Gage County
1115 West Scott St.
Beatrice NE 68310
Phone: (402) 223-1384
FAX: (402) 223-1370

News Column

Paul C Hay, Extension Educator

FORAGE SUPPLIES TIGHT

When we get to our first cutting alfalfa next week it will not be a surprise to most that the cutting will be short and average quality at best. How short? We have lost at least one-third of the average production on our alfalfa crop. In Gage County that means 12,500 tons of hay. That is enough hay to feed 6500 beef cows for the 120 day winter feeding season. We are going to need to replace at least part of that loss, as our carryover hay supplies are also significantly shorter than normal. This column will discuss alternative feed opportunities and share information on at Michigan State research study on feed waste.

Odd wet areas or drown out crops could be switched to a summer forage like sudangrass, pearl millet or sudex. Cut these when they are between waist and chest high. The finer stems will cure better and produce better quality hay. With good growing conditions, there could be several cuttings. After wheat or oats the same annual grasses could be seeded for a forage cutting in September. Pearl millet is a good choice here because it better quality, finer stemmed, and the seed cost is lower. Turnips are also a choice to increase fall grazing opportunities. Turnip seed is not real expensive and with a timely rain can provide lots of forage which can offset hay all winter if desired.

Cutting brome just after heading reduces the tonnage a bit, but with rain and cooler weather it can give us and option for another harvest, or some grazing options. The same is true for native grass areas. We are not always going to get fall rains like last year, but keeping your opportunity options open and capturing the quality of hay is a good plan.

The other option for winter cow feed is using poorer quality forage blended with wet distillers grains and packed in a pit silo or pile. Blend enough dry forage to support the pack tractor and it will work good. Historically wet distillers grains have been available and lower in price in July and August. This could be a good alternative to high forage prices for some operations.

Daniel Buskirk at Michigan State fed alfalfa and orchardgrass hay to beef cows in four types of large round bale feeders and evaluated cattle intake and waste hay losses. The best cattle intake rate came from the trailer feeder, followed by the cone feeder, ring feeder, and cradle feeder. The differences in intake were not significant with less than 3 pounds per day(24 to 27 ponds) difference. There could easily be that much difference in the cattle’s normal intake.

Daily wasted hay was significantly different between feeders. The cradle feeder lost 4.2 pounds per cow per day followed by the trailer at 3.5, ring at 1.5, and the cone feeder at 0.9 pounds per cow per day. In a 120 day feeding season that equals 312 pounds per cow or an extra ten days feed. It may be worth while to improve your feeding system and make sure it is well maintained. Don’t forget that grinding hay has losses and costs associated with it, which can result in equal or greater losses of feed.

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