| 2006 Annual Report Beef Section | Dickinson
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Effect of time on dry matter yield and forage quality
K. Schulz†, W. Poland‡, L. Tisor‡
and
Key
Words: Forages, Unharvested corn, Oat swaths
Justification
Agricultural (arable and grazable) land dominates
the landscape in the Northern Plains. Appropriate integration of crop and
livestock systems within this landscape can be a valuable tool in increasing
rural economic development. Inclusion of feed and forage production in cropping
rotations would provide flexibility in developing cropping systems to help
enhance the general sustainability of the underlying ecosystem. Coupling this
feed and forage production with resident and value-added ruminant livestock
production offers a tremendous spring board for capturing the real value of
agricultural production and stimulating additional economic development in the
region in an environmentally friendly fashion.
Annual forage production is increasing in importance
in the agricultural economy of the Northern Plains. Innovative farmers are
seeking ways to enhance crop diversity, control pests and increase crop water
use efficiency without assuming the risks often associated with continuous
cropping. However, a viable market for annual forage production is often
critical for enhancing its impact on regional economies.
Ruminant livestock constitutes a primary economic
engine in this region with cow/calf production a major component. The winter
management program of traditional cow/calf production accounts for up to 60% of
annual production expenses in these operations. Two-thirds of this expense is
for harvested and stored feeds typically fed in total or semi confinement
feeding facilities. Increasing the grazing
season of beef cows into the fall and early winter has the potential to reduce
the expenses associated with traditional forage feeding practices. However, the
potential to extend the grazing season depends on retention of dry matter (DM)
yield and forage quality. Appropriate
integration of crop and livestock systems within the region could conceivably
use cattle to create a ready market for annual forage production while
simultaneously reducing the overall environmental and economic costs associated
with traditional winter management programs.
Objective
Compare
changes in DM yield and forage quality of unharvested corn (Zea mays; CO) and swathed oat (Avena sativa;
SW) to oat harvested as hay (HY).
Procedures
Three forage treatments:
o
Oat hay (HY; seeded in mid
April, swathed in late July and baled in early August)
o
Oat swaths (SW; seeded in
mid April and swathed in late July and left in field)
o
Standing corn (CO; seeded in
early May and left standing in field)
Forage
sampling began in early August (early September for CO) and continued into mid
December.
DM
yield was calculated and concentrations of invitro DM digestibility (IVDMD),
crude protein (CP), acid (ADF) and neutral (NDF) detergent fibers and ash were
determined.
Data
were analyzed as a randomized complete block design sampled across time. Linear
regression was used to estimate and compare daily change in yield and forage
quality. Treatment paramters were compared using a protected t-test.
Conclusions
o
Average DM yield and IVDMD concentration was greatest
in CO, intermediate in HY and lowest in SW. Daily loss of DM mass and IVDMD
concentration was greatest in CO, intermediate in SW and lowest in HY.
o
Average CP concentration was greatest in HY, least in
SW and intermediate in CO. Daily loss in CP concentration was not different
across treatment and averaged .013%.
o
Average fiber concentrations were greatest in SW,
least in HY and intermediate in CO. Daily increase in fiber concentration was
greatest in CO, least in HY and intermediate in SW.
o
Ash concentration was not affected by either treatment
or sampling date.
o
Daily changes in DM yield and concentrations of IVDMD
and fibers of HY did not differ from 0 (P>.05).
Summary
With
the exception of CP concentration, DM and forage quality of oat hay was
relatively stable in the fall and early winter of the year of harvest. Oat
swaths and standing corn left in the field for subsequent grazing had greater
losses in yield and forage quality compared to oat hay. Unharvested corn had
greater daily loss DM yield and digestibility compared to swathed oat. In
general, forage quality of all treatments was nutritionally adequate for dry,
pregnant beef cows.
Implication
Despite
losses in total DM and consistent declines in forage quality, both unharvested
corn and swathed oat appear to be viable grazing forage options for dry,
pregnant beef cows in the Northern Plains.
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