Performance of cows and summer-born calves and economics in semi-confined and confined beef systems
| Autor: | Andrea K Watson, Shelby E. Gardine, Jason M. Warner, Terry J. Klopfenstein, R. G. Bondurant, R. J. Rasby, Karla H. Jenkins, F. H. Hilscher |
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| Rok vydání: | 2019 |
| Předmět: |
Crop residue
limited perennial forage residue grazing Randomized block design food and beverages limit feeding Biology alternative systems Crossbreed Energy requirement Article distillers supplementation Animal science Partial budgeting Grazing Animal Science and Zoology Food Science Production system |
| Zdroj: | Applied Animal Science |
| ISSN: | 2590-2865 |
| DOI: | 10.15232/aas.2019-01858 |
| Popis: | Objectives Cow and calf performance in a semi-confined cow-calf production system was compared with total confinement using summer-born calves. Material and Methods The experiment was conducted over 3 yr in eastern Nebraska (ENREC) and 2 yr in western Nebraska (PREC) in a randomized complete block design. Lactating, crossbred beef cows (n = 127 at ENREC; n = 56 at PREC) with summer-born calves were used from November to April. Treatments were (1) dry-lot feeding or (2) cornstalk grazing with supplementation. Dry-lot pairs were limit fed a crop residue and distillers–based diet to meet energy requirements of a lactating cow. A dried distillers grain–based pellet was supplemented to pairs on cornstalks at a rate of 2.4 kg of DM/pair daily. Dry-lot cow-calf pairs were limit fed 12.1 kg of DM/d throughout the trial. Results and Discussion At ENREC, cows wintered on cornstalks lost BW and had a 0.46-unit decrease in BCS (P < 0.01), whereas cows in the dry-lot gained BW and had a 0.24-unit increase in BCS. At PREC, BCS increased by 0.03 units for cows wintered in the dry-lot and decreased by 0.26 units for cows wintered on cornstalks (P < 0.04). At both locations, calves fed in a dry-lot had greater ADG and BW per day of age compared with calves offered cornstalk grazing with supplementation (P ≤ 0.03). Implications and Applications A partial budget suggests that lower winter production inputs compensate for reduced performance of calves when cow-calf pairs are wintered on cornstalks, making residue grazing a viable option in partial confinement systems. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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