production costs hints uw extension livestock team statewide cow/calf seminars 2008
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Production Costs Hints
UW Extension Livestock Team
Statewide Cow/Calf Seminars 2008
Production Cost Hints
Cow-calf Profitability is influenced by 4 factors
1. Yearly cost of keeping a cow
2. Number of cows exposed at breeding that calf
3. Weaning or yearling weight of calves
4. Price received for calves and cull cows
Production Cost Hints
Feed costs are the biggest expense a cow-calf producer has to wean a calf
Production Cost Hints
Feed costs are the biggest expense a cow-calf producer has to wean a calf
In most studies of cow-calf operations feed cost range from 55% to 80% of total costs
Production Cost Hints
Feed costs are the biggest expense a cow-calf producer has to wean a calf
In most studies of cow-calf operations feed cost range from 55% to 80% of total costs
Of total feed cost the biggest variation between operations was in winter feed charges
Production Cost Hints
Our “CHALLENGE” is to reduce feed charges without affecting cow body condition and future reproductive performance
Production Cost Hints
In Wisconsin the period of time we have to winter feed is December 1st –May15th
or 165 days.
Production Cost Hints
In Wisconsin the period of time we have to winter feed is December –April or 165 days.
During this period we have frozen ground and often have snow cover or mud
Production Cost Hints
Ask Yourself these questions: Do I have adequate feed in storage for winter
feeding? Have I pre-purchased feed when prices were
low? Have I looked at energy and protein costs of
various feeds and compared them for value? Have I stockpiled forage for winter Grazing?
Production Cost Hints
We enter spring with excess soil moisture
Production Cost Hints
Reduce Inventory Early Sell Older Cows Sell heavier feeders Early Wean Calves
This reduces pressure on pastures
Do this before your neighbor since prices decline rapidly in dry areas where forced inventory reduction occurs
Production Cost Hints Market Stockers Early
Reduce by choice Animals still gaining Price is still favorable Buyers attitudes still good Sort off cattle by weight
Let current price determine the ones to sell (light vs. heavy
Early Wean Calves Reduces Cows Forage Needs Calves more efficient if fed direct Gives you larger window to
market calves
Production Cost Hints
Have A Written Plan Include the Actions
you need to take to deal with Rising production costs or drought
Keep it Simple and easy to implement
Production Cost Hints
Know Your Hay Needs
30 lbs per day x 165 days=4,950 lbs
4,950lbs/850 lbs=6 round bales per cow
Production Cost Hints
Winter Grazing to Reduce Feed Cost:
1. Corn Stalk Grazing
a. Average 5000 lbs. of residue in irrigated corn fields
b. Average 2500 lbs. of residue in dryland corn fields
c. Primary difference is leaf loss
Production Cost Hints Rotational Grazing
Lane
Rest allows pasture to:
• Recover from grazing,• Rebuild energy reserves &
plant vigor• Increase forage production by
30%
1. Pastures are subdivided into
smaller areas (paddocks)
2. A portion of the pasture is
grazed while the remainder
“rests”
Strip Grazing in Fall
Production Cost Hints
Graze stockpiled Forage:
Alfalfa-hay fields for last harvest
Rested cool season grasses (July-Oct rest)
Warm season grasses
Wheat, oats,rye, or barley planted in Aug/Sept
Sudan grass, pearl millet, forage sorghum seeded in July
Date Species 1993 1994 Mean
August 1 Buckwheat 2165 1340 1753
Sorghum-sudan 496 2917 1707
Annual ryegrass 2394 1206 1800
Forage brassica 4065 2588 3327
Oat 1867 3013 2440
Mean: 2197 2213 2205
August 15 Buckwheat 1778 1716 1747
Sorghum-sudan 650 2934 1792
Annual ryegrass 1994 2918 2456
Forage brassica 2895 3026 2961
Oat 2365 2471 2418
Mean: 1936 2613 2276
September 1 Buckwheat 0 368 184
Sorghum-sudan 0 0 0
Annual ryegrass 1179 1245 1212
Forage brassica 561 1826 1194
Oat 1161 2050 1606
Mean: 580 1098 839
LSD (0.05)* 306 598
Production Cost Hints Stand Ability for various forages
