C.P. Mathis

Can We Predict Forage Nutritive Value With Weather Parameters

On the Ground The use of easily accessible information to forecast when standing forage may lack nutrients to sustain cattle production could be valuable to the ranching community. Our study was designed to determine if forage crude protein and acid detergent fiber could be reasonably predicted using precipitation, season, and temperature. In south Texas, monthly precipitation in the fall accounted for 63% of the variation in crude protein and 73% of the variation in acid detergent fiber. A better understanding of how forage nutritive value changes over the year can improve strategic supplementation efforts.

A Systems Thinking Approach to Ranching: Finding Leverage to Mitigate Drought

On the Ground Drought is an adaptive challenge where management strategies and practices that work today might not work tomorrow. Adaptive challenges facing management may require thinking systemically to determine leverage points. Systems thinking can be an effective way to see the big picture, deal with complex situations, and create effective long-term management alternatives for the ranch. Successful management alternatives will provide flexibility to protect the core business (i.e., cow herd), be enterprise-diverse to spread risk, and allow management for the good of the whole, not simplyto maximize the pieces. It is important to evaluate your own ranching system to identify the appropriate enterprises or practices, there is no best mix.

Impact of increasing amounts of supplementalhigh-protein soybean meal on performance of range beef cows

One hundred and twenty spring-calving Hereford x Angus cows grazing low-quality, tallgrass-prairie forage were fed 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, or 6.0 lb soybean meal (SBM) per head daily. SBM as a source of supplemental degradable intake protein (DIP) can be effective in maintaining cow body weight and body condition during the winter grazing season. Performance as measured by changes in body weight and condition score was maximized when cows received approximately 3.5 to 3.8 lb/day. Below this level, cows lost about 48 lb (about .4 units of BCS) for every 1 lb decrease in the amount of supplemental SBM. The effect of amount of supplemental SBM on calf performance was minimal.

Effects of supplemental degradable intake protein on intake and digestibility of forage sorghum hay

Sixteen ruminally fistulated beef steers with ad libitum access to forage sorghum hay were used to evaluate the effect of increasing level of degradable intake protein (DIP) on forage intake and digestion. Forage OM intake and total OM intake were enhanced with increasing level of DIP supplementation. Similarly, increases in total OM digestibility and total digestible OM intake (TDOMI) were evident. Compared with the negative control, TDOMI was approximately doubled at the highest level of DIP supplementation.

Effect of urea level in protein supplements on performance by beef cows consuming low-quality, tallgrass-prairie forage

One hundred thirty two Hereford x Angus cows grazing tallgrass-prairie range during winter were used to evaluate the effects of varying the amount of supplemental degradable intake protein (DIP) derived from urea on cow and calf performance. Treatment groups were: 0, 15, 30, and 45% of the supplemental DIP from urea. Supplements were formulated to contain 30% crude protein (CP), with approximately 70% of the CP being DIP. Palatability was not a significant problem within the range of urea inclusion tested. In general, prepartum weight and condition losses were greater with increasing levels of urea, although the magnitude of condition loss was greater when urea comprised more than 30% of the DIP. Calf performance was not affected by treatment.

Employee Management on Large Ranches

On the Ground Managing people is a vital component of managing a large ranch. Employee management practices have an effect on turnover in any organization, and our study specifically examined management practices on ranches. Our study describes the state of employee management on large ranches and provides useful and practical information that may help ranch managers build their personnel management skills. Managers could potentially enhance employee performance by reviewing their operations management procedures and incentive structures and adjusting them as needed.

Impacts of wheat milling by-products in supplements on the intake and digestion of steers consuming low-quality forage

Sixteen ruminally fistulated steers were used to evaluate the effects of feeding supplements containing combinations of two wheat-milling by-products on forage intake, digestibility, and ruminal characteristics. The by-products accounted for 47 to 49% of each supplement and were as follows: 1) 100% wheat bran; 2) 67% wheat bran, 33% second clears; and 3) 33% wheat bran, 67% second clears. All supplements contained about 30% CP. Compared with unsupplemented controls, forage intake and digestibility were significantly higher for supplemented steers. However, no differences occurred among by-product treatments. In conclusion, if the protein content is adequate, the choice of bran (high digestible fiber) vs. second clears (high starch) has little impact on forage use.

Wheat bran and second clears as supplemental energy sources for beef cows grazing winter pasture

Ninety spring-calving Hereford × Angus cows grazing low-quality, tallgrass-prairie forage during the winter were fed 5 lb/day of a supplement containing combinations of wheat bran (high in digestible fiber) and second clears (high in starch). The by-product combinations accounted for 47 to 49% of each supplement, as follows: 1) 100% wheat bran; 2) 67% wheat bran, 33% second clears; and 3) 33% wheat bran, 67% second clears. Cow performance was measured by changes in body weight and body condition score. The combinations of wheat bran and second clears had no significant effects on cow performance, calf birth weights, calf performance, or cow pregnancy rates.

Effects of various carbohydrate sources on the utilization of low-quality tallgrass-prairie hay in continuous culture

We evaluated the effects of supplemental control; NC) and forage plus either starch; glucose carbohydrate sources on the utilization of low(supplied as commercial dextrose); or digestible quality forage in continuous “artificial rumen” fiber (FIBER; supplied as alkaline hydrogen culture. Providing readily digestible carbohydrates peroxide-treated oat hulls). In experiment 2, nine (starch, glucose, and fiber) did not improve total dual-flow continuous-culture flasks were used for diet digestion. In fact, starch and glucose dethree periods in a randomized complete block pressed fiber digestion. Response to other simple design. The nine dietary treatments were forage sugars was variable. only (NC), and forage plus pentoses (arabinose and

Effect of supplemental carbohydrate source on the utilization of low-quality tallgrass-prairie hay by beef steers

Twenty ruminally fistulated steers were used in starch and various sugars, when fed with different two experiments to evaluate the effects of suppleamounts of DIP, on intake and digestion of lowmental carbohydrate source (starch, glucose, quality tallgrass-prairie hay. fructose, or sucrose) fed at .3% BW/day on the utilization of low-quality tallgrass-prairie hay. In Experiment 1, all supplemental carbohydrates were fed with a low level of supplemental degradable Twenty Hereford × Angus steers with ruminal intake protein. In Experiment 2, the level of fistulas were housed in individual tie stalls and used supplemental degradable intake protein was high. in two experiments. In both experiments, steers Intake of the tallgrass-prairie hay was not affected had free-choice access to low-quality tallgrasssignificantly by supplementation in either experiprairie hay (5.2% CP and 72.7% NDF in Exp. 1 ment, but as a result of the added carbohydrate, and 5.2% CP and 76.0% NDF in Exp. 2). Steers total intake was increased. When supplemental were randomly assigned to treatments at the beginprotein intake was inadequate, supplemental ning of each experiment. Treatments were either carbohydrates depressed digestion, but when no-supplement negative control (NC) or supplesupplemental protein was higher, fiber digestion mental starch, glucose (supplied as dextrose), was not depressed. Because of increased total fructose, or sucrose fed at .30% BW/daily. Suintake (forage plus supplement) and increased crose is a disaccharide composed of two digestion in Experiment 2, total digestible organic monosaccharides, glucose and fructose. We were matter intake was greater in the supplemented interested in sugars because of their presence in animals, with little difference among carbohydrate molasses-based liquid supplements and blocks. sources. Supplemented steers also received degradable