In our last issue I indicated that we would have hay quality results on the various lots of hay baled at the Center during the summer of 2009. This year, much like last year, harvest was slowed and delayed due to the weather. Even though our rainfall pattern was essentially “average” during this time period, the constant almost daily rain events nearly made it impossible to put up hay in a timely manner. For instance, we received rainfall on 17 of 30 days in the month of June alone. We usually like to have our hay harvest start in mid May and we try to have it wrapped up by within a month; we rarely accomplish this.

Hay quality data, presented on a dry matter basis, is shown in Table 1. One of the things that really stands out is that haying was delayed nearly one month shortly after we started making hay. We started making hay in late May (this was rain delayed as well) and resumed hay making in late June. During June we experienced 17 days of measurable precipitation. It was extremely difficult to put up dry hay.

It is no surprise that the earlier made hay is greater quality than the hay harvested later in the season. As a plant matures it lays down fiber and lignin. As plant maturity progresses, more and more lignin is produced and the plant cell walls (fiber) become non-accessible to rumen microbes during digestion. Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) is an estimate of the fraction of indigestible plant material in forage, usually cellulose fiber coated with lignin. ADF increases with plant maturity. Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) gives us an estimate of intake and consists of cell wall materials like cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. As NDF increases livestock intake decreases.

Let us consider the nutrient requirements of a third trimester dry cow. The cows requirements are approximately 55 TDN, 9% CP, and NEM 0.55. Of the hay we harvested this summer, only the early made hay meets these requirements. Also notice, nearly all the hay will meet the protein requirements except the one lot of hay baled on 7/19. It is not uncommon to find late harvested hay meeting the protein requirements of a mature dry beef cow, but it will almost always be inadequate in regards to energy to meet her needs. Also keep in mind that nutrient requirements will increase if cattle need to add condition prior to calving, or cattle are enduring severe winter weather and have no shelter to get out of the elements, or cattle begin lactating.

Nutrient requirements of growing livestock are greater than that for dry pregnant beef cows. I suggest you meet with your nutritionist (either extension or industry) to determine your needs.

I suspect that the hay the Center put up is fairly typical of the hay produced in most of Missouri this summer. Most farmers put up beef cow quality hay too late in the season and because of this the quality is marginal for maintaining spring calving cows. Supplementation with energy is probably necessary to keep these cows from losing condition during the winter, especially after calving. Last year we anticipated having to supplement our spring herd because our hay quality was very poor. However, we carried the cattle through much of the winter on stockpile (normally greater quality than our hay) and moved them to hay shortly before calving. The cows never needed supplementation as the winter progressed and the cows entered spring in condition score 5 or greater.

In north Missouri an excellent source of high energy supplement can be found in locally produced co-products like dried distillers grains (DDGS) or corn gluten. A few pounds of DDGS will provide the needed energy and will also provide protein. Corn gluten is also an excellent source of both energy and protein. When pricing supplements take the time to price them based on nutrient content, storability, freight, and how easily it is fed using your equipment and under your farming conditions. Many farmers do not have the ability to use wet products or to take semi load quantities at one time. However, purchasing load quantities helps keep the unit cost of the supplement low and may necessitate several farmers getting together and purchasing a load together. Table 2 shows quality of some commonly used supplements and fescue hay as a comparison.

Another alternative to purchasing commodity supplements is to purchase a branded product from your local feed dealer. This option offers convenience; you usually do not have to purchase full semi load lots, and these feeds are usually easy to handle. Either pelletized or blended products are available and they can be customized to meet your individual needs. Another advantage of these products is that they can be purchased without having to go through a broker and can be ordered and delivered to the farm in short order. One of the biggest disadvantages of using a pre-made/branded product is the additional expense associated with of the added convenience. Expect to pay more for these types of products.

One of the biggest advantages to producing fall stockpile is that it is usually better quality than the hay that is made. Feeding stockpile during the winter can help reduce your feed bill because you will be feeding greater quality forage during the time of year when nutrient requirement are increasing due to adverse weather and the onset of lactation. At the FSRC we have been successful carrying spring calving cows throughout the entire winter without having to feed supplement. We have also been able to carry fall calving pairs through the winter without supplementation. However, when grazing tall fescue stockpile to fall calving pairs you can expect the cows to lose condition. Our experience indicates that the cows will act as a buffer for the calves; calf growth will not be adversely impacted unless forage availability is severely limited.