Livestock
Examining supplements for growing replacement heifers
Interval feeding of supplements has been shown to be an efficient method of feeding supplements to adult beef cows. Less is known about the use of “every other day feeding” for growing weaned replacement heifers. The objective of this University of Florida study was to examine the effects of daily versus three day/week supplementation on growth, age at puberty, estrous synchronization response, and pregnancy rates of yearling Brangus and Angus heifers consuming bermudagrass (12.9 percent crude protein) round bale silage.
Sixty heifers (30, Angus; 30, Brangus) were sorted by initial body weight, breed, and age and randomly allocated to 12 pens. Pens were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: 1) distillers grains and soybean meal supplemented daily; or 2) distillers grains and soybean meal supplemented three days/week. The total weekly intake of supplement was designed to be identical for both treatment groups. The heifers started at about 600 pounds and received the equivalent of about four pounds of distillers grains and 1/2 to one pound of soybean meal per day. The diets were calculated to produce about 1.5 pounds/day average daily gain. Supplement consumption and bermudagrass round bale silage offered were similar for both treatments.
Heifers supplemented daily had similar average daily gain as compared to heifers supplemented three days/week (1.82 vs. 1.79 lb/day). The number of heifers reaching puberty by breeding tended to be greater for daily fed heifers. Synchronized pregnancy rates and total 28 day AI pregnancy rates were also similar for both treatments. Dried distillers grains had no negative impact on the development of Brangus or Angus heifers. In this study, three days/week supplementation of developing heifers had no effect on heifer growth rates or pregnancy rates as compared to daily supplementation. As producers look at interval or daily feeding with ethanol by-product feeds, they need to have the feed tested for sulfur content. Excessive sulfur intake may cause a toxicity called “polioencephalomalacia”. When one considers labor and fuel costs, the interval feeding protocol should be less expensive.
- Livestock
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Select forages present potential risk for livestock
Prussic acid, sometimes referred to as cyanide poisoning, typically occurs shortly after cattle are turned on a field that contains the high risk plants such as johnsongrass or sorghum sudan.
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Fescue management discussed at field day
Missouri beef producers lose $160 million a year from poor-gaining calves and from the number of open cows caused by grazing fescue.
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Feed hay if pastures are limiting performance
Pastures fall in the “too short for optimum performance” category when there are less than three or four inches to graze. That is when hay should be put out.
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Scales a valuable tool for cattle producers
Besides using a set of scales to arrive at the market value for cattle, scales also help determine genetic merit.
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Mineral purchases based on tradition rather than nutrition
Mineral supplements being fed and most mineral purchases are based on tradition rather than nutritional need.
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Take steps to reduce heat stress in cattle
Cattle lack the ability to sweat significantly, so it is critical that producers and livestock handlers take steps to reduce heat stress.
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Weather serving threat to livestock
Management strategies for dealing with extreme heat in feedyards are limited. Research has shown the most effective practices include providing adequate shade, spraying with water, careful monitoring and proper feeding and watering.
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Pinkeye popping up in Ark. cattle
Pinkeye, or Moraxella bovis, is usually acute and spreads rapidly in a herd. Left untreated, it can result in blindness in one or both eyes.
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Maximizing multi-species grazing benefits
Multi-species grazing is the practice of using two or more species of livestock together or separately on the same land in a specific growing season.
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Hair sheep interest on the rise in Mo.
Some producers wish to minimize time and management with their small ruminant enterprise. Hair sheep appear to fit this niche of requiring less management than some of the other breeds of sheep and goats.
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Select forages present potential risk for livestock
