Optimal Stocker Production Strategies for Spring and Fall Calving Cow Herd

Key, Cora; Boyer, Christopher N.; Martinez, Charles C.; Mason, Katie

doi:10.1017/aae.2023.6

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 26 publications

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“…With the much larger gaps in net returns for the SPCROP system, there is no scenario where the SPCROP system was preferred. While a SPCROP system might work for a stocker cattle operation ( Key et al 2023 ), it was too costly relative to returns for the cow-calf grazing systems considered here.…”

Section: Economicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Economic assessment of using Bermudagrass stockpiling and annual cereal pasture to extend grazing in cow-calf operations

Sestak,

Biermacher,

Brorsen

et al. 2024

Translational Animal Science

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Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) stockpiling and cool-season annual pastures can extend grazing seasons in cow-calf operations and reduce winter feeding costs, but less is known about how these practices interact and their effect on producer profitability. Data from a completely randomized-design experiment in South-Central Oklahoma were collected on three grazing systems for cows and calves: bermudagrass pasture (CONTROL), stockpiled bermudagrass and interseeded cool-season pasture (SPINT), and stockpiled bermudagrass plus cropland no-till seeded with a summer cover-crop followed by cool-season annuals (SPCROP). A mixed model was used to estimate the effects of grazing system on weaning weights, total hay, and total range cubes [crude protein (CP) = 30%] fed in each system. Enterprise budgeting was used to calculate the expected net return of each system. Weaning weight did not vary between systems (P = 0.6940), resulting in similar revenues. Relative to other treatments, the quantity of cubes fed in the CONTROL system were significantly higher (P <0.0001) while hay fed was significantly higher in the SPCROP system (P = 0.0036). Increased machinery costs, seed costs, and fertilization requirements in bermudagrass stockpiling, interseeding, and cropland production outweighed the cost savings associated with less feeding. Total cost were $446 ha-1 ($722 hd-1), $451 ha-1 ($732 hd-1), and $553 ha-1 ($895 ha-1) for the CONTROL, SPINT, and SPCROP systems, respectively. Overall, the CONTROL system was $3.13 ha-1 ($5.08 hd-1) and $98.91 ha-1 ($160.10 hd-1) more profitable than the SPINT and SPCROP systems.

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Section: Economicsmentioning

confidence: 99%