IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF BEEF CATTLE OPERATIONS IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL UNITED STATES, USING COMPLEMENTARY FORAGE SYSTEMS AND GRAZING MANAGEMENT.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1003858
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2014
• Project End Date: Nov 21, 2018
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
(N/A)
FAYETTEVILLE,AR 72703

Performing Department
Animal Sciences

Non Technical Summary
The largest cost in production of a calf is associated with maintaining the brood cows and the cost of winter feeding including the costs producing and storing hay is a large proportion of this annual cost and thus the biggest drain on the cow-calf industry's potential to be profitable. Reducing winter feed requirements by utilization of stockpiled forages and complementary forage species to the warm-season grass base in place in most of the deep South will increase profitability and productivity of cow-calf production in this region.The 2012 Census of Agriculture (USDA, 2012) indicates that the number of cattle farms has decreased by 5% since the last census in 2007, but the numbers of farms with <10 head of beef cows increased by 6% with decreases in operations in every other size category. During this time beef cow numbers decreased by 12%. It is inevitable that herd rebuilding will occur and research is needed to determine the best way to produce replacement females for long-term productivity and profitability.As a result the following two goals have been developed:Increase net returns of cow-calf production in the Southeast by reducing reliance on winter supplementation.Increase productivity of cow-calf operations in the Southeast through improved heifer development.In order to meet these goals the current objectives are in place: 1. Study the effects of complementary forage and grazing management systems on cow calf production with emphasis on providing more grazing days annually; 2.Examine the effects of heifer development programs on reproductive efficiency and longevity in the cowherd.Complementary Forage and Grazing Management Systems (Objective 1). This systems research will be conducted over 5 years and will use nine 12-acre bermudagrass pastures located at the SWREC Cow-Calf Unit stocked with 72 beef cows at either 6 or 12 cow units per pasture. Cows stocked to these pastures will be managed in 3 systems 1) Low Management - using continuous grazing at a low stocking rate (2 acres per cow, n = 6 cows per pasture) with minimal additional management inputs; 2) Intensive Management - with 2 stocking rates (2 acres per cow or 1 acre per cow) and managed grazing using rotational grazing, stockpiled bermudagrass, and interseeded cool-season annual grasses.Heifer Development (Objective 2). Using Stored Forages or Cool-Season Annual Grasses for Wintering Developing Replacement Heifers before Breeding in the Spring (Trial 1.) Seventy-two heifers/year from the SWREC cowherd will be used to determine the effects of post-weaning development on breeding and longevity in the cowherd over a 5-year period. These heifers generally weigh 500 lbs at weaning with a range in BW from 450 to 550 lbs. Heifers will be allotted to 9 groups by BW, and these 9 groups will then be assigned to 3 treatments; 1) Hay -dry warm-season grass hay and a supplement will be fed in drylot to promote ADG of 1.5 lb/d from weaning until ryegrass becomes available for grazing in the early spring; 2) Silage -annual ryegrass silage will be fed in drylot to promote ADG of 1.5 lb/d until ryegrass becomes available for grazing in the early spring; 3) Winter Pasture -heifers will be placed on cool-season annual grass pastures at a stocking rate of 2 acres per heifer to promote ADG in excess of 1.5 lb/d throughout the winter and spring until breeding. Heifers will be comingled in the early spring when forage growth is adequate to carry all heifers on allotted acreage.Effect of Feed Additives to Improve Heifer Growth Performance during Development on Reproductive Efficiency (Trial 2.) This research is designed to determine the effects of additions of Gainpro or Rumensin on gain and reproductive performance of replacement heifers in Northern Arkansas over a 3 year period. There will be 3 treatments: 1) Control - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing a non-medicated mineral premix; 2) Gainpro - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing mineral premix designed to supply 20 mg Gainpro per heifer daily; 3)Rumensin - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing mineral premix designed to supply 150 mg Rumensin per heifer daily.

