355
Effects of wintering system on cow and calf performance in a summer-calving intensive production system

Tuesday, March 15, 2016: 1:45 PM
308-309 (Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center)
Shelby E Gardine , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Jason M. Warner , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
C. J. Bittner , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Robert G. Bondurant , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Karla H Jenkins , University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff, NE
Richard J. Rasby , Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Matt K. Luebbe , University of Nebraska, Scottsbluff, NE
G. E. Erickson , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Terry J. Klopfenstein , University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Audio File Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Abstract Text:

The objective was to test the effect of wintering system on cow-calf performance in a summer-calving intensively managed system.  Multiparous (5.1 ± 1.4 yr old), crossbred (Red Angus × Red Poll × Tarentaise × South Devon × Devon), lactating beef cows (n = 65) with summer born calves (mean calving date = July 14) were used in a randomized complete block design.  Pairs in eastern (ARDC; n = 36) or western (PHREC; n = 29) Nebraska were blocked by cow BW (4 blocks at ARDC, 2 blocks at PHREC), stratified by calf age, and assigned randomly within strata to 1 of 2 wintering treatments with either 4 (ARDC) or 2 (PHREC) replications (pens or paddocks) per treatment (4 – 8 pairs per replicate).  Treatments included: 1) drylot feeding (DL) or 2) corn residue grazing (CS).  Drylot pairs were limit-fed (12.5 ± 0.23 kg (ARDC) or 12.4 ± 0.1 kg DM/pair/d (PHREC)) a common diet (60:40 distillers grains:crop residue, DM basis).  Regardless of location, CS pairs grazed irrigated corn residue and were supplemented (2.4 kg DM/pair/d) with a dried distillers grains pellet.  After cornstalk grazing, all calves were weaned (calf age = 267 – 285 d).  Cornstalks pairs at ARDC grazed from early-November to mid-April (158 d), while pairs at PHREC grazed for 62 d during 2 separate periods due to snowfall.  At both locations, DL cows had greater (P ≤ 0.03) BW change.  Ending BCS was not different (P = 0.63) between CS (5.2) and DL (5.4) cows at PHREC.  At ARDC, DL cows had greater (P < 0.01) ending BCS (6.0) compared to cows that grazed cornstalks (4.6).  Cow BCS change was not different (P = 0.34) between treatments at PHREC, but greater (P < 0.01) for DL cows at ARDC.  Wintering system had no effect (P = 0.57) on calf ending BW at PHREC, but calves wintered in the drylot with their dams at ARDC were heavier (P = 0.02) than CS calves (305 vs. 253 kg, respectively).  Likewise, calf ADG and BW per d of age were not affected (P ≥ 0.50) at PHREC, but were greater for DL (P ≤ 0.04) calves at ARDC.  Diverging responses observed across locations are likely due to grazing d and residue diet quality.  Grazing residue may be a viable option for summer-born pairs, but performance may be similar to or less than DL pairs.         

Keywords: corn residue, cow-calf pairs, production

See more of: Ruminant Nutrition
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