Russ Euken, ISU extension livestock specialist Summary and Implications Manure nutrient concentrations and dry matter were consistent in three sources of manure samples evaluated from bedded beef feedlot confinement facilities. Manure from bedded confinement buildings for beef production can be a valuable, consistent source of nutrients for crop production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of corn co-products in beef systems in Iowa. A series of questions was developed and constructed into a survey format and distributed to 2,157 producers of varying production types throughout Iowa using a database compiled by ISU Extension Beef Field Specialists. A total of 349 (n=349) surveys were returned and evaluated. Of the surveys returned 243 producers indicated that they marketed fed cattle on an annual basis and 215 producers operated beef cow herds with some producers falling into both categories.Overall it was determined that Iowa producers are taking advantage of including corn co-products into their nutrition programs. Large operations are more actively feeding co-products with 87% of beef cow operations over 200 head and over 90% of all producers marketing more than 500 head indicating they are currently feeding corn coproducts. The most commonly fed co-products were dry corn gluten feed, wet corn gluten feed, dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS), and modified distillers grains with solubles (MDGS).When asked what the producers felt the primary advantages were for feeding corn co-products, the advantage of price was noted by an overwhelming majority (77%). Producers were also asked how their use of corn coproducts has been influenced and the most popular responses were that more co-products will be fed and that a comparison will be made between the price paid for each corn co-product on a delivered dry matter basis. With his in mind, it is reasonable to believe that Iowa beef producers are focusing on the most economical nutrition programs and that using corn co-products are a viable and economical resource for feeding beef cattle in Iowa.However, some disadvantages were expressed by producers. The most common concerns were the storage issues of co-products, the problem of only needing a small amount of co-product at a time, and the increasing levels of sulfur common in corn co-products.

and Implications Roofed facilities provide feedlot cattle shelter from solar radiation, precipitation, and wind. In warm weather solar radiation can increase heat stress and in colder weather precipitation and wind can increase cold stress. Over a 9 year period providing a roof or shelter would have resulted in 5 percent less days of cold stress according to the wind chill index, 12 percent less days of cold stress as calculated by the cattle comfort index and 17 percent less days of cold stress estimated by the NRC calculations for increased energy requirement based on lower critical temperature. It was calculated there would be 4 percent less days of heat stress by providing a roof or shade to reduce solar radiation in feedlot cattle according to the Cattle Comfort Index. This reduction in cold or heat stress could potentially could increase cattle comfort and performance.

No abstract

Corn Silage and earlage are two common feeds for beef cattle. Both of these feeds can increase beef production per acre as compared to corn grain but require good management from production through feeding to optimize beef production. Variation in the production, harvesting and storage of these feeds could influence the nutrient analysis and beef production.