Animal Health Component

100%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

100%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
307	3999	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3999 - Animal research, general;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

cow calf

heifer development

cool season annual grasses

grazing management

feed additives

Goals / Objectives
Increase net returns of cow-calf production in the Southeast by reducing reliance on winter supplementation.Increase productivity of cow-calf operations in the Southeast through improved heifer developmentThe largest cost in production of a calf is associated with maintaining the brood cows and the cost of winter feeding including the costs producing and storing hay is a large proportion of this annual cost and thus the biggest drain on the cow-calf industry's potential to be profitable. Reducing winter feed requirements by utilization of stockpiled forages and complementary forage species to the warm-season grass base in place in most of the deep South will increase profitability and productivity of cow-calf production in this region.The 2012 Census of Agriculture (USDA, 2012) indicates that the number of cattle farms has decreased by 5% since the last census in 2007, but the numbers of farms with <10 head of beef cows increased by 6% with decreases in operations in every other size category. During this time beef cow numbers decreased by 12%. It is inevitable that herd rebuilding will occur and research is needed to determine the best way to produce replacement females for long-term productivity and profitability.

Project Methods
Procedures:All animal procedures in the experiment will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations of Consortium (1988) and are approved by the University of Arkansas Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.Complementary Forage and Grazing Management Systems (Objective 1) This systems research will be conducted over 5 years and will use nine 12-acre bermudagrass pastures located at the SWREC Cow-Calf Unit stocked with 72 beef cows at either 6 or 12 cow units per pasture. Cows stocked to these pastures will be managed in 3 systems (with n=3 pastures/treatment): 1) Low Management - using continuous grazing at a low stocking rate (2 acres per cow, n = 6 cows per pasture) with minimal additional management inputs; 2) Intensive Management - with 2 stocking rates (2 acres per cow or 1 acre per cow) and managed grazing using rotational grazing, stockpiled bermudagrass, and interseeded cool-season annual grasses. Rotational grazing (6 paddocks per pasture) pastures will also use stockpiling bermudagrass for late fall and early winter grazing at a rate of 0.5 acres per cow, and providing 0.5 acres of interseeded cool-season annual grasses per cow.Cows will be left in the same treatment groups throughout the study, unless culled for age or failure to rebreed or raise a live calf to weaning. Culled females will be replaced by a 3-year old cow that is pregnant with her second calf. Bulls will be evaluated for breeding soundness in April and a single bull placed with each group of cows in Early May. Pregnancy status will be determined at weaning via rectal palpation.The cow and calf performance data in this experiment will be analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) as a completely randomized design with the effect of treatment and the covariates of cow age and calving date in the model. Year will be treated as a random effect in this model. Because each pasture of cows will be considered the experimental unit, treatment effects will be tested using pasture within treatment by year as the error term. Least?square means will be separated using a t?test. Reproductive rates will be analyzed using Chi-Square analysis.Heifer Development (Objective 2). Trial 1. Seventy-two heifers/year fwill be used to determine the effects of post-weaning development on breeding and longevity in the cowherd over a 5-year period. Heifers will be allotted to 9 groups by BW, and these 9 groups will then be assigned to 3 treatments; 1) Hay -grass hay and a supplement will be fed in drylot to promote ADG of 1.5 lb/d from weaning until ryegrass becomes available for grazing in the early spring; 2) Silage -annual ryegrass silage will be fed in drylot to promote ADG of 1.5 lb/d until ryegrass becomes available for grazing in the early spring; 3) Winter Pasture -heifers will be placed on cool-season annual grass pastures at a stocking rate of 2 acres per heifer to promote ADG in excess of 1.5 lb/d throughout the winter and spring until breeding. Heifers will be comingled in the early spring when forage growth is adequate to carry all heifers on allotted acreage. Heifers will be bred via timed AI, and low birthweight Angus bulls will be used as cleanup 10-days following AI. Forty-five days following AI pregnancy will be determined via ultrasound, to differentiate AI vs natural service conception. Cow Longevity will be determined by tracking culling rates, reasons for culling, and reproductive success rates of cows from these development programs in subsequent years as these cows enter the SWREC breeding herd.The heifer performance data in this experiment will be analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) as a completely randomized design with the effect of winter treatment as fixed effect in the model (Lentner and Bishop, 1986). Year will be treated as a random effect in this model. Because each winter feeding group of heifers will be considered the experimental unit, treatment effects will be tested using pasture (or pen) within treatment by year as the error term. Least?square means will be separated using a t?test (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Reproductive and culling rates will be analyzed using Chi-Square analysis.Trial 2. This research is designed to determine the effects of additions of Gainpro or Rumensin on gain and reproductive performance of replacement heifers in Northern Arkansas over a 3 year period. There will be 3 treatments: 1) Control - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing a non-medicated mineral premix; 2) Gainpro - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing mineral premix designed to supply 20 mg Gainpro per heifer daily; 3)Rumensin - supplemental soybean hulls fed at a rate of 2 lbs/heifer daily containing mineral premix designed to supply 150 mg Rumensin per heifer daily.Calves will be housed in 12, 5-acre bermudagrass pastures from June 22, 2014 until October 15, 2014 (or until bermudagrass growth is halted from frost). When grazing of bermudagrass is over heifers will be moved to 12, 5-acre pastures consisting primarily of DurraMax Gold tall fescue, a non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue cultivar. Bermudagrass pastures will be fertilized with 150 lb ammonium nitrate per acre (50 units of actual N) in June and July. Tall fescue pastures will be fertilized in August and allowed to stockpile until grazing. Six heifers will be placed on each pasture. Each pasture will be split into 4 paddocks and rotationally grazed by the heifers assigned to that particular pasture. Residence time on each paddock will be one week.Cattle management. Heifer calves (n=72, average BW = 525 lbs) from the Livestock and Forestry Research Station will be weaned in May and preconditioned, and allocated to 12 groups by BW and will be randomly assigned pastures which will be randomly assigned to the 3 treatments (n = 4 pastures/treatment). Cattle on pasture will be stocked at 6 calves/pasture. Supplements containing the treatment materials will be offered to heifers on pasture until timed synchronized AI breeding on November 20, at which time the heifers will be comingled on a single non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue pasture. Two low-birthweight bulls that have passed a breeding soundness exam will be placed with the heifers 14-d following AI for a 46-day breeding season. One month following AI and removal of bulls, pregnancy rate will be determined via ultrasound in order to determine first service AI and total reproductive rates.Heifers will be weighed full on two consecutive dates at the initiation and termination of the study and at 28-day intervals. Heifers will be weighed (full) and blood collected via jugular venipuncture at weekly intervals, from early October through AI breeding in November. Serum will be analyzed for progesterone, serum urea nitrogen, and NEFA. Date of first estrus is defined as the first day of two consecutive samples with > 1 ng progesterone/ml of serum.Diet digestibility Determination. Fecal samples will be collected from a minimum of 3 heifers in each pasture at every 28-day interim and the final BW collection date. Total tract digestibility will be determined using indigestible NDF as an internal marker.The heifer performance data in this experiment will be analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) as a completely randomized design with the effect of treatment as fixed effect in the model (Lentner and Bishop, 1986). Year will be treated as a random effect in this model. Because each pasture group of heifers will be considered the experimental unit, treatment effects will be tested using pasture (or pen) within treatment by year as the error term. Least squares means will be separated using a t test (Steel and Torrie, 1980). Reproductive and culling rates will be analyzed using Chi-Square analysis.

