xt74qr4nmk4z https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt74qr4nmk4z/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1975 journals 218 English Lexington : Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Kentucky Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Progress report (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n.218 text Progress report (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n.218 1975 2014 true xt74qr4nmk4z section xt74qr4nmk4z   BEEF CATTLE
» RESEARCH REPORT-1975
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 July 1975
Dear Kentucky Cattleman:
These are times of change and challenge in the beef cattle industry.
None of us knows the exact form these changes will take. However,
pasture has always had a key role in the beef cattle industry. Nearly
everyone agrees that this will continue to be true and that the emphasis »
on the use of pasture will increase. Kentucky is in an ideal position
to take advantage of this trend. In spite of major problems, the Kentucky
beef cattle industry is growing and vigorous. While the near term
future is cloudy, there is little doubt that the long term future for
beef cattle in Kentucky is bright.
In recognition of the major role of cattle in producing farm income
in Kentucky, the large number of cattlemen in the state, and the many
challenges facing the beef cattle industry your College of Agriculture
has assigned a very high priority to research, teaching and service
programs related to beef cattle. With your support and assistance, a
large, well trained and enthusiastic faculty has been recruited and
organized in a way we hope will be efficient in teaching your sons and
daughters, obtaining useful research results and aiding you in applying
those results to the solution of problems you encounter in the operation _
of your business. The office and laboratory facilities in the Agricultural
Sciences Building South are among the best of their kind. You are
welcome to visit these facilities on Cooper Drive in Lexington at any
time. Excellent progress has been made in developing the research
potential of the Coldstream, Maine Chance, Spindletop, Princeton and
Eden Shale farms and further improvements are continuously being planned.
This report and the field day program represent a continuing attempt
to relay the results of our efforts to you. It is your report and your
program. Your comments and suggestions can help us make future attempts
more effective.
Jaérzzy
George E. Mitchell, r.
Beef Cattle Coordinator
-2-

 Table of Contents
Finishing Beef Cattle With Pasture and Grain —————-—---—-—-————— 5
Forage Type and Supplemental Feeding for Spring and Fall --——-—-— 13
Calf Production /
Studies on Beef Cow Herd Management Practices -——~--———————-——--— 20
Haying with the Big Package Systems ---—--———--—---—-——- - ———---—— 24
A Protein Levels and Nitrogen Sources for Growing Steer Calves ———— 29
Effects of Pre- and Postcalving Nutrition on Reproduction ———— -—— 36
Impact of Pinkeye (Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis) on--- 40
Weaning and Postweaning Performance of Hereford Calves
Beef Grading and Its Relationship to Kentucky Produced Beef ----- 43
· A Golden Opportunity for Graded and Grouped Feeder Calf Sales--- 48
in Kentucky-Serious Problems Yet to be Faced_
_ Summary of Performance Tested Bull Sales in 1975 —------—---——-—- 52
List of Beef Cattle Publications Available for Distribution --—— ·- 54
The College of Agriculture is an Equal Opportunity Organization authorized
to provide research, educational information and other services only to
individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color
sex or national origin.
-3-

 (

 FINISHING BEEF CATTLE WITH PASTURE AND GRAIN
N. W. Bradley and J. A. Boling
· Increased cattle numbers at a time when grain prices are relatively
high has created a need to maximize utilization of high quality forages
in beef finishing systems. Feeding a certain quantity of high energy
grain is necessary to allow cattle to fatten to the point that their
carcasses yield highly desirable beef for human consumption. However,
planned use of high quality forages during the growth and early finishing
phases will reduce considerably the amount of grain needed to finish _;
cattle to desirable weights and grades.
For the first time in at least two decades, a large positive price
spread exists between the price of feeder cattle and finished cattle. In
the past, with this situation reversed, there has been every incentive
` for producers of feeder cattle to sell them. However, with present
conditions feeder cattle producers should explore every alternative
before selling their cattle at prices which will not cover the cost of
production.
Predictions are being made by knowledgeable people that prices of
feed grains will remain high for at least the next year or two. It
seems likely that considerably less grain will be fed to cattle in the
process of preparing them for the slaughter market. It also then seems
` likely that high quality pasture and high quality harvested forage will
play an increasingly important role in cattle feeding. This will mean
that slaughter cattle will be going to market carrying less fat and
yielding carcasses which will receive lower quality grades. There is
I p some apprehension that eating qualities of beef will be reduced to the
extent that per capita consumption of beef will be considerably reduced.
However, there seems to be enough objective information available on the
production aspects, as well as factors affecting the eating quality of
beef, to prevent lowered quality and lowered consumption of beef.
Combining high quality forages with cattle of the desired age and breeding,
at the right time of year should result in acceptable slaughter beef fed
approximately one—half the grain which has been used in many commercial
feedlots in the past. Under such conditions beef would also be produced
much more efficiently not only from the standpoint of feed, but from costs
related to marketing, transporting, stress, sickness, and acclimation to
widely differing environments. Feeding cattle on the same farm where
they are produced would also make more realistic a system which deals
with the "birth—to—beef" aspects of the cattle business. Starting with
the right kind of cattle which have the bred—in ability to gain rapidly
I and yield desirable carcasses is essential to maximize profit in any
cattle feeding endeavour.
Pasture alone will not promote fast enough gains on yearling steers
to allow them to fatten to the extent that they reach presently desirable
slaughter grade. Yearling steers grazing cool season grass—legume
pastures during the entire grazing season will gain from 200 to 300 lb.
and yield carcasses that will grade U. S. Standard. Standard grade beef
is, of course, not what the consuming public prefers. Feeding a full-
feed of corn the last 60 days of the pasture season will generally
-5-

