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 # 544

July 4, 2007

Forage Focus: Should we add nitrogen now to help with grass growth? - Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension Educator, Knox County

With the recent rains and cooler than normal temperatures that followed the front, many producers have noticed their pastures greening. The question of applying nitrogen to pastures has come up in several conversations. It is true that cool season grasses respond to applications of nitrogen and timely applications can boost yields. Most of the time we talk about strategic applications of nitrogen, such as, early spring for quick green-up, early June for a mini stockpile to help get through the slump in July-August and August to stockpile for winter grazing. All of these are timed to take advantage of normal growth conditions.

The most limiting factors for plant growth during May and June were temperature and moisture. Poor soil fertility may have shut down some pastures earlier in this dry period but even producers who work on pasture fertility noticed growth slowing in mid May and stopping in June.

Cool season grasses have an optimum temperature range of 65-75 degrees F. Above that the plant becomes less efficient (growth slows) and will even go dormant. We are starting the traditional summer slump period where cool season pasture growth is slow. July and the first part of August historically have temperatures above 75 degrees F. Adding nitrogen now will not overcome the affect temperature has on the grass growth.

Since hay supplies will be tight this winter save your nitrogen application till August when it can be used for stockpiling forages for winter grazing.

Grazing Alfalfa - Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension Educator, Knox County

Is your alfalfa in full bloom but not tall enough to mechanically harvest? One option you have is grazing it. Grazing mature, moisture stressed alfalfa would allow you to utilize the crop and rest your pastures.

Rotational grazing during the summer seldom harms the alfalfa stand. It is very important to monitor grazing to prevent overgrazing. Severe overgrazing can damage the crowns of alfalfa plants.

Many producers mention bloat as the reason they do not graze their alfalfa. No management practice can guarantee that bloat will not occur. However, its likelihood can be greatly reduced when grazing alfalfa. The following suggestions can reduce the risk of bloat:

* Fill animals with hay before turning them into alfalfa for the first time. Don't allow animals to get hungry. Hungry animals may overeat and bloat when they get fresh pasture.

* Gradually (over a 5- or 6-day period) increase the time that animals have access to alfalfa pasture.

* Observe animals at least twice a day when they are turned onto alfalfa pasture.

* Once animals are used to alfalfa pasture, leave them on pasture constantly, even at night.

* Do not put animals out onto alfalfa pasture if a heavy dew is present.

* More mature alfalfa is less likely to cause bloat. Minimize potential problems by turning animals onto alfalfa that has reached the bloom stage.

* Begin feeding poloxalene 2 to 5 days before turning animals onto alfalfa pasture. Use higher dosages when first placing animals on alfalfa pasture, and reduce the rate if no problems occur.

Visit the OSU Beef Team web calendar for more dates and details on upcoming meetings being scheduled around Ohio yet this summer.

Ethanol Co-Products: Who, What, Where and Why Not? - Brian Roe, Associate Professor, Dept. AED Economics, The Ohio State University

USDA released its first-ever report about ethanol co-product use in the livestock sector. Last winter, the USDA interviewed more than 9,000 dairy, cow-calf, feedlot and hog producers across 12 north central states ranging from Ohio to the Dakotas to establish baseline data about this increasingly important part of both the ethanol business and livestock production. Nearly 40% of the dairy and feedlot operators surveyed reported using ethanol co-products during 2006, while just over 10% of cow-calf and hog producers reported using these products. Over half of the cow-calf and hog producers reported that they were unlikely to ever use co-products, while only 40% and 30% of dairy and feedlot operators, respectively, reported not considering using co-products.

Who is using co-products? The short answer is that these operations were relatively large and, with the exception of hog producers, had been using co-products for quite a while already. For example, feedlots that reported using co-products were 3 times larger than those who did not, and those feedlots had been using co-products for more than 5 years - well before the current ethanol boom. Cow-calf and dairy farmers also had considerable experience using co-products (4.7 and 9.2 years, respectively) and were roughly twice as large as those not using co-products. Hog producers using co-products were the most recent adopters - the average producer had been using co-products less than 3 years. But only the biggest hog producers had adopted - adopters were 5 times larger than non-adopters.

Where are livestock operators getting the co-products? It depends on the type of operation. The majority of feedlots (52%) are getting co-products directly from the plant, while the other types of livestock enterprises chiefly work through feed companies or other middle men to obtain co-products.

What are the terms of trade for buying the co-products? More than half of operators in all four categories work through the spot market to get co-products, though there are some operators that work off of monthly or annual contracts as well. For a majority of feedlot and cow-calf operations, the price of co-products is based on the prevailing corn price. For hog and dairy operations, however, co-product pricing is just as likely to be based on both corn and soybean meal prices. The smallest percent of producers price co-products from the price of beanmeal alone.

The form of co-products can range from wet to coarse meal to fine meal to pellets - the popularity of each form differs by livestock sector. Feedlots currently using co-products relied upon wet forms the most - 64% used some wet distillers co-products during 2006, while fewer than 20% of other livestock operators using co-products tried wet forms. The most popular form among dairy and hogs producers was dry, fine meal - at least half of those using co-products used this form. Cow-calf operators relied slightly more on pelleted and cubed forms of co-products, though at least 20% of producers who used co-products had used at least some wet and some dry forms of co-product.