Progress 10/01/14 to 11/21/18

Outputs
Target Audience:Cow calf producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with beef cattle production systems in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Management strategies for intensive, sustainable beef cattle production on tall fescue and winter annuals." Georgia Forages Conference at the Georgia Cattlemen's Convention. Perry, GA. April 5, 2018. "Benefits and limitations to replacing commercial N with legumes in bermudagrass-based pastures." Georgia Forages Conference at the Georgia Cattlemen's Convention. Perry, GA. April 5, 2018. "Dealing with Poor Forage Production - What happened in 2017 and how to deal with it in 2018" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Winter Meeting. February 22, 2018. Conway, AR. "Managing a Strong Forage Stand" 2017 Four States Agricultural Exposition. Texarkana, AR. February 1, 2018. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Compounds that provide enhancement of the immune system and/or metabolic enhancement have the potential for use in increasing productivity and efficiency of beef cattle operations. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of feeding OmniGen-AF, (OG, Phibro Animal Health Corp., Teaneck, NJ) to mature cows (n = 112) and primiparous heifers (n = 48) from 60-d pre-calving to breeding and to their calves in creep feeds for 90-d pre-weaning through the 42-d pre-conditioning period on calf performance and immune function. Mature cows and heifers at the University of Arkansas Southwest Research & Extension Center were fed OG (4g/100 lbs BW) from 60 d prior projected calving to breeding (December 15, 2015-May 2, 2016) or were fed Control supplements without OG. Calves offered OG at a daily rate of 4g/100 lbs BW in the creep feed and topdressed on the diets fed during preconditioning following weaning or were offered similar diets without OG (CON). A subset of heifer calves in each pasture (n = 3/pasture) were inserted with an intravaginal device containing a temperature data recorder for a 9-d period during September, and core body temperatures (CBT) were recorded every 20 minutes. Diets fed during preconditioning contained (as-fed basis) 40% grass-legume hay, 25% corn, 15% soybean hulls, 15% corn gluten feed, and 5% mineral supplement. Performance data were analyzed by ANOVA using the Mixed procedure of SAS. Immune cell counts, CBT, and serum BVDV titers were analyzed as a repeated measures analysis. Calves supplemented with OG gained more BW (P = 0.03) than CON calves during creep feeding (80.7 kg vs 72.5 kg, respectively), however BW at weaning or at the end of preconditioning did not differ (P ≥ 0.27). A treatment by hour interaction (P < 0.01) for CBT was observed, with OG supplemented heifers tending to have 0.27 °F lower CBT (P ≤ 0.10) at 1400 and 1700 and significantly lower CBT (0.29 °F, P = 0.05) at 1800 than CON heifers. There were no differences in BVDV titers due to treatment (P ≥ 0.51) but basophil percentage was greater in OG than CON at the day of weaning. Providing OG in the creep diet of calves was shown to have a positive influence on BW gain pre-weaning and reduce CBT heat stress, however additional studies are needed to investigate this effect further

