Source: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA submitted to NRP
SUMMER ANNUAL FORAGE FINISHED BEEF SYSTEMS IN THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1009369
Grant No.
2016-68008-25145
Cumulative Award Amt.
$199,836.00
Proposal No.
2015-09167
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Apr 1, 2016
Project End Date
Mar 31, 2019
Grant Year
2016
Program Code
[A1701]- Critical Agricultural Research and Extension: CARE
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
200 D.W. BROOKS DR
ATHENS,GA 30602-5016
Performing Department
ANIMAL AND DAIRY SCIENCE
Non Technical Summary
This integrated research and extension proposal addresses the AFRI Critical Agricultural Research and Extension (CARE) Program - A1701. Specifically this proposal will address: 1) Local and global food supply and security; 3) Sustainable use of natural resources; and 7) Rural-urban interdependence and prosperity. Forage finished beef is a niche, but growing, market category that is typically produced and sold on a local basis. One of the major issues facing the sustainability and security of both producers and consumers is the ability to produce a quality and consistent forage finished beef product year round. This can be influenced by many variables including lower quality summer perennial forages that do not maximize animal growth, efficiency, and therefore quality; and variable weather in the southern United States including long periods high temperatures and drought potential that impacts forage/feed resource production. The use of forages in finishing beef cattle is a primary method to maximize the sustainable use of natural resources. Furthermore, most consumers of forage-finished beef are in urban areas, creating interdependence on rural resources and producer prosperity. At times of adverse weather conditions (long periods of high temperatures, short or prolonged draught), or changes in live animal value based on market signals it may be required to provide finishing beef cattle with supplemental energy in addition to the forbes available or when they become limiting. Supplementation with grains or rations that contain concentrates is contrary to ideals of forage finished beef. However, cattle have the ability to utilize fiberous feedstuffs for energy. Further increasing the sustainablity of the system there are numerous agricultural co-products from the milling, refining, and oil industries, such as soy hulls, that are available to southern producers at an economical point.This proposal will investigate the use of two summer annual forage (pearl millet and brown mid-rib pearl millet) based beef finishing systems with and without fiber supplementation at 0.75% of live body weight to maximize efficiency, growth, and quality. The chosen forages have been shown to be higher in nutritive value than common perennial forages, withstand grazing pressures, and are heat and drought tolerant. Forage based finishing cattle will be on trial for 84-100 days, until forage becomes too limiting. During the finishing period the forages will be analyzed for their growth, mass, and quality. The growth, efficiency, and composition of the steers will also be tracked as these traits impact total system value. After finishing, cattle will be harvested and their carcasses will be measured for traits that relate yield, quality, and value. Additionally, one strip loin from each carcass will be collected and analyzed for tenderness, eating quality, compositional analysis, and shelf life. This information will produce unbiased short- and medium-range outcomes and decision aids that will be readily transferable to stakeholders producing for this market that will impact sustainability and economic viability. Information gained from this project will also help establish the impact of the selected forages for finishing beef systems on end user eating quality, nutritional value, and stability.
Animal Health Component
70%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
70%
Developmental
20%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
3073399310034%
2041630101033%
3073320310033%
Knowledge Area
204 - Plant Product Quality and Utility (Preharvest); 307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3320 - Meat, beef cattle; 1630 - Summer annual grasses; 3399 - Beef cattle, general/other;

Field Of Science
1010 - Nutrition and metabolism; 3100 - Management;
Goals / Objectives
To our knowledge, little information exists in the literature that can provide producers with decision making tools regarding finishing beef on warm season forages, and warm season annual forages in particular, for them to maximize gains, efficiency, and quality of summer forage finished beef. Therefore, the proposed project will be research-led while incorporating extension and outreach throughout and beyond the study. Applied, producer oriented research is critical when the intended results are to aid beef producers' decision making acuity that can have an economical impact on their livelihood; however, it is critical that the information generated also be readily available and deliverable to the population at large. We hypothesize, that through the establishment of annual warm season forages, producers desiring to produce forage finished beef year round will be able to do so while maintaining gains, efficiency, yield, and quality that are typically recognized with cool season forages. Furthermore, the ability of forage finished beef producers to maintain efficiency and quality throughout the entire year will increase the sustainability of forage finished beef production by maximizing the grazing lands potential while minimizing the environmental impact of finishing beef. This project will also improve both the economic security of small cattle producers and the food security of individuals and food systems relying on forage finished beef by decreasing the time required for cattle to finish (less inputs to cattle and land while maximizing efficiency and gains) and by improving the yield and quality of the resulting beef. Therefore, our overall goal and specific objectives are as follows:Short- to Medium-term Goal: Identify suitable summer annual forages systems to be used for forage finished beef during the summer months in the southern United States that will be quickly applied by producers to improve efficiency, quality, sustainability, and economic viability.Long Term Goal: Improve the long-term sustainability and security of the forage finished beef system by producer implementation of summer annual forages. Additionally, train current and future scientists and extension personnel in research and extension design and methodology related to sustainable forage finished beef production.Specific Objectives:1) Evaluate pearl millet and brown mid-rib pearl millet for their yield, growth rate, and nutritive quality for use in forage-based beef finishing systems.2) Determine the effects of pearl millet and brown mid-rib pearl millet with and without fiber supplementation (soy hulls) at 0.75% BW on animal growth rate, composition, and efficiency.3) Identify the optimal forage-based beef finishing system from the four tested to maximize beef yield, quality, and valuation based on producer target goals (forage only or forage-based).4) Extend knowledge gained in outreach and educational programs on utilizing summer annuals and soy hull supplementation in forage-based beef finishing systems.5) Train undergraduate and graduate students entering production agriculture extension and research fields in knowledge based research and extension practices related to sustainable agricultural production of forage finished beef.