So, what is keeping operators from trying ethanol co-products? The biggest reason stated by those who have yet to try them is availability - about one-fourth to two-fifths of producers in each livestock group cited this reason. The next biggest reason for all the cattle-based producers was a lack of infrastructure and storage/handling facilities to deal with this type of feed. The second most important reason for hog producers was a concern about the nutritional value of ethanol co-products for their operation. Only about 5% of all producers claimed that a lack of knowledge was holding them back from trying co-products (though who wants to admit being unknowledgeable on a survey).

USDA should be commended for taking a first step in documenting the current status of co-product use among US livestock producers. One hopes they will expand the reach of the next survey into other key livestock states and furthermore ask producers who have recently incorporated co-products into their rations about difficulties they suffered during the transition so that non-adopters interested in trying this increasingly available feedstuff can learn from the experience of others.

To help guide in issues surrounding the price of co-products, I have updated a spreadsheet on my web page (http://aede.osu.edu/people/roe.30/livehome.htm). The spreadsheet includes weekly Eastern Corn Belt feed price series, including several ethanol co-product prices, from the past several years.

'Money in the Pit': Manure Science Review is July 25-26

Manure can be a rich source of nutrients for the soil, but adequate storage and proper application can be a challenge for both large and small livestock and poultry producers. Learn how to solve these issues and other manure-related problems at the seventh annual Manure Science Review (MSR), held Wednesday, July 25, at Wright State University's Lake Campus in Celina, Ohio, and Thursday, July 26, at the R.G. Drage Center in Massillon, Ohio.

"The title of this year's MSR is 'Money in the Pit,' reflecting our goal to illustrate how planning for storage and application of manure will help producers avoid situations that cause environmental impairments and, at the same time, will improve their bottom line," said Mary Wicks, program coordinator with the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center's (OARDC) Ohio Composting and Manure Management Program (OCAMM), which helps organize the event.

Cost is $25 for pre-registrants and $35 for walk-in registration. Pre-registration deadline is July 16. The fee includes a speaker program, reference materials, Ohio State University Extension bulletin 604 CD, continental breakfast and lunch. Lunch is guaranteed only for pre-registrants.

Four hours of nutrient management and soil and water Certified Crop Advisor (CCA) continuing education credits are available. Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Certified Livestock Manager continuing education credits are also available.

Small and medium-sized livestock and poultry producers are encouraged to attend MSR this year, as are various professionals who work with farmers: private consultants and members of agencies such as Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and ODA. Other groups or citizens who want to learn more about manure management are also welcome.

Each program will begin with registration at 9:15 a.m., followed at 10 a.m. by "Planning to Plan: A Nutrient Management Plan Can Protect Water Quality and Save Money" by Jon Rausch, animal manure management program director, Ohio State University Extension.

Lunch will be at noon, followed at 1 p.m. by "Plans in Action: Case Studies From Farms Across Ohio," which will illustrate the benefits of nutrient management plans. Participants will then be divided into groups to attend one of three concurrent sessions.

July 25 concurrent sessions will be:

* Boeckman Farm: This 1,920-head swine finishing facility and 5,500-bird turkey operation has found success in using a nutrient management plan (NMP) to handle nutrients. Presented by Bill Knapke, Cooper Farms, and Rick Wilson, Ohio EPA.

* Brownhaven Dairy: With both liquid and solid manure storage, this 160-head dairy appreciates the benefits of cover crops, filter strips and more. Presented by Jocelyn Henderson, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and Frances Springer, Auglaize Soil and Water Conservation District.

* Permitted Dairy: What are the opportunities and challenges for custom applicators, certified crop advisors and environmental managers when a farm's land base is limited? This facility demonstrates the success of distribution utilization. Presented by Rausch and Chris Zoller, OSU Extension educator, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties.

July 26 concurrent sessions will be:

* Ayrdell Dairy: This 80-cow dairy has cut its fertilizer use by completing an NMP and constructing a 450,000-gallon manure storage pond in 2005. Changing from daily haul to spring and fall application, combined with timely incorporation, captures the manure nitrogen. Presented by Ferman Wengerd, Ayrdell Dairy owner; Robert Mullen, soil scientist/specialist with OARDC and OSU Extension; and Joe Christner, Holmes SWCD.

* Rehm Poultry Farm: Accurate records are essential to this broiler facility's success in implementing and following its NMP. Presented by Deb Berger, NRCS.

* Permitted Dairy by Zoller and Rausch.

"This year we are using case studies of Ohio farms to illustrate how different facilities have benefitted from developing and using plans to handle manure nutrients," Wicks added.

Trade shows will be held at 9:15 a.m., noon and 3 p.m.

MSR 2007 is sponsored by OARDC, OSU Extension's Waste Resource Management Team, OCAMM, ODA, the Ohio Livestock Coalition, NRCS and ODNR's Division of Soil and Water Conservation.

Wright State University's Lake Campus is at 7600 state Route 703 in Celina. The R.G. Drage Center is at 6805 Richville Dr. SW, Massillon.

For directions, more information or a registration form, contact Wicks at (330) 202-3533 or wicks.14@osu .edu, or go to http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/ocamm/MSR07_brochure.pdf.

To pre-register, mail a completed registration form and a check for the registration fee (payable to OARDC/OSU) to: Mary Wicks, OARDC/OSU Ag Engineering Building, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691.

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