 -6-
result in enough additional weight that carcasses from these cattle will ·
grade U.S. Good. Since the grade of U.S. Choice has been in greatest '
demand, considerable attention has been given to combining cattle, grain
and grass in such a way as to produce Choice beef. Self feeding grain
during the entire pasture season will produce strictly Choice cattle.
However, this method uses considerable quantities of grain and does
not result in the most efficient utilization of pasture. Allowing
cattle to have grass alone during the first 50 to 60 days of the grazing
season when the pasture is most plentiful and highly nutritious and, C
subsequently,starting to feed grain when pasture begins to decline in
quantity and quality seems to be the most effective plan.
A forage production curve for cool season grasses is shown in
figure l. This curve shows that grass is most plentiful in May and June, ·
and then decreases considerably as hot and dry weather of summer approaches.
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Figure l. Seasonal Forage Yield of Cool Season Grasses in Kentucky.

 . -7-
Figure 2 shows average daily gains for two groups of steers grazing
bluegrass-clover pasture. The curve includes five different sets of
cattle over a three-year period. It is interesting to note that during
May and June steer gains are between 2 and 3 lb. per head daily. Rate of
gain drops at a very rapid fate during the hot and dry months of July
and August. Since steer gains indicate that the pasture is highly
nutritious during the first 60 days and the pasture growth curve shows '
the supply to be at least twice as much as for the remainder of the year,
it seems logical to stock pastures heavy enough to utilize the early
growth and then begin feeding grain as pasture becomes less plentiful.
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 -16-
free-choice from May 1 to November 1 each year, and salt was provided
along with magnesium oxide and vitamin A concentrate in a 6:3:1 ratio,
respectively,for all cows from November 1 to May 1. Additional magnesium
oxide (2 oz.per cow daily) was provided with corn as a carrier for
spring—calving cows during the spring before calving, and for fall-
calving cows in late fall and the early spring of some years in an .
effort to prevent grass tetany.
Creep Feed
Creep feed consisted of cracked yellow shelled corn. It was provided
free—choice in commercial feeders to calves in the creep-fed treatment
groups from approximately 1 month after birth until weaning.
Breeding Seasons
The breeding season for spring-calving cows began on May 20, and
continued through August 5, during the first three years of the experiment.
The breeding season was decreased in length from 75 to 60 days in 1971.
which was from May 20 to July 20 of that year. During the first two
years of the experiment, fall—ca1ving cows were bred between November 20
and February 5, but the season was shortened from 75 to 60 days during
the last two years of the experiment which was from November 20
through January 20. .
Performance and Supplemental Feeding
Performance and creep feeding data of spring—born calves for the
four—year study are shown in table 3. Calves on all four treatments
were weaned at about 210 days of age. Actual weaning weight averages
were adjusted for sex of calf, age of dam, sire, year of birth, and age
at weaning by the method of least squares.
1. Non—creep—fed calves on fescue-clover pastures weighed 72 lb.
less at weaning than creep—fed calves on the same forage.
2. Creep feeding resulted in a 38 lb. increase in weaning weight
of calves on bluegrass-clover pastures.
3. Non—creep—fed calves on bluegrass-clover pastures were 48 \
lb. heavier at weaning than non-creep—fed calves on fescue-
clover pastures. Creep feeding seemed to reduce the effect of
kind of pasture since creep—fed calves on bluegrass-clover
pasture were only 13 lb. heavier at weaning than creep—fed
calves on fescue-clover pasture.
Q. Creep feeding was more beneficial to calves on fescue—clover
pastures than to calves on bluegrass-clover pastures. Calves
on fescue-clover pastures were more efficient in converting
creep feed into extra gain above the gain of non—creep—fed
calves on the same forage as compared to those on bluegrass-
clover.

