Low-Cost Winter Feeding Systems for Cow-Calf Producers
Kelln, B. and B. Lardner. 2008. Saskatchewan Agriculture Development Fund
Abstract
This project is focused on comparing beef cow performance and reproductive
efficiency, soil and crop factors and economic differences between four different winter
management systems. Study results will complement information already available for
western Canada and provide new information for winter feeding beef cattle in the Black
soil zone of Saskatchewan.
With feed costs rising, reducing the cost of production is crucial in today's
operations in order to maintain sustainable production and the viability of cow/calf
operations. In order to be both economically and environmentally sustainable,
producers must take advantage of low cost feed sources and systems, while at the same
time ensuring a high plane of production management. During the past number of
years producers have moved towards extensive winter feeding systems in attempts to
reduce costs associated with winter feeding. While this is economically beneficial for
producers, questions have been raised regarding the impact of these systems on cow
performance, soil health, and subsequent crop production.
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of winter feeding systems such
as drylot feeding, bale grazing, swath grazing and straw-chaff grazing on cow
performance, cow reproduction, soil nutrients, soil compaction, crop yield and cost of
production between systems. In the first year, cows on swath grazing had a 4% lower
final body weight compared to drylot fed cows. Under winter field conditions, feed
allocation is important because cows in extended grazing require extra energy to offset
the energy cost of walking, foraging and maintenance during winter. However, winter
feeding system had no effect on subsequent year's calf birth weight or calving pattern.
Estimated dry matter intake for cows on all feeding systems was slightly lower or similar
to NRC (1996) requirements. Final body weights of cows on all feeding systems were
similar during the last two years of the study.
Soil nitrate nitrogen levels between feeding systems were related to landscape
position (slope) with levels 2X greater at low than at high slopes on bale graze sites.
Nitrogen distribution was affected by the swath graze pattern and was associated with
feeding site. Greater distribution of feed in this system resulted in increased nutrient
distribution. Applying compost and manure mechanically on the field resulted in lower
nitrate nitrogen levels compared to areas which received no manure as the site had a
history of previous manure application. Phosphorous distribution patterns were seen to
correlate with feeding site and parallels could be drawn between manure distribution
and crop biomass the following year. Soil compaction was not a problem on any winter
field feeding system.
Finally over the 3 year study period, winter feeding systems such as straw-chaff
grazing, bale grazing and swath grazing were 5, 6 and 40% lower respectively, in cost per
cow per day compared to winter feeding the same cows in drylot pens.
