A Publication of:

OSU Extension - Fairfield County

831 College Ave., Suite D, Lancaster, OH 43130

and the

OSU Extension BEEF Team

BEEF Cattle questions may be directed to the OSU Extension BEEF Team through Stephen Boyles or Stan Smith, Editor

You may subscribe to this weekly BEEF Cattle letter by sending a blank e-mail to beef-cattle-on@ag.osu.edu

Previous issues of the BEEF Cattle letter

Issue # 547

July 25, 2007

In response to your questions . . . - Stan Smith, PA, Fairfield County OSU Extension

Based on the calls and e-mails we've received over the past 6 weeks, it appears there isn't an extra bale of hay east of the Mississippi. Plus, pastures remain essentially dormant and non-vegetative despite the green-up from recent showers which wandered crossed Ohio.

If nothing else, the forage deficit has challenged our thought processes and caused many of us to attempt non-traditional management practices. It's also created lots of questions. This issue of the BEEF Cattle letter will focus on responses to some of the most asked questions that to this point, we simply haven't got around to printing yet.

Q: For 2 weeks we have been feeding our cow herd 12 lbs. shelled corn, 2 lbs. of supplement, and 3 to 4 lbs. of hay, but the cows seem extremely hungry. So we have increased the amount of hay to 8 to 10 lbs. and have increased the corn to approximately 16 lbs., and they still seem hungry.

A: It's not uncommon for the cows to think they are hungry simply because their stomachs are not full. Nutritionally they are getting what they need. It's much like you or I if we went from a high bulk diet and switched to a very nutrient dense diet . . . we'd be eating less volume, and constantly think we were hungry, thus crabbing and complaining until Mom was ready to throw us out of the house. After a while our stomachs accept the fact we would be eating less volume, and we'd forget that we thought we were hungry, and then get on with life.

Two weeks is not enough time to tell "visually" if the cow's nutrition needs are appropriately being met so continue to monitor body condition. As soon as you wean the calves and the cows quit lactating, the nutrient needs of your cows will be reduced even further.

If you believe they need a little more nutrition, increase the corn, but not the hay. More than 3 or 4 pounds of hay per day will reduce the feed efficiency of the corn.

This link to the OSU Beef Team "Library"will take you to more detail on both using a high corn diet for cows and a weaning feed protocol. http//beef.osu.edu/library/feedrout.html. (NOTE: The feed values mentioned at this link are outdated as this was written a few years ago. The management information remains valid.)

Q: Can I still plant Teff?

A: It's likely getting too late in the summer to really gain the benefit from Teff . . . evenings will soon be getting cooler and the days shorter. Teff excels in the heat of summer.

Q: Is there any way we can cut corn and bale it to wrap for silage? We would like to cut with disc bind, round bale and wrap it.

A: Yes, it can be done just as you describe. However, I have concerns about the ability to get it baled without significant field losses, the ability to pack it tightly enough in the bale that it ferments correctly, and the costs of wrapping bales.

Consider employing a custom harvester to chop and ensile it into silage bags. The savings in quality losses alone may cover the cost of this custom operation. It will also result in less field losses, nearly perfect fermentation, and a processed feed that is very easily fed in bunks year around if need be. The limitation is that bales can be fed one at a time, but once a bag of corn silage is open, it's difficult to seal it back up if you don't choose to feed the entire bag until it's gone.

Q: Since oats are a "spring" crop, will they tolerate the heat when planted in mid summer?

A: I recently pulled up some weather data from last summer for Fairfield County that I think answers this question. A local grower planted what turned out to be one of our best yielding forage oat crops yet (5+ tons DM) when he planted on July 10, 2006 and harvested 10/1/06. Weather data from the county last summer shows:

* July 2006 averaged 1.4 degrees above normal.

* July 2006 was 26 GDD above normal.

* High temp. for July 2006 was 94.5 degrees on the 16th.

* 8 days in July exceeded 90 degrees

* Precipitation for July 2006 was 0.05 inches below normal, totalling 4.21 inches.

* August 2006 averaged 2.3 degrees above normal.

* August 2006 was 30 GDD above normal.

* High temp. for August 2006 was 95.4 degrees on the 21st.

* 6 days in August exceeded 90 degrees.

* Precipitation for August 2006 was 0.74 inches below normal, totalling 2.7 inches.

* September was cooler (-3.6 degrees) and wetter (+2.74 inches) than normal during 2006.

This photo is taken 15 days, and 1.6 inches of rain after planting on July 7, 2007. It works . . . just do it.

Pricing Drought-Stressed Corn Silage - Bill Weiss, Dept of Animal Sciences, OARDC/Ohio State University

The value of drought-stressed corn silage can be estimated using expected nutrient composition and the cost of the nutrients. The average composition of drought-stressed corn silage in Table 1 is reasonable, but the composition of silage for a specific situation (e.g., hybrid, growing conditions, etc.) could be substantially different. The nutrient values were calculated based on numerous feed prices in central Ohio.