 -17-
Table 3. Four—year Average Performance and Creep Feeding
Data for Spring Calves
 
Fescue— Bluegrass- `
Clover Clover
No No
Creep Creep Creep Creep ’
 
No. calves 59 60 60 60
Age at weaning, days 211 208 214 212
Actual weaning wt., lb. 442 507 503 529
Adj. weaning wt., 1b.a 439 511 487 525
Birthweight, lb. 66 68 68 66
Gain,birth to weaning 373 443 419 459
No. days creep-fed ——- 163 ——— 163
Creep feed per calf daily, lb. -—— 3.5 -—— 3.5 A
· Total creep feed per calf, lb. -—— 568 ——— 568
Creep feed required per lb. gain
above non—creep—fed calves ——— 8.1 —-- 14.4
A ZT”“_T"'__T—"—-"_'_-`·____T"¤—-—"—_—__—__——__"_-—_—·_—__‘~_
Weaning weight averages adjusted for sex of calf, age of
dam, sire, year of birth, age at weaning by the method of
l least squares.
Performance and creep feeding data of fall-born calves for the
four-year study are shown in table 4. The fall-born calves were weaned V
at about 290 days of age to allow the calves to take advantage of spring
forage growth. Average weaning weights were adjusted for sex of calf,
age of dam, sire, year of birth and age at weaning by the method of
least squares.
` 1. Fa1l—born calves that were creep—fed were heavier at weaning
than non—creep—fed calves, regardless of forage consumed.
2. The fall-born calves were creep-fed 238 days, which was con-
siderably longer than were the spring~born calves (163 days;
table 3).
3. Total creep feed per calf was 1154 lb. for calves on fescue—
clover and 1238 lb. for calves on bluegrass-clover pastures.

 .. 18..
Table 4. Four—year Average Performance and Creep Feeding
Data for Fall Calves
Fescue- Bluegrass- ·
Clover Clover
No No
Creep Creep Creep Creep
 
No. calves 60 60 60 60
Age at weaning, days 288 293 287 286
Actual weaning wt., lb. 537 644 547 648
Adj. weaning wt., 1b.a 504 598 522 614 .
Birthweight, lb. 63 61 63 63
Gain-birth to weaning 441 537 459 552
No. days creep-fed -—- 238 ——— 238
Creep feed per calf daily, lb. —-- 4.8 ——— 5.2
Total creep feed per calf, lb. —-- 1154 ——- 1238
Creep feed required per lb. gain
above non—creep—fed calves, lb. --- 12.0 —-- 13.0
 
aweaning weight averages adjusted for sex of calf, age of
dam, sire, year of birth, age at weaning by the method of
least squares.
4. The fall-born calves on both kinds of forage had low conversion
rates for creep feed required for each pound of gain above
non—creep—fed calves.
5. No differences in calf performance were observed due to kind
of pasture to which the calves were assigned.
Surplus Forage Production
Surplus forage produced from each of the systems is presented in
table 5. The fescue—clover system yielded the greatest amount of surplus
forage per acre cut in both the spring- and fall-calving pastures. A

 Table 5. Fescue—c1over and Bluegrass-clover Hay Production
 
Fescue—clover Bluegrass—c1over
Year Total Acreage Acres Cut Tons Cut Acres Cut Tons Cut
Spring Calving
1970a 60 30.0 46.0 30.0 26.0
197la 60 30.0 31.0 0 0
. 1972a 60 30.0 20.0 15.0 7.1
Average 60 30.0 32.3 15.0 11.0
Fall Calving
19703 60 45.0 50.0 22.5 36.0 A
_ 19713 60 45.0 42.0 15.0 10.0
1972 60 75.0b 56.4** 6s.5¤ 30.5C
. Average 60 55.1 49.5 57.3 25.6
 
aAl1 hay harvested in June.
V bFescue—clover pastures produced 20.5 tons of hay on 30 acres in June; and,
35.9 tons on 45 acres in September.
CBluegrass—clover pastures produced 3.5 tons of hay on 15 acres in June,
and 27.0 tons on 37.5 acres in September.
greater quantity of surplus forage was harvested from bluegrass pastures
grazed by fa1l—calving cows than from those grazed by spring-calving
cows, due mainly to a surplus of pasture growth in the late summer after
calves were weaned.
` Creep feeding of calves in Kentucky will be governed by economic
conditions. However, this experiment indicated that it was beneficial
in terms of spring calf performance to creep feed spring—born calves on
fescue—clover pastures. Extending the weaning age to 290 days and creep
feeding substantially increased the weaning weights of fall calves.
However, the large amount of creep feed required for the extra gain and
the extra feed required by cows nursing calves in winter may outweigh
the benefits of a fall—calving system of management. Extended ownership
of the calf may be a factor in considering whether to creep feed.