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Gadberry, S. and P. Beck. 2018. Graphically communicating hay test results ⿿ a tale of two nutrients. J. Extension 56:4TOT3. Available online. https://www.joe.org/joe/2018august/tt3.php
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Ball, J. J., E. B. Kegley, P. A. Beck, J. K. Apple, D. R. Cox, and J. G. Powell. 2018. Effect of injectable castration regimen on beef bull calves. Prof. Anim. Sci. 34:218-222.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Crook, T. S., P. A. Beck, J. E. Koltes, C. B. Stewart, C. Shelton, M. B. Sims, D. J. McLean, and J. D. Chapman. 2018. Effect of OmniGen-AF on cow performance. J. Anim. Sci. 96 (Suppl 1):53-54 (Abstr.).

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:Cow calf producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with beef cattle production systems in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The results from this project were presented in a presentation at an Arkansas County Extension Agent In-Service Training "Warm-Season Annual Grasses" Forage In-Service Training - North. Fayetteville, AR August 23, 2017 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this project were used to develop Extension presentations at 24 Cooperative Extension Meetings for clientele in Arkansas and surrrounding states. "Warm Season Annuals - Production Potential in SW Arkansas" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Fall Conference and Tour. Fayetteville, AR. November 3, 2017. "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Garland/Hot Springs Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 2, 2017. "Production and Economic Benefits of AI." SE Select Sires SWREC AI Field Day. October 24, 2017. "Production and Economic Benefits of AI." Red Bud Farms Genomics Revolution Field Day, Ben Lommand, AR, October 7, 2017 "Research and Extension Efforts in Beef and Forages at the SWREC" Arkansas Beef Cattle Producer Tour, SWREC tour stop, Hope, AR, April 28, 2017 "Research and Extension Efforts in Beef and Forages at the SWERC" Louisiana Beef Cattle Producer Tour, SWREC tour stop, Hope, AR, April 7, 2017. "Management to Extend Your Grazing Season" SW Arkansas Grazing School, SWREC, Hope, AR, April 7, 2017. "Central Tennessee Cattlemen Beef Production Tour" Livestock and Forestry Research Station, Batesville, AR, April 5, 2017. "Extending Your Grazing Season" Southern States Forage Conference, Texarkana, AR, March 31, 2017. "How to Survive Low Cattle Prices" AR Women in Agriculture. State Convention, Little Rock, March 15, 2017. "Baled silage: Why? How? and What do you have when you are done?" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Spring Conference, Conway, AR, February 23, 2017 "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Benton Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 30, 2017 "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Polk Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 16, 2017 (via Zoom). "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Miller Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 14, 2017. "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Greene Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 9, 2017 (via Zoom). "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Independence Co Winter Feed Meeting. Batesville, AR. November 7, 2017. "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Grant Co Winter Feed Meeting. November 1, 2017 (via Zoom). "Matching Hay Quality to Cow Needs" Nevada Co Winter Feed Meeting. October 31, 2017. "Forage Production for the Profit Minded Producer" Union County Beef Production Meeting. El Dorado, AR August 17, 2017. "Using Best Management Practices for Reducing Winter Feed Requirements in Southern Arkansas" Howard County Beef Production Meeting. Nashville, AR May 18, 2017. "Baled silage: Why? How? and What do you have when you are done?" Miller County Silage Field Day. Texarkana, AR May 12, 2017. "Baled silage: Why? How? and What do you have when you are done?" Polk County Cattle Production Meeting. Mena, AR March 9, 2017. "Heifer Development" Polk County Cattle Production Meeting. Mena, AR March 9, 2017. "Pasture and Cattle Consequences of Overgrazing." North Mississippi Beef Expo October 27, 2017. Batesville, MS What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue work on outlined cow-calf and heifer development projects and initiate the summararization and write up phase of the projects.