WELCOME
TO THE 1998
CARRINGTON RESEARCH EXTENSION CENTER
BEEF AND BISON FIELD DAY
July 14, 1998

AGENDA

LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION RESEARCH & REVIEW
9:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

NOON MEAL
12:00 - 1:00 P.M.
Sponsored by Carrington-New Rockford area businesses

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE BEEF COW/CALF ENTERPRISE

Performance of primiparous lactating drylot beef cows on
crop residues and processing co-products 1
V.L. Anderson

Wintering mature beef cows on straw or stover 5
Dale Burr and V.L. Anderson

Effect of crambe meal on performance, reproduction, and thyroid
hormone levels of mature gestating and lactating beef cows 7
V.L. Anderson, J. S. Caton, and J. M. Kirsch

Field peas in creep feed for beef calves: progress report 17
V. L. Anderson

Economics of beef cow enterprises in east-central North Dakota 20
Steve Metzger

THE BEEF FEEDLOT

Evaluation of durum midds in finishing diets for yearling steers 23
V. L. Anderson

Fall Calving Dakota Finishers: An alternative system for
targeting beef production to different market seasons 30
K.F. Hoppe, V.L. Anderson, P. Nyren, and H. Hughes

Field peas in diets for growing heifers, and backgrounding
and finishing steer calves: Progress report 33
V. L. Anderson

Alternatives for feeding cattle in the North Dakota - Cooperative
feedyards and feeding clubs 40
K.F. Hoppe

A Checklist for Feedlot Siting and Environmental Compliance 42
Scott Birchall

BISON PRODUCTION

Commercial Bison Production: Economic Analysis and
Budget Projections 46
Steve Metzger and V. L. Anderson

Progress in the Development of the Bison Nutrition Research Facilities 53
V. L. Anderson and Jackson Hagen

Research and Extension activities
in livestock production

Livestock projects at the Carrington Research Extension Center are designed to be of direct benefit to the beef, bison, and aquaculture producers throughout the state and region. The research and educational efforts in these diverse program areas are accomplished in response to present needs and visionary concepts of future meat production. This publication provides results and information on activities accomplished during the recent past.
Welcome Scott Birchall, Extension Livestock Waste Specialist. Scott will be working closely with individual producers to develop environmentally sound waste management plans that meet state regulations. Also welcome to Shawn Sanders, Aquaculture Research Specialist. Shawn is working on nutritional studies using North Dakota feedstuffs for tilapia. We also welcome Steve Metzger, Farm Business Management Instructor, who moved his office into the Research Extension Center from Carrington High School. Steve works with many individual producers to analyze enterprises, including livestock, as part of the business analysis of the whole farm.

Areas of livestock effort
Beef cow/calf production with alternative management systems and non-traditional feeds shows tremendous potential to add value to cropping system biomass, spread the risk of single enterprise farming, and contribute to sustainable farming both biologically and economically. As a cow/calf state, combining feeds and cows with proper management is central the this Center's effort. Similarly, value added concepts in beef feeding have been proven to be feasible when management and economies of scale are optimized. The tremendous variety and quantity of feedgrains and processing co-products in the region generally insure competitive feedstuff pricing for North Dakota stockmen but requires careful procurement of feedstuffs and management of the cattle.
The bison industry is flourishing and deserves legitimate research effort. Producer input to the North Dakota legislature in 1997 resulted in an appropriation for initiation of a bison research facility. Grants supplement the appropriated funds for construction. The bison research program will focus on nutrition of bulls from weaning to market and companion studies will be conducted at opportunity.
Waste management is becoming increasingly visible and restrictive for all livestock producers. All of us are interested in protecting the surface and ground water resources and reducing point source pollution. This new grant funded program will provide a methodical approach for producers to meet regulatory constraints using practical solutions.
Fish consumption is increasing rapidly in the US. Reduced wild ocean catches suggest fish farming will be increasing. North Dakota has many of the basic requirements for successful indoor recirculating aquaculture; good quality water, abundant high protein feedstuffs, heat in the form of coal, and innovative and adaptive farmers. The aquaculture research program will contribute substantially to the body of knowledge on efficient fish production.

We hope the information in this publication is useful to you and leads to improved quality of life or "success" as a grower of food for an increasing world population. If you have questions or comments, please call one of us at (701) 652-2951.

Shawn Sanders, B.S. Scott Birchall, M.S.
Aquaculture Research Specialist Extension Waste Mgmt. Specialist

Karl Hoppe, Ph.D Vern Anderson, Ph.D.
Extension Livestock Specialist Animal Scientist

Acknowledgments
Our appreciation is expressed to the following for cooperation, contributions, and support of beef and bison studies at the Carrington Research Extension Center during the recent past.

AgGrow Oils LLC
AGP Grain, Inc.
Alltech, Inc
Butts Feedlot
Carrington School District
Certified Angus Beef Program
Dakota Growers Pasta Company
Dexter Johnson Consulting
H. C. Davis Sons, Manufacturing
IBP, Inc.
National Bison Association
North American Bison Cooperative
North Dakota Buffalo Association
North Dakota Barley Council
North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission
North Dakota Army National Guard
North Dakota Livestock Endowment
North Dakota Mill and Elevator
North Dakota State University
Animal and Range Sciences Department
Agriculture and Bioengineering Department
Agricultural Economics Department
Veterinary and Microbiological Sciences Department
Northeast Bison Association
Northern Crops Institute
Northwest Bison Association
Powder River Livestock Handling Equipment
United States Department of Agriculture
Alternative Crops Program
Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program
Wolsky Construction

Trade names and companies used are for clear communication. No endorsement is intended nor criticism implied of products not mentioned.