 _20-
STUDIES ON BEEF COW HERD MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Nelson Gay
Cowmen have many options in the management of their herds. Economic _
influences vary so that decisions must be changed periodically. Many times
decisions are based on too little information. If the cowman is astute he
realizes that cost of maintaining the herd, the reproductive rate of the
herd and the pounds of calf he has to sell are critical to success.
A study has been initiated at the West Kentucky Substation
at Princeton to provide additional information on some cow herd management
· practices. This study utilizes Hereford and Angus cows reciprocally mated
to Hereford and Angus bulls. Management includes recommended practices.
Specific objectives of the study are:
l. To determine the influence of supplementary energy on
reproduction in beef cows. “
2. To measure the effects of feeding calves a nutritionally
complete creep feed.
3. To measure the relative growth reponses of straightbred and
crossbred calves to complete creep feeds. `
_ l This report contains the results of a preliminary study with Hereford
cows, ranging in age from 2—l2 years, bred to Hereford bulls,and which were
assigned to three groups on the basis of age, pregnancy and weight. These `
groups were offered liquid, dry or no protein supplement during a l40—day
wintering—calving period beginning December l2, and continuing through calving,
April I4. Cows were wintered on short pastures and fed lO lb. hay as large
round bales and l0 lb. corn silage until hay supplies were exhausted, then all
cows were fed 35 lb. corn silage. After calving, cow—calf pairs were separated
and fed corn silage to appetite until turned to grass on April 3. Treatment
groups and daily rations are shown in table l.
___ Table l. Treatment Groups and Daily Rationsl
Groups
Ration None Liquid Dry
Corn Silage 1Q 1Q lQ
Grass Hay, lb. IQ 10 IQ
Liquid SUPP-, lb- --——————-—— free choice ——————--———
Dry Supp., lb. ——————————— — ——---—-—-- ]_,]_
Salt, Mineral
Vitamin Mix. free choice free choice free choice
lRation changed to 35 lb. corn silage when hay supply exhausted and to corn
silage, full fed, following calving.

 -21-
The estimated composition of feedstuffs, as fed,is shown in table 2.
Table 2. Estimated Composition of Feedstuffs,Z
(As Fed) _
 
Crude
Item Protein Ca P TDN I
Liquid Supp. 35 0.5 1.0 65
Dry Supp. 35 2.2 1.1 65
Fescue Hay 10 0.7 0.3 50
A Corn Silage 02.8 0.14 0.10 29
 
A comparison of NRC requirements and the estimated daily intake of
these cows shows the unsupplemented rations to be adequate in crude ,
protein, energy, calcium and phosphorus. All cows received the mineral-
vitamin mixture shown in table 3.
Table 3. Mineral, Salt, Vitamin Mixture
 
‘ Ingredient Z
Magnesium oxide 40
Steamed bone meal 20
Trace mineralized salt 20
Plain salt 20
*Vitamin A +
  V
*Added to provide 30,000 IU per ounce
of mixture.
\ Observations relating to winter supplementation of cows are shown
in table 4.

 -22-
Table 4. Effects of Winter Supplementation on Weight Change of
Cows, Birth Weights, Early Death Losses and Weaning
Weights of Calves. '
 
Supplement Group
Item All O Liquid Dry
No. cows l50 50 50 50
Avg. wt. on Dec. l2 9l7 9l7 9l5 922
Birth wt. of calves 68.4 68.6 67.3 69.3
Calf losses, % 6.8 6.l 8.2 6.l
Adj. 205—daya 460 460 458 462
weight of calves
8Adjusted 205-day weights of calves are based on 29 calves in each
treatment from the original 50 per treatment.
Weight losses through calving, as a % of beginning weight, were 7.2%
for non—supplemented, 5.5% for liquid supplemented and 4.8% for dry
supplemented cows. Birth weights of calves averaged 68.5 lb. and showed
no effect from cow supplementation. Early death losses of calves averaged
6.8% with no apparent effect from supplementation. Approximately l/3 of
the females were first calv