Beef cattle feeding costs as impacted by hay yield and quality

• Published in: Agronomy journal 2021-09, Vol.113 (5), p.4085-4098
• Main Authors: Rushing, J. Brett, Lemus, Rocky W., Maples, Joshua G., Rivera, J. Daniel, Lyles, Johnson C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0002-1962; 1435-0645
• DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20806

Reducing dependence onstored feed, particularly dry hay, is a major factor in beef cattle production systems in the southeastern United States. Increasing the nutritive value of the hay that is fed, however, can ultimately reduce total feed costs and boost profitability. A field trial was conducted in east‐central Mississippi evaluating several warm‐season perennial grass hay crops under varying N and harvest regimes in order to assess their ability to meet beef cow nutritional demands and to estimate total feed costs. Cultivars included ‘Argentine’ (ARG) and ‘Pensacola’ (PEN) bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flueggé), ‘Common’ (COM) and ‘Cheyenne II’ (CHE) bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.), and ‘Pete’ (PET) eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides L.). Plots were assigned to an annual N treatment (0, 112, 224, 336, or 448 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and a harvest frequency (30, 40, 60, and 120 d). Argentine produced the greatest amount of forage mass (FM) at the 448 kg N ha−1 yr−1 rate (14,422 kg DM ha−1). Increasing N rates resulted in greater mean crude protein (CP) values, whereas harvest frequency had a greater impact on total digestible nutrients (TDN). Total feed costs were calculated based on field trial data and were combined with either soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] hulls (SH) or corn (Zea mays L.) gluten (CG) to match nutritional demand. The most economical feed costs were those where hay was fertilized (>224 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and harvested three or more times a year and was combined with CG. Core Ideas Increasing N rate and harvest frequency increases forage mass and crude protein. Several warm‐season perennial hay crops cannot meet energy requirements of lactating beef cows. Total feeding costs can be reduced by producing hay with greater nutritive value.