to take advantage of it. The re-
this year is quantity. Many duced consumption could allow
people are reporting reductions we simply would expect less ducing more forage or reducing more days of grazing on each
of 30 to 50% in tonnage of first hay when it is baled at the be- the need for forage. Many good section or some sections could
cutting hay. There are proba- ginning of June than the end of articles have been written on be skipped over to allow stock-
bly two factors that are caus- June. Time will tell whether alternative forage production piling and extend the grazing
ing this. First the cold weather the season long hay production for increasing available forage, season.
and numerous frost and freeze remains low or if second and so I am going to skip over that. Early weaning also provides
events in April and May slowed third cuttings make up the dif- I will concentrate on reducing the opportunity to remove cull
down the hay growth. Much of ference. the need for stored forage. We cows from the herd before sea-
the alfalfa was at a bud stage It is never too early to often think of early weaning as sonal low prices occur. Accord-
on the first of June instead of plan. There are options to con- an alternative during drought ing to NASS data over the last
flowering. This likely helped sider to be sure enough forage conditions, but it can also effec- 5 years, September cull cows
the quality but hurt the quan- will be available for the winter. tively extend the grazing sea- have typically brought at least
tity. The second factor is that This comes down to either pro- son which will reduce the need continued on page 21

Inc.