Table 1. Average composition of drought-stressed corn silage and current (March-July 2007) value of nutrients in Ohio.

(1) RDP = rumen degradable protein (% of dry matter), dRUP = digestible rumen undegradable protein, nNDF = non-effective neutral detergent fiber (NDF), eNDF = effective NDF, NEL = net energy for lactation.

The $154/ton of DM (+$20) or $54/ton (+$7)assuming 35% dry matter is the value when fed to the cow and includes harvest and storage costs and shrink. If you are purchasing standing corn, the purchase price must be adjusted to account for these costs. In addition when purchasing standing corn you assume the resulting silage will be well-fermented and have shrink and nutrient composition similar to what was estimated. These assumptions do not always come true. When you purchase standing corn, in contrast to buying fermented corn silage, you assume additional risk and the price of standing corn should be discounted to account for the risk. I cannot give you a value for risk; each buyer must determine that value for himself.

Price of Standing Corn (assumed 35% dry matter)

For many people both the price of corn silage ($54/ton) and the price of standing corn ($37/ton) seems extremely high (and they are). However, you have to consider replacement costs, i.e., what will it cost if I have to purchase other feeds to replace the nutrients provide by corn silage. Also this is the maximum price a farmer should pay for purchasing corn silage or standing corn. The seller (grower) should estimate his potential gross earning per acre if he sold the crop as grain (minus harvesting costs) and that value becomes the lowest price he should sell his crop for as silage. The actual selling price should probably be somewhere between those two numbers.

Late Summer Seeding of Forage Crops - Mark Sulc, Forage Specialist, OSU Extension

Late summer can be an excellent time to establish forage crops, provided there is sufficient moisture for germination and good seedling growth. It is also a good time to seed in bare or thin spots in forage stands established this spring. The following steps will improve the chances for successful forage stand establishment in late summer.

1. Apply lime and fertilizer according to soil test and control problem perennial weeds ahead of seeding. Be careful with herbicide selection because some have residual soil activity and will harm new forage seedings in proper waiting periods are not observed. Read the labels for details.

2. Prepare a firm seedbed if using tillage. Loose seedbeds dry out very quickly. Deep tillage is not ideal for late summer seedings, but if done should be completed several weeks ahead of seeding so rains can settle the soil before final seedbed preparation. A cultipacker or cultimulcher is an excellent last-pass tillage tool. The soil should be firm enough for a footprint to sink no deeper than 3/8 to 0.5 inch.

3. No-till seedings conserve moisture, and can be very successful provided weeds are controlled prior to seeding. Remove all straw after small grains. Any remaining stubble should either be left standing, or clipped and removed. Do not leave clipped stubble in fields as it forms a dense mat that prevents good emergence.

CAUTION: No-till or reduced-till summer seedings of legumes are at risk of infection by Sclerotinia crown and stem rot, especially in fields where clover or alfalfa were present recently. Mid- to late-August plantings dramatically increase the risk of damage by this disease compared with planting earlier.

4. Don't plant alfalfa immediately after older established alfalfa. Autotoxic compounds are released by old alfalfa plants, which inhibit growth and productivity of new alfalfa seedlings. It is best to rotate to another crop for a year before going back to alfalfa; however, thickening up spring seedings is fine because autotoxicity is only an issue with older, established alfalfa plants.

5. Seed when soil moisture is adequate or a good rain system is in the forecast. This is especially critical this summer after the dry weather we've experienced. It is risky to place seeds into dry soil, because there may be just enough moisture to germinate the seed but not enough for establishment.

6. Seed as early as possible. Seedlings require 6 to 8 weeks of growth after emergence to have adequate vigor to survive the winter. Seed by August 15-20 in northern Ohio and by September 1 in southern Ohio. Slow establishing species like birdsfoot trefoil or reed canarygrass should be planted in early August. Fast establishing species like red clover, alfalfa, and orchardgrass can be seeded up to the dates listed above if moisture is present. Kentucky bluegrass and timothy can actually be seeded 15 days or more later than the dates listed above. Keep in mind that the above dates assume sufficient moisture to establish the crop. Planting later than the dates mentioned above is sometimes successful depending on fall and winter weather patterns, but there is increased risk of failure and reduced yield potential for the stand as planting is delayed. A good rule of thumb for alfalfa is to have 6-8" of growth before a killing frost.

7. Plant seed shallow and in firm contact with the soil. Carefully check seeding depth, especially when no-tilling. Drills with press wheels usually provide the greatest success in the summer. Broadcasting seed on the surface without good soil coverage and without firm packing is usually a recipe for failure in the summer.

8. Use high quality seed of known varieties. Cheap seed often results in lower yield and shorter stand life. Make sure legume seed has fresh inoculum of the proper rhizobium.

