10/07/1991

Forage/Beef Field Day

HEADLAND, Ala.—Can supplementing forage-fed animals with a corn/broiler litter feed mixture significantly increase profits? Do we fully understand the effect of parasites on cattle performance? Is rotational grazing really better than continuous grazing?

These questions and many more were addressed by Dr. David Bransby, an Auburn University agronomist, during a Forage/Beef Field Day held Oct. 3 at the Wiregrass Substation in Headland.

The Field Day, which drew some 40 people, featured the results of research conducted at the Substation, an outlying research unit of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station at Auburn University. Bransby, a project leader for Experiment Station forage research, touched on a wide range of forage issues important to beef producers.

"Producers need to make more money," Bransby told the crowd. "Our goal is to find out where the best opportunities are to help producers make more money."

One area of interest has been the use of supplemental feeding for grass-fed animals. Bransby said the world economy seems to be moving in a direction where supplementation on pasture provides the best opportunity for profit. In the Wiregrass area, Bransby has looked at supplemental feeding on both bahiagrass and bermudagrass pastures.

Though there are many acres of these grasses in this area of the state, Bransby said these are poor quality forages. "Our interest is how to make the best use of these pastures," he added.

A 50/50 mixture of broiler litter and corn was used because broiler litter is readily available in the area at a low price. Earlier research at the Substation had already shown that feeding broiler litter could produce good-looking animals, allow producers to increase stocking rates and also increase gains of pasture-fed animals.

Bransby's more recent study looked at various stocking rates of cattle grazing bermudagrass pastures with and without supplemental feeding. Data from the study showed that the animals receiving both supplemental feed and grazing gained more than two pounds per day. An economic analysis indicated that the best return per acre was found with grazing and supplemental feeding at eight head per acre.

Another Experiment Station study headed by Bransby at the Substation looked at deworming pasture-fed cattle. "We thought we knew a heck of a lot about the advantages of deworming until we started this research," said Bransby. He noted that past research has been very specialized, looking, for instance, only at the number of worm eggs in manure rather than the actual gains of wormed versus dewormed animals. Cooperative work with a USDA parasitologist provided a broader view of the situation.

He noted that research shows that worming cattle cannot compensate for good nutrition. He noted many people believe that cattle with high worm loads will eat more than dewormed cattle. Studies have shown that dewormed cattle still need to maintain a good level of nutrition and have plenty of feed available or the benefits of worming may never be realized because the animals' nutritional needs are not being met.

Results of a study conducted at the Substation looking at parasite control and supplement treatments on bahiagrass indicate that the greatest gains were found in animals given a treatment of Ivomec (injected) and fed a supplemental six percent salt, 94 percent corn ration. Another study also showed that continuous grazing of dewormed animals provided the greatest gains, even though the egg counts in the animals' manure were higher than for other treatments.

Bransby noted that stories about the advantages of intensive rotational grazing may be blown out of proportion. "Through all of my years of looking at this issue, I can't verify claims that rotational grazing can double gains," he said. "You can carry more animals, but the gains per animal will drop." He noted that many of the claims that rotational grazing can increase profit may be based on an overall improvement in management.

Bransby also discussed a study comparing oats, wheat and rye for winter grazing crops on peanut land. He noted that rye is traditionally planted in the Wiregrass area because it reduces erosion, aids in the control of nematodes, and furnishes winter pasture. But rye seed is often expensive and sometimes unavailable.

A study looked at substituting oats and wheat for rye and showed that oats and wheat provided a higher economic return in the first year of the test. But, Bransby noted, rye is still more effective at reducing nematodes, an important aspect for peanut producers. Also, oats and wheat are less cold-tolerant than rye. He said further research is needed to determine if the apparent economic advantage of growing oats or wheat for winter and spring grazing outweighs the other advantages of growing rye on peanut land.

Bransby also touched on research being conducted elsewhere in Alabama. He noted that other studies are evaluating the use of mimosa trees as a forage for cattle and the interaction between Ivomec pour-on dewormer and fescue toxicity.

Bransby praised the work of the Substation staff in completing this research. He noted Substation Superintendent Henry Ivey and his staff supervised and performed the day-to-day work that made the projects successful.

Ivey noted that another Forage/Beef Field Day will be held in the spring at the Substation to look at other seasonal studies. Dr. David Teem, associate director of the Experiment Station, also addressed the group, saying that beef cattle production was a high priority of the Experiment Station and noted that new technology in the development of lean beef may open new doors for Alabama producers.

Also participating in the program were: Assistant Substation Superintendents Brian Gamble and Larry Wells and Dr. Paul Waddy, Jr., district agent with the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service.

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By:
Katie Smith