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1: Compounds that provide enhancement of the immune system and/or metabolic enhancement have the potential for use in increasing productivity and efficiency of beef cattle operations. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of feeding OmniGen-AF, (OG, Phibro Animal Health Corp., Teaneck, NJ) to mature cows (n = 112) and primiparous heifers (n = 48) from 60-d pre-calving to breeding and to their calves in creep feeds for 90-d pre-weaning through the 42-d pre-conditioning period on calf performance and immune function. Mature cows and heifers at the University of Arkansas Southwest Research & Extension Center were fed OG (4g/100 lbs BW) from 60 d prior projected calving to breeding (December 15, 2015-May 2, 2016) or were fed Control supplements without OG. Calves offered OG at a daily rate of 4g/100 lbs BW in the creep feed and topdressed on the diets fed during preconditioning following weaning or were offered similar diets without OG (CON). A subset of heifer calves in each pasture (n = 3/pasture) were inserted with an intravaginal device containing a temperature data recorder for a 9-d period during September, and core body temperatures (CBT) were recorded every 20 minutes. Diets fed during preconditioning contained (as-fed basis) 40% grass-legume hay, 25% corn, 15% soybean hulls, 15% corn gluten feed, and 5% mineral supplement. Performance data were analyzed by ANOVA using the Mixed procedure of SAS. Immune cell counts, CBT, and serum BVDV titers were analyzed as a repeated measures analysis. Calves supplemented with OG gained more BW (P = 0.03) than CON calves during creep feeding (80.7 kg vs 72.5 kg, respectively), however BW at weaning or at the end of preconditioning did not differ (P ≥ 0.27). A treatment by hour interaction (P < 0.01) for CBT was observed, with OG supplemented heifers tending to have 0.27 °F lower CBT (P ≤ 0.10) at 1400 and 1700 and significantly lower CBT (0.29 °F, P = 0.05) at 1800 than CON heifers. There were no differences in BVDV titers due to treatment (P ≥ 0.51) but basophil percentage was greater in OG than CON at the day of weaning. Providing OG in the creep diet of calves was shown to have a positive influence on BW gain pre-weaning and reduce CBT heat stress, however additional studies are needed to investigate this effect further

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. A., C. B. Stewart, J. A. Jennings, and M. S. Sims. 2017. Effect of interseeding white, red or subterranean clovers into warm-season grass swards in either strips or solid stands on performance of grazing heifers. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Management 3: 1-6. doi:10.2134/cftm2016.08.0056
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Scaglia, G., P. Beck, D. Lalman, and F. M. Rouquette. 2017. INVITED REVIEW: Issues affecting research and extension programs on cow-calf production in the Southeast region. Prof. Anim. Sci. 33:310-319.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. A., M. S. Gadberry, S. A. Gunter, and J. A. Jennings. 2017. INVITED REVIEW: Matching forage systems with cow size and environment for sustainable cow-calf production in the southern region of the USA. Prof. Anim. Sci. 33:289-296
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Beck, P. 2017. Pasture and Cattle Consequences of Overgrazing. North Mississippi Beef Expo October 27, 2017. Biloxi, MS
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Crook, T. S., P. A. Beck, J.E Koltes, C. B. Stewart, C. Shelton, M. B. Sims, D. J. McLean2, and J. D. Chapman. 2017. Effect of OmniGen-AF on calf performance and immunity. In F. T. McCollum (ed) Proc. Plains Nutrition Council Spring Conference. San Antonio, TX. April 13-14, 2017
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Crook, T. S., P. A. Beck, J. E. Koltes, C. B. Stewart, C. Shelton, M. B. Sims, D. J. McLean2, and J. D. Chapman. 2017. Effect of OmniGen-AF on the pre-weaning performance of beef calves. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl.4):42 (Abstr.). doi:10.2527/asasann.2017.084