9. Do not harvest new summer seedings this fall. The only exception to this rule is perennial ryegrass. If perennial ryegrass has tillered and has more than six inches of growth in late fall, clip it back to 3 to 4 inches before snowfall.

10. Scout new seedings for winter annual weeds in October to November, and apply herbicides as needed. Winter annual weeds are much easier to control in late fall than in the spring.

As cattlemen continue to seek alternatives which might tide them over until more traditional forages such as corn silage or fall pasture become available, a pasture walk and twi-light field day has been scheduled in Hocking County for July 31 beginning at 7 p.m. Hosts Curt and Diann Stivison's pastures will feature cows grazing on oats planted into pasture between some July 4^th showers they received.

Items to be discussed during the evening include: Extending feed supplies with annual grasses, soybeans, turnips, etc.; herd and market management choices which can extend the feed supplies; pasture management considerations; and providing water to livestock efficiently and affordably during times of drought.

The Stivison Farm is located in northern Hocking County in Marion Township at 6680 Harvey Chapel Road, Logan, OH. Directions from Logan are 93 N, left on Bremen, right on Bear Run, immediate left on Harvey Chapel, on right before Dewey Road. For those coming in from 312 in Perry Co., go West on Twp. 248, Maxville East (on Maxville about 1.5 mi. total), right to stay on Maxville, Twp 94 at Hocking line, then left to stay on Maxville, Twp 94, bare left onto Harvey Chapel and on left after Dewey Road.

The public is welcome to attend and no reservations are necessary. The event is sponsored by OSU Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Fairfield, Hocking and Perry Counties.

Registration deadline for this event is Aug. 10, 2007, and the cost is $25 for OCA members and $35 for non-OCA members. All registrations at the door will be $35. For more information about the Roundup or to register contact the Ohio Cattlemen's Association at (614) 873-6736 or visit the Web site at www.ohiocattle.org.

Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report - Mike Roberts, Commodity Marketing Agent, Virginia Tech

LIVE CATTLE on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) finished higher on Monday. The AUG'07LC contract closed at $91.975/cwt, up $1.15/cwt. In last week's report I said this contract was off $27.50/cwt from the last close. I hope I didn't give anyone a heart attack for misplacing that decimal point. However, all of your notes about this miscue did make me feel good, again showing me that my report is widely read. Trying again, this contract was $0.625/cwt higher than last week at this timeJ The October contract was the most active closing up $0.575/cwt at $97.175/cwt. Friday's USDA cattle reports and sinking grain markets were supportive. Total cattle inventory was 99.6% of last year while most notable were cows weighing more than 500 lbs for replacements were placed at 94% of last year. USDA put the July 1 cattle-on-feed numbers at 99.6% of last year with June placements running at 85% of last year versus the previous estimate of 89.2% of last year. June marketings were up 0.8% at 97% of last year. Cash cattle traded $1/cwt lower but traders are expecting steady to possibly higher cash prices this week. The choice boxed beef cutout came in at $142.54/cwt, up $1.20/cwt. According to HedgersEdge.com, the average beef packer cutout margin for Monday was a negative $31.25/head, $3.80/head worse than last Friday and $18.05/head worse than last week at this time. Packer margins will have to get better to spur stronger cash cattle, several floor sources stated. Commercial buying and hedge lifting added to the gain in the August contract while deferred contracts found support from last Friday's report. Cash sellers can take their time about getting cattle out the door now. It might be a very good idea to buy more near-term grain inputs and hedge expected feeder purchases.

FEEDER CATTLE contracts at the CME were up on Monday amid declining grain prices, strength in live cattle, and the bullish USDA report last Friday. The AUG'07FC contract closed at $116.650/cwt, up $1.150/cwt. SEPT'07FC futures finished at $117.575/cwt, up $0.900/cwt. Fresh highs were set in all but the August contract. USDA reported that tighter feeder cattle supplies were in store for the near future. The latest CME Feeder Cattle Index was up $0.10/cwt at $112.69/cwt. It might be a good idea for feeder buyers to lock in some, but not all, feeder prices at this time. It would also be a very good move to lock in more near-term grain supplies.

Don't forget the Ohio State Fair begins next Wednesday, and you'll find the best sandwich on the grounds in the Ohio Cattlemen's Steak Barn or at their location in the Food Pavilion. If you attend the Fair on Thursday, August 9, be sure and stop by and say hello to members of the OSU Extension Beef Team who will be working the first shift in the Steak Barn outside Voinovich

There will be no BEEF Cattle letter published next week . . . find us at the Fair!

Visit the OSU Beef Team calendar of meetings and upcoming events

BEEF Cattle is a weekly publication of Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County and the OSU Beef Team. Contributors include members of the Beef Team and other beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U.S.

All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director, OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868

Fairfield County Agriculture and Natural Resources