Effect of Extended Grazing

Management on Economics &

Manure Distribution

Doug Landblom

Dickinson Research Extension Center

Beef Cattle Specialist

November 19, 2013

Management Decisions Have a

Large Impact on Economics and

Manure Distribution

Management Situations

Backgrounding

Utilize annual forage (unharvested corn) to provide good quality growing diet after 7 days

In drylot to recover from weaning

2 Methods:

Early Weaning (Aug – Sept)

Early & Normal Weaning vs. Feedlot Direct

Normal weaning (November 1st) –

Lucas Hoff Farm, Richardton

Management Situations

Integrated Crop & Beef Cattle

Management Situations Integrated Crop & Beef Cattle Systems

Yearling Steer Component (Pasture & Annual Forage):

Winter: Backgrounding at modest gain grazing corn with hay

Summer and Fall Sequence Grazing

Crested wheatgrass > native pasture > pea-barley > unharvested corn >

feedlot finishing

Cow Component (Pasture & Crop Residues):

May – June Calving

Summer: Native Range

Fall & Winter After Weaning (Nov):

Sequence Grazing: Cover crops > winter pasture > corn and sunflower

residue > drylot (1.5-2.0 month) > calving on early spring pasture with

supplemental hay

WEANING DATE:

Backgrounding Systems Economics

Pasture

Control

(Feedlot)

Normal

Wean–Nov

(Corn)

Early Wean-

Aug

(Corn)

Early Wean

(Feedlot)

System Days 80 38.5 81 86

End Wt 620 703 645 611

Gain 165 85.2 179 206

ADG 2.06 2.21 2.21 2.40

Net Ret/Hd $87.50 -$5.82 $93.19 $69.56

Cost/Lb. Ga. $0.59 $1.08 $0.52 $0.66

19

0

81

100

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Grazing Feedlot Grazing Feedlot

%

1.5 T

6.5 T

7.9 T

Lucas Hoff Farm:

Extensive Weaning Demonstration

32 Day Corn Grazing Economics

2012 2013

32 Day Estimated Calf GainValue

8,652# Gain @ $1.55/Cwt

$13,411

Expenses for Corn, Stress Barrels, and Hay -$1,589

Estimated 32 Day Net Return $11,822

Corn Yield: 40 bu/Ac

1200 bu @ $7/bu

$8,400

Difference $3,422

Corn-Beef Price/Bu Equivalent

$11,822/1200 bu.

$9.85

Gain over $7/bu corn $2.85

Gain over $3.70/bu corn $6.10

93

7 0

20

40

60

80

100

Grazing (%) Drylot (%)

%

0.11 TON

1.6 T

0.11 T

Yearling Steer Growing-Finishing Life Cycle

Yearling Production System Net Return, $

400

200

0

200

-30.10

9.09

-298.05

PST ANN FTL

65

14

35

86

0

20

40

60

80

100

Grazing Feedlot Drylot Feedlot

4.0 T

8.9 T

1.4 T

% 7.65 T

88

12

0

20

40

60

80

100

Grazing Drylot

% 10.1 T

1.4 T