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:Cow calf producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with beef cattle production systems in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?This project afforded the following 6 in-service training events for professional development of Cooperative Extension Ag Agents "Sampling and analyzing hay and forages" New Agent In-Service Training, Batesville, AR, May 12, 2016. "SWREC Forages Tour" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. "Bermudagrass Variety Trial Results" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. "Extending the Grazing Seasons with Improved Forage Management" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. "Production and Management of Calves Grazing Cool-Season Annual Pastures" Forage In-Service Training, Fayetteville AR November 10, 2015. "Extending the Grazing Seasons with Improved Forage Management" Forage In-Service Training, Hope AR. March 2, 2016. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this project were used to develop extension presentations at 9 multiple county Extension meetings and 9 single county extension meetings to clientele in Arkansas and surrounding region. "Winter Cow Nutrition" Four States Cattle Conference, Texarkana, TX December 13, 2016. "The Roles of Minerals in Beef Cattle Production" Ouachita District Workshop: Recent Advances in Mineral Nutrition for Beef Cattle, UA SWREC, November 16, 2016. "Managing a Diverse Grazing Program using a Systematic Forages Program at the Simon Farm" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Forages Tour, Conway, AR October 28, 2016 (Presented two times). "Managing Mixtures of Tall Fescue and Bermudagrass at the Ebsen Farm" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Forages Tour, El Paso, AR October 28, 2016 (Presented two times). "So you want fall and winter pasture? When and How to Make It Happen" Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council Conference, El Paso, AR, October 28, 2016. Matching Hay Quality to the Nutrient Requirements of the Cowherd. SEREC Field Day, Monticello, AR, October 27, 2016. "Producing Hay vs Round Bale Silage." Ouachita District Grazing School. Nashville, AR. April 5, 2016. "2016 Beef Cattle Market Outlook" Hay Production Field Day, Guthrie, OK. April 2, 2016. "300-days of Grazing an Arkansas Perspective" Red River Roundup. Overbrook, OK. January 25, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Pope County Winter Feed Meeting, Russellville, AR November 28, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Ouachita County Winter Feed Meeting, Camden, AR, November 17, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Nevada County Winter Feed Meeting, Prescott, AR, November 15, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Scott County Winter Feed Meeting, Waldron, AR, October 25, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Little River County Winter Feed Meeting, Ashdown, AR, October 18, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Hot Springs County Winter Feed Meeting, Malvern, AR, October 17, 2016. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Drew County Winter Feed Meeting, Monticello, AR, October 5, 2016. "2016 Cattle Market Update." Drew Co. Cattlemen's Assoc. Monticello, AR. April 21, 2016. "Using Genetic Tools for Bull Selection" Hot Springs Co. Cattlemen's Assoc. Malvern, AR. January 26, 2016. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue working on the outlined cow-calf and heifer development projects and initiate the summary and write up phase of the projects

