Page 25 - MWC 9-15-2022s2

The Midwest Cattleman · September 15, 2022 · P25
Feeding Cows While Coping with Drought and High Input Costs
Feeding Cows While Coping with Drought and High Input Costs
By Mark Z. Johnson
Drought conditions influ- Loading 800 lb of hay will re- are formulated,
enced forage and grain pro- quire four times the amount dietary protein
duction for nearly two years. of movement (time) than load- concentration
Forage and grain yields are ing 800 lb of corn. is evaluated to
expected to be somewhere be- Energy density of the feed determine if it
tween 1/3 and ½ of normal. ingredient selected also deter- meets require-
Pasture yield is also low or al- mines daily feeding cost. A ments. A min-
ready out. Feeding and man- bushel of corn grain is current- imum of 8% is
aging cows while coping with ly selling for $7.50 ($13.39/ required by ma-
these conditions is a challenge cwt) while a ton of hay may ture cows that
complicated further by costs be purchased anywhere from just weaned a
associated with feed deliv- $130 to $200/ton. Assuming a calf to as much Photo by Troy Walz
ery. Cow-calf producers must producer would purchase hay as 12% for lac-
incorporate three consider- at $150 ($7.50/cwt) containing tating cows. Incorporating a to ingest this amount in fewer
ations that greatly affect cow 15% moisture and 55% total high-protein co-product, such than 3 hours. Delivering hay
feeding costs under current digestible nutrients (TDN), as distillers grains and sol- in a round bale feeder with-
economic conditions: feeding the cost per unit of TDN ubles, is one way to properly in a fenced area and then re-
group size, energy density of would be $320/ton ($16.04/ balance the metabolizable stricting access to this area to
feed and fuel cost. cwt). A ton of TDN from and degradable protein re- less than 4 hours daily would
Feeds (or mixed diets) that $7.50-per-bushel corn would quirements of cows, particu- eliminate the need to deliver
require extensive preparation be $346 ($17.29/cwt) consid- larly young cows, while reduc- hay daily in a bunk or rolled
time (loading, grinding, mix- ering corn grain contains 12% ing the amount of starch cows out on the ground.
ing, and delivering) will cre- moisture and 88% TDN. If the are expected to consume. Cow-calf operators are ad-
ate additional feeding costs TDN requirement of a cow is Although mixing equip- vised to work with their nutri-
not generally considered in 15 lb/day and using feed price ment may not be necessary, tionist to evaluate alternative
least cost ration formulation. examples described above, the allocating at least 12 to 18 energy-dense feed sources and
Diesel price at $4.50/gallon daily requirement may be met inches of space per cow on the to develop diet and dietary
and fuel use of 4 gallons/hour using 27 lb of hay ($2.41/cow) feeding trough or space is re- management plans to reduce
determine hourly cost of using or 17 lb of corn grain ($2.59/ quired to prevent overeating feed and feeding costs.
a tractor to prepare and deliv- cow). As already proposed, by boss cows. Cows expect-
er feed at $18/hour. For an op- the difference, $0.18/cow, may ed to consume 10 to 15 lb of
eration running diesel-fueled be lost if feeding equipment corn grain daily may be able
equipment for one hour to (tractor or tractor and mixer)
feed a group of 50 cattle under must run for an additional 30
these conditions, the daily minutes while feeding hay. 31 ST SATURDAY, OCT. 1, 2022
31
ST
fuel cost alone would be $0.36/ Cow-calf operators are not 11 a.m. • Springfield, Mo.
G
ANNUAL SALE
cow. Grouping cows or grow- used to feeding high-energy SALE LOCATION: ANNUAL SALE Genetically Yoursenetically Yours
ing cattle in larger groups to diets to cows. Choosing to William H. Darr Agriculture Center
maximize feed delivery over reduce fuel and feed costs by Springfield, Mo. THE TRADITION OF QUALITY CONTINUES
groups to feed is an additional opting to feed high-energy 22 Service Age Bulls – big, stout, rugged bulls ready
for service
consideration under current diets requires some prepara- 12 Herd Bull Prospects – maybe our best ever
economic conditions. tion. Feeding from 2 to 4 lb 17 Bred Heifers – high replacement quality
28 Spring Heifer Calf Pairs
Energy density of the feed of hay is also recommended 15 Fall Calving Cows – always a popular outstanding group
6 Black and Black Baldy Bred Heifers
ingredient selected is direct- to manage intake and prevent
ly proportional to its volume. grain engorgement.
A full bucket on a 6-foot skid Protein requirements of LJR MSU DAINTY 108E • P43816771
A daughter of MHPH 521X Action 106A, out of a DOD. A real standout cow, great milk
steer contains 800 lb of grain mature beef cows, although flow, one you can depend on each year. Mated to the popular SHF Houston D287
H086.
but fewer than 200 lb of hay. low, require that, once diets
RESEARCHERS LJR MSU GITANA 24K • P44346943
A deep bodied, dark red pigmented daughter of LJR Grayson 217G. You will be
continued from page 24 hearing more from him. Dam, 275E, pictured below.
research team working on it rapidly by mechanical trans-
and developed the first pro- mission as well. The disease
tective vaccine.” also is very costly. “Econom- LJR MSU 174E JAMES 6J • P44247956
This son of TH Frontier 174E has to be one of the best bulls we have sold. Lots of
Anaplasma marginale in- ic impact of the disease is in power here. Great spread of numbers. CE 5.2; BW 0.9; WW 70; YW 105; MM 34;
M&G 70; UDDR 1.30; TEAT 1.40; CHB$ 144
fects bovine erythrocytes the billions of dollars of loss-
and causes diverse clinical es annually throughout the
signs, including persistent world,” Ganta said. LJR MSU MAXY 275E • P43813712
A Golden Oak Maxium 28M granddaughter out of a DOD by Federal. Red-eyed,
high fever, anemia, jaundice, KLA beautiful udder, mated to SR Expedition 619E. She marks all the boxes. Daughter
pictured above.
weight loss, abortion in preg- JOURNAGAN RANCH
nant cows, lowered milk pro-
A G R I C UL T UR E
duction in dairy cattle and Marty Lueck, manager • mvlueck@centurytel.net
reduced meat production in LJR MSU ANASTASIA 122J • P44253873 417-948-2669 or 417-838-1482
Rt. 1, Box 85G • Mountain Grove, MO 65711
A red-eyed, conservative marked daughter of the popular KR QR Endure 18072
beef cattle. It is transmitted mated to Jalapeno. What a great combination this will be. See this catalog online at www.reedent.com
Sale Managed by:
by more than 20 different tick Auctioneer: Eddie Burks
species and can be spread