Project Methods
Research Activities in Brief The proposed study will begin in April 2016 and conclude March 2019. In brief, each year sixteen 0.80-ha pastures will be blocked by previous land management strategy and established with either pearl millet or brown mid-rib pearl millet. Additionally, within forage type pastures will be randomly assigned to with or without fiber supplementation at 0.75% BW (n = 4). Prior to planting, pastures will be mowed and sprayed with glyphosate to kill previously established forage, and the recommended lime, N, P, and K adjustments will be applied based on soil tests (Agricultural and Environmental Services Laboratories; Athens, GA). From a contemporary group of 80-100 previously stockered Angus cross steers, 32 steers nearest to the population average will be selected and stratified by weight, paired, and randomly assigned to one of the 16 treatment pastures. The steers will be rotated between two paddocks in their respective pasture until forage becomes limiting (estimated 84 -100 days). The remaining steers from the original population will be utilized as put and take steers throughout the growing season to maintain grazing pressure optimal for individual forage species regrowth. Each year, all of the following analyses will occur before the subsequent years activities begin.Live Animal and Forage Management Steers will be vaccinated according to standard animal production GMP protocols and will be given a topical anthelmintic for control of internal parasites according to label directions. Additionally, steers will be provided with an insecticide ear tag for fly control. All steers will be provided with fresh water, shade, and mineral supplementation for the duration of the study. Treatment pastures will be separated into two equal paddocks and will be rotationally grazed. Forage availability will be assessed daily for each pasture and steers will be rotated when forage availability in their current paddock becomes limiting. The two tester steers will be maintained in the same pasture for the duration of the study and the put and take steers will be placed or removed as necessary. On d 0 and approximately every 28 d thereafter steers will be individually weighed and scanned via ultrasound for compositional growth analysis. Available forage mass will be estimated every 14-d by clipping forage within three - 0.42 m2 areas to a height of 2.54 cm using hand-clippers. Additional hand grabbed samples will be taken to determine forage nutritive value. Nutritive value samples will be analyzed at the University of Georgia Feed and Environmental Water Laboratory (Athens, GA) using Near Infrared Spectroscopy .Animal Slaughter, Carcass Characteristics, and Sample Collection When forage availability becomes limiting (estimated 80-100 d) the tester steers will be transported (73 km) to the University of Georgia Meat Science Technology Center (Athens, GA). Steers will be held in lairage for approximately 16 h without feed, but will have ad libitum access to fresh water. Steers will be weighed for shrunk BW and calculation of dressing percent before being slaughtered under Federal inspection. Immediately following slaughter HCW will be collected and carcasses will be chilled for 24 h (-2°C). Twenty-four hours postmortem the right side (same side as ultrasound data collection) of each carcass will be ribbed between the 12-13th rib juncture and allowed to bloom for 30 min. After blooming, data will be collected to calculate carcass yield grade and quality grade (USDA, 1997). Additionally, subjective lean and fat color scores will be measured on the exposed LM surface and just anterior and posterior to the 12-13th rib split, respectively. Objective lean and fat color scores for L*, a*, and b* will also be collected at the same locations as subjective color using a Hunter-Lab MiniScan EZ with a 2.54 cm port at illuminate A, with a 10° view angle. Prior to use the colorimeter will be calibrated to white and black standard tiles. Following carcass data collection, the boneless longissimus lumborum (LL) will be removed from the right side of each carcass, labeled, vacuum packaged (B-series; 30-50 mL O2/m2 per 24 h; 101325 Pa; 23°C; Cryovac, Duncan, SC), boxed, and placed in dark cold storage (0±1°C) until 21 d postmortem. After postmortem aging the LL will be removed from packaging and will be fabricated into steaks (2.54 cm thick) anterior to posterior until the LL and gluteus medius juncture. The first anterior steak will be designated for proximate and fatty acid analysis, while the second and third steaks will be designated for Warner-Bratzler shear and trained sensory panel analysis, respectively. These steaks will immediately be vacuum packaged and placed in frozen storage (-20°C) for further analysis. The remaining steaks will be randomly assigned to 0, 1, 3, 5, or 7 d of simulated retail display for shelf life analysis.Assessment of Research Plan and Overall ProjectThe research team will assess project progress and evaluation utilizing several metrics. We will meet with out advisory team at least once per year before the current years activities are to begin. At this meeting the research plan and previous years data will be presented and discussed to gain the advisors input and make changes to the overall or specific parts of the total project as needed. The project team will also be in contact with various members of the adivsory board as a group or individual basis multiple times throughout each year. Assessment will also be based on sucsessful data collection and analysis prior to the following years activities. Completing data collection and analysis by the timeline given will also allow the research team to present timely information to various producer groups, extension personnel, and other scientific bodies.Assessment of Extension Program Impact The programmatic cycle is only complete when the effectiveness of the program is assessed. We propose a two-fold approach to evaluating this program's impact. First, we anticipate using a web-based survey/evaluation (www.surveymonkey.com), which allows for a quick and convenient follow-up. This survey tool will be sent to all registered participants within 3 months of the