Optimizing Forage Production During the Growing Season
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2010-02-27
Authors
Kallenbach, Robert
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Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference
The Cornbelt Cow-Calf Conference is one of the longest running and most successful conferences of its type in the Midwest. For over forty years, the conference has provided an opportunity for producers, researchers, and over 70 industry representatives to come together to explore current topics and issues. This concentrated one-day conference focuses on management and production practices that contribute to making the cow-calf business profitable and competitive on a long-term basis.
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Abstract
Cow/calf producers rely on forage to supply more than 85% of all feed units to the herd. Yet, many beef producers do not think critically about the contribution of forages to the profitability of their beef operations. They should. As far as forages go, pasture is a far more economical way to deliver feed to cattle than is hay or other stored forages. Recent analyses show that forage from pasture costs 40 to 60% less than stored forage (hay, silage) per pound of beef produced. That is substantial. And records supplied by IRM-SPA from real beef operations show that the most profitable producers feed the least stored forage, relying on pasture more days of the year.