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? 1. Using spring calving cow-calf production systems that incorporate the best management practices of rotational grazing, stockpiling bermudagrass for late fall and early winter grazing and incorporation of complementary cool season annual forages, the feeding days of stored forages (hay and silage) was reduced from 106 days per year for the lower management systemto 15 days per year at a moderate stocking rate of 2 acres per cow. Whenstocking rates of cows were doubled to 1 acre per cow in addition to the best management practices outlined,hay was only fed 37 days per year.Net returns were increased by $20 per acre using the best management practices at the moderate stocking rate and increased to $240 per acre using the best management practices at the higher stocking rate. 2. Incorporating growth promoting technologies such as the antimicrobials monensin or bambermycins increased average daily gains of growing replacement heifers by 0.13 lbs/dayand bodyweight at breeding by 48 pounds per day. Reproductive tract scores, pre-breeding cycling activity, AI pregnancy percentage and total pregnancy rates were not affected by inclusion of growth promoting antimicrobials.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. A., C. B. Stewart, M. Sims, M. S. Gadberry, and J. A. Jennings. 2016. Effect of stocking rate, forage management, and grazing management on performance and economics of cow-calf production in Southwest Arkansas USA. J. Anim. Sci. 94:3996-4005. doi: 10.2527/jas.2016-0634
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. A., W. Galyen, D. Galloway, E. B. Kegley, R. Rorie, D. Hubbell, J. Tucker, T. Hess, M. Cravey, J. Hill, and C. Nichols. 2016. Effect of supplementation of developing heifers with monensin or bambermycin on gain and pregnancy rates. Prof. Anim. Sci. 32:619-626. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15232/pas.2016-01525
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P. A., C. B. Stewart, M. S. Gadberry, M. Haque, and J. Biermacher. 2016. Effect of mature bodyweight and stocking rate on cow and calf performance, cowherd efficiency, and economics in the Southeastern USA. J. Anim. Sci. 94:1689-1702. doi: 10.2527/jas.2015-0049
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., S. Gadberry, S. Gunter, and J. Jennings. 2016. INVITED: Incorporating Grazing and Forage Management Strategies for Sustainable Cow-Calf production in the Gulf Coastal Plains and Southern Plains of the US. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (Suppl. 1):62 (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 20106 Citation: Scaglia, G., P. Beck, D. Lalman, and M. Rouquette. 2016. INVITED: Issues affecting research and extension programs on cow-calf production in the SE region. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (Suppl. 1):60 (Abstr.)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., M. Sims, C. B. Stewart, and J. Jennings. 2016. Effects of stocking rate, forage management, and grazing management on performance and economics of cow-calf production in Southwest Arkansas. J. Anim. Sci. 94 (Suppl. 1):26 (Abstr.)
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Beck, P., B. Stewart, M. Sims, S. Gadberry, and J. Jennings. 2016. Using 300-days of grazing principles to reduce hay requirements in Southwest Arkansas. Arkansas Animal Science Research Series 638: 13-14

Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:Cow calf producers in the Southeastern United States, fellow scientists working with beef cattle production systems in the SE United States and Southern Plains, and Cooperative Extension personnel in Arkansas and SE US. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Livestock and Forestry Resarch Station Field Day, Batesville AR April 21, 2015 Four States Cattle Conference Texarkana AR December 8, 2015 In Service Training "300-Days of Grazing Research Results" Forage In-Service Training, Fayetteville AR November 10, 2015 "Forage and Feed Testing for Producer Ration Balancing" Livestock Nutrition In-Service - South. Hope AR February 12, 2015 "Feeding Heifers for Breeding" Livestock Nutrition In-Service - South. Hope AR February 12, 2015 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Montgomery County, Mt. Ida, AR November 23, 2015. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Clark County, Arkadelphia AR November 3, 2015. "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Ouachita County, Camden AR October 29, 20015 "Matching Hay to Beef Cattle Needs" Polk County, Mena AR, October 28, 2015. "Hay Quality" Hempstead County Hay Show, Hope AR September 9, 2015. "Using EPD's for Bull Selection" Polk County Cattlemen's Assoc. Mena, AR January 20, 2015. "Using Growth Promoting Technologies for Developing Replacement Heifers" Livestock and Forestry Research Station Field Day, Batesville, AR, April 21, 2015. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Research described herein will be replicated to further illucidate impacts of these management factors on animal productivity and forage persistence and productivity. Results of above described research will be presented at the Four States Cattle Conference (a multistate Cooperative Extention effort involving Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana), and will be presented to county Extension agents in Arkansas in various In-Service trainings. Research results will be presented at the American Society of Animal Science Southern Section meeting and the Joint Annual Meeting of ADSA and ASAS.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1. The objectives of this research was to determine the impacts of grazing management practices, including rotational grazing, stockpiling bermudagrass, and cool-season annual grasses on productivity and economics of spring calving cows (n = 72/yr, BW = 547 ± 33.2 kg) grazing bermudagrass pastures (n = 9, 4.7 ha). Treatments included: CG - low intensity management with continuous grazing at a moderate stocking rate (SR, 0.8 ha/cow); MR - intensive management at moderate SR (0.8 ha/cow); HR - intensive management with high stocking rates (0.4 ha/cow). Stockpiling in MR and HR was managed by fertilization of 0.2 ha/cow of bermudagrass in early August with 168 kg ammonium nitrate and deferring grazing until November. Wheat (112 kg/ha) and annual ryegrass (28 kg/ha) were established (0.2 ha/cow) in HR and MR by interseeding with a no-till drill in the fall. Cow and calf performance and economics data were analyzed by ANOVA using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) and pregnancy percentage was analyzed using GLIMMIX, pasture was the experimental unit and year the random block. Hay feeding days decreased (P < 0.01) from 106 ± 10.9 d for CG to 37 ± 10.9 d for HR which was further reduced (P = 0.01) to 15 ± 10.9 d for MR. Pregnancy percentage tended (P = 0.08) to be greater for HR (88 ± 3.5%) than MR (80 ± 4.6%) and CG (78 ± 4.7%) which did not differ (P = 0.74). Weaning weights in CG (238 ± 7.4 kg) tended (P = 0.09) to be greater than MR (228 ± 7.4 kg) and were greater (P < 0.01) than HR (220 ± 6.8 kg). However, total weaning weight per hectare was 89% greater (P < 0.01) for HR compared with CG and MR, which did not differ (P = 0.31). With rotational stocking there was the opportunity to harvest excess forage as hay in both MR and HR with a net value of $52.90/ha and $15.50/ha ± 6.99, respectively. Net returns per hectare did not differ (P = 0.39) between CG ($536 ± 65.82/ha) and MR (641.70 ± 65.82/ha), but were increased (P < 0.01) by 107% by HR ($1,221.29 ± 65.82/ha). Using rotational grazing, stockpiled bermudagrass, and complementary cool-season annual grasses can drastically reduce winter feed requirements and simultaneously increase carrying capacity and net return. Goal 2. Spring calving (Block 1; n = 70 heifers; BW 208 ± 21.7 kg; age 231 ± 17.0 d) and fall calving (Block 2; n = 72 heifers; BW 225 ± 31.7 kg; age 276 ± 12.8 d) heifers were used to test the effects of feeding 20 mg of bambermycin (Gainpro; Huvepharma; Sofia, Bulgaria) or 150 mg of monensin (Rumensin; Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN) in 0.91 kg/d corn gluten feed based supplements compared with non-medicated (Control) supplements on growth performance and development of grazing heifers. Heifers were allocated by breed, BW, and age to pasture groups (n = 5/group for Block 1 and n = 6/group for Block 2). Pasture groups were then randomly assigned to treatment (Control n = 4 pastures in Blocks 1 and 2; bambermycin and monensin n = 5 pastures in Block 1 and n = 4 pastures in Block 2). Block 1 began on 29 October 2013 and lasted 189-d, and Block 2 began on 24 June 2014 and lasted for 161-d. Heifers were weighed full on 2 consecutive days at beginning and end of each block. Reproductive tract scores (1 to 5 score) were assessed before breeding using ultrasound in Block 1 and rectal palpation in Block 2. In Block 1, heifers grazed non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue pastures, while in Block 2 heifers grazed bermudagrass pastures until 14 October and then grazed non-toxic endophyte infected tall fescue pastures. Heifers were AI bred over 10-d, and natural service bulls were placed with heifers 14-d following final AI date. Data were analyzed as a randomized complete block design using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) least squares means were separated using contrasts: Control vs. Medicated and bambermycin vs. monensin. Ending BW and ADG of Control (323 ± 4.8 kg and 0.68 ± 0.0167 kg/d) was less (P ≤ 0.04) than medicated, yet monensin (346 ± 4.6 kg and 0.73 ± 0.0163 kg/d) and bambermycin (344 ± 4.6 kg and 0.74 ± 0.0163 kg/d) did not differ (P ≥ 0.69). Reproductive tract scores (3.5 ± 0.60), AI pregnancy rates (30 ± 12.3%) and total pregnancy rates (82 ± 11.5%, respectively) did not differ (P ≥ 0.36) among treatments. This experiment indicates that both bambermycin and monensin effectively increase performance of growing heifers, but did not affect reproduction.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2015 Citation: Beck, P., J. Tucker, W. Galyen, S. Gadberry, D. Hubbell, T. Hess, D. Galloway, M. Sims, B. Kegley, and M. Cravey. 2015. Effect of supplementing heifers on pasture with bambermycin or monensin on growth and development. J. Anim. Sci. 93 (E-Suppl. 2):837.