Tall Fescue-good Big Bluestem-good Timothy-good Little Bluestem-good Orchard grass-fair Switchgrass-good Brome grass-poor Indian grass-fair Alfalfa-fair Red clover-poor
Production Cost Hints
Consider Windrowing late in season Allows you to windrow graze Cows will harvest the crop in the field Manure will remain in the field Requires electric fencing or snow cover Provide only what the cows will eat in a
week
Production Cost Hints
What about direct feeding Must meet the cows energy and protein
requirements Can be done with hay, silage and various
grains including byproducts Need to make sure you have adequate
bunk or feeder space
Production Cost Hints
Consider Byproduct Feedstuffs Distillers Grain Brewers Grains Wheat Mids Grain Screenings Cannery Waste(Sweetcorn,carrots) Potatoes
Production Cost Hints
Take advantage of lowest commodity prices based on energy and protein Corn at $5.00/bushel is 9 cents per lb
(one lb of corn has the energy of 2 lbs of hay)
Oats at $3.50/bushel is 10 cents per lb Round bales at $40 each(assume 3/ton
equals $120 per ton) are 6 cents per lb at $200 per ton the cost is 10 cents per lb or $65 per bale
Soybeans are $12 per bu. or 20 cents per lb
Production Cost Hints
Needs of 1100 lb cow last 1/3 of pregnancy 10.3 Mcals of energy 1.6 lbs of crude protein
Production Cost Hints
Needs of 1100 lb cow last 1/3 of pregnancy 10.3 Mcals of energy 1.6 lbs of crude protein
Needs of 1100 lb cow first 4 months after calving
15 Mcals of energy 2.6 lbs of crude protein
Production Cost HintsFeed Values of Common Feeds
Alfalfa
% DM Mcal/# % Protein
90 .94 16
Brome 89 .80 11
Orchard 88 .85 11
Straw 91 .70 4
Oats 89 1.3 12
Corn 88 1.5 9
Production Cost Hints
For our examples we will use 1100 lb cow
If your cows are lighter or heavier you will need to reduce or add addition feed
Production Cost Hints
Balance a ration using values from table and cow needs for energy and protein
Ration 1: corn, alfalfa hay 8 lbs of corn provides-8.2 Mcals and .7 lb
protein
Production Cost Hints
Balance a ration using values from table and cow needs for energy and protein
Ration 1: corn, alfalfa hay 8 lbs of corn provides-8.2 Mcals and .7 lb
protein Still need energy and protein from hay
Production Cost Hints
Needs: 10.3 Mcal 1.6 lb protein
Have: 8.2 Mcal .7 lbs protein
Need 2.1 Mcal .8 lbs protein
Production Cost Hints
Alfalfa Hay: Provides= .94 Mcal and 16 %
Need: 2.1 Mcal and .8 lbs protein To meet Energy needs we need 2.3
lbs of hay(2.1divided by .94) but this will be short protein(2.3 x .16=.1/3 lb) so we feed 3 lbs of hay
Production Cost Hints
Alfalfa Hay: Provides= .94 Mcal and 16 %
Need: 2.1 Mcal and .8 lbs protein Balance for protein
.8 divided by 16%=5 lbs of hay
This will meet protein needs and exceed energy(5 lbs x .94=4.7 Mcal)
Production Cost Hints
COST on a Daily Basis 8 lbs corn at $.09=$..72 5 lbs hay at $.06===.30 Total cost $1.02 per day
Allow for 10% waste and DM conversion
$1.02 x 110%= $1.12 per day
Production Cost Hints
If daily feed charges are $1.12 and we feed for 165 days our winter feed costs are:
165 x $1.12= $184 for the feeding period
We still need to add the cost of mineral and salt but we have accomplished our goal with winter feed costs
Production Cost Hints
All Hay diet: Standard cow winter ration Feed 20 lbs of alfalfa/grass hay per
day(.85Mcal of energy and 13 5 protein) Provides 17 Mcal or energy
Provides 2.6 lbs protein
However, feed free choice most cows
consume 30-35 lbs of hay per day
Production Cost Hints
Hay exceeds needs for energy and protein even allowing for waste
Cost at $120/ton is $.06 per lb or $1.20 per day or $198 for the winter feeding season.
However, fed free choice cows consume 30 lbs or more per day
The secret limiting consumption to 20 lbs
Production Cost Hints
Cows Waste by eating over the top and throwing hay out
Keep Feeders as high as possible
Production Cost Hints
Use round bale feeders or cone feeders
Weigh your hay bales and limit amount fed to 20 lbs
Limit access to free choice hay to 8 hours per day
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