conclusion of the project's end date. For those registrants who do not provide an email address or fail to respond to the request for their participation (within 3 wk of initially receiving the emailed request), a survey will be mailed to the participants with a self-addressed stamped envelope and a letter encouraging them to respond. Since UGA CAES maintains a subscription to the web-based service and provides postage for program evaluation surveys, the expense of the survey to this program will be negligible. We have successfully used web-based surveys for program evaluations in the past (Hancock, 2012), especially when a personal relationship has been developed with the producers via on-farm visits/consultations. The information generated by the aforementioned methodologies will provide information and outcomes that will be readily transferable to producers and allow producer adoption without delay. There are already members of our Advisory Board that are interested in implementing these production systems and marketing product from forage finished beef produced off summer annual pastures.

Progress 04/01/16 to 03/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audiance for the project was centrally focused on beef cattle producers in the southeastern US and others within the US that can utilize warm-season annual forages. Although the main efforts of this project were to generate and disseminate information for forage-based producers that are finishing or wanting to finishing beef on forages the team also targeted producers within the entire beef produciton system to demonstrate how warm-season annual forages could be utilized for cow-calf, stocker, replacement development, drought periods, and potentially incorperated into more grain-based finishing systems, such as grain on grass. The second targeted group included other scientists, extension specialists, and extension personnel at the lower or county level. By targeting the second group our project results could be disseminated across a wider group of producers and educators that did not have direct access to the information and programs that were directly hosted as a part of the current project. Finally, the project targeted students at the graduate and undergraduate level. Both graduate and undergraduate students received first hand experience by working directly with the project in research and extension roles, but we also targeted other students in animal sciences and plant sciences by utilizing the results generated to discuss and teach about the use of warm-season annuals in beef grazing systems. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As described above there were numerous opportunities for training related to the current project. Graduate and undergraduate students gained training and experience in research design, implementation, and execution. These students also gained valuable experience in laboratory assay development, application, and data analysis. Training opportunities were also provided to regional and county extension personnel through annual seminars and trainings. Producers were able to gain training through increased knowledge obtained by attending the various workshops and seminars that were provided at multiple levels of outreach. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results from the current project have been disseminated in a variety of methods. Results over the course of the past 3 years have been presented at numerous regional and national scientific meetings, including sections that target extension specialist professionals including the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Scientists (Southern Section) and the American Meat Science Associations Reciprocal Meats Conference. Continuing and final results have been and will continue to be presented to various producer group organizations at the local, state, and regional levels. To date these programs have reached over 3000 producer and extension professional associates to add knowledge and influence change in production practices. The results and outputs from the current project have also been used extensively by local extension agents in trainings and on-farm meetings. In addition to the presentations and programatic outreach, numerous abstracts and lay publications have been generated providing results and updates that are accessable to producers and scientists covering land preperation, warm-season forage planning, seedbed preperation, forage yield and quality control of warm-season annuals, animal production, and meat quality implications. To date, one peer reviewed manuscript has been published, 2 other manuscripts are in the late stages of preperation and should be submitted by fall 2019 and 2-3 additional manuscripts in preperation for submission in late 2019 or early 2020. The information generated from this project has also provided invaluable resources to graduate and undergraduate students. Both graduate and undergraduate students gained experience in warm-season annual production and control, experimental design, data collection, beef production, meat production, forage production, data analysis, lay and scientific writing, and lay and scientific presentation. Additional students gained from the current project by incorperation of the data and results into formal courses including Beef Production, Grazing Management, Meat Science, and Advanced Meat Science. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Under the specific objectives 1, 2, and 3 we found that pearl millet is a viable forage to utilize as a grazing forage and as balage for both finishing cattle and throughout the beef production system. Pearl millet was also able to withstand drought conditions with minimal irrigation intervention. As a grazing forage there were minimial differences between regular pearl millet and BMR pearl millet for forage yield, quality, or animal production attributes. This is laregely believed to be due to the grazing habits of beef cattle vs utilizing BMR pearl millet in a traditional silage or balage fashion. In the later, the steers would primarily focus on consumption of the foliage and new growth due to the management of the forage and cattle. Therefore, the BMR traits of increased digestibility did not play a large roll in overal nutrient availability. Whereas, in a balage or silage product the whole plant is chopped and packed or baled and as a result, the animal would consume a much larger fraction of the stem and shoot content, taking advantage of the BMR trait. There were no difference for animal performance, growth, or meat characteristics that were attributable to forage variety type. Soybean hull supplementation however did have impacts. Soybean hull supplementation improved BW, ADG, and carrying capacity of the land when compared to forage alone. Soybean hull supplementation also improved hot carcass weight. However, soybean hull supplementation did not impact carcass quality, yield, shelf life, or sensory characteristics when compared to steers that were provided pasture only. Ultimately, pearl millet is a favorable warm-season annual forage that is well suited for short-term beef forage finishing systems, especially when compared to other warm-season summer annuals. Pearl millet is also a good source of stored forage in the form of balage for carry over or in times of reduced forage production (drought conditions). Soybean hull supplementation further improved the carrying capacity, stocking density, and performance of steers consuming forage based diets. Objective 4 was achieved by designing outreach programs focused on forage based been production with an emphasis on warm-season annuals including: Grazing School, Advanced Grazing School, Silage and Balage Field Days, and on farm field days and demonstrations on forage finished beef. Data was also desiminated to producers and extension personnel via local and state meetings, the Georgia Beef Cattle Short Courses, Deep South Stocker Conference, the Georgia Cattlemen's Annual Conference, and the Georgia Forages and Grasslands Annual Meeting. Results were also presented to other scientists and extension specialsts with a focus on the Southern US at regional and national meetings including the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Scientists - Southern Section, the American Meat Science Association Reciprocal Meats Conference, the American Grasslands Council and others. Objective 5 was achieved by training undergraduate and graduate students on principles involved with forage based beef production. Three graduate students received direct training (degree credit) by working with the current project in crops and soils (agronomy) and animal sciences. Seven additional graduate students received training in forage-based beef production by assisting with the project including land preperation and testing, planting, forage management, cattle management, rotational grazing systems, digestion kenetics, experimental design and analysis, and meat science. Numerous undergradatue students also obtained training in the aforementioned principles. Additional students were reached and educated on forage based beef production by including the principles and results obtained from the current project in both graduate and undergraduate course work.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fenster, McKee, Stewart, Hancock, Harmon, and Stelzleni. Evaluation of warm-season annual grasses for southeastern forage-finished beef systems. University of Georgia CAES Undergraduate Research Symposium. April 16, Athens GA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon and Hancock. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. Proceedings of the American Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Conference. Baton Rouge LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Stelzleni, Teutsch, and Segers. Evaluation of warm season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle production. Proceedings of the American Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Conference. Baton Rouge LA.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, and Stelzleni. Evaluation of warm season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle production systems. Proceedings of the American Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Conference. January 22-24. Roanoke VA
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Stelzleni, and Teutsch. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef production systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. November 2-6. Phoenix AZ.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Storing carbon and building soil organic matter through grazing management. Grassfed Exchange Conference. April 28-29. Perry GA. 122 in attendance.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Managing forages to meet beef cattle nutritional needs. Cattlemen's College at the National Cattlemen's Beef Associations Annual Conference. Nashville TN. February 1.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Maximizing warm season annual forage production. Deep South Stocker Conference. August 4. Carrollton GA. 78 in attendance.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Summer annual forage management for pasture-based dairies. University of Florida Corn Silage Field Day. May 24 Citra FL
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Renovation of old pastures: Tools in the toolbox. North Carolina State University Extension Agent and Forage Livestock Training Days. August 2. Raleigh NC. 34 in attendance.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Warm season annual forages: Current research and recommendations. Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 18.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Utilizing annuals and perennials with and without legumes. Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 19
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stockpiling bermudagrass. Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 19.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Summer annual forages for beef cattle. Blackstone Forage and Livestock Field Day. July 28.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Variety selection of warm-season annual forages. Blackstone Forage and Livestock Field Day. July 28.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Filling the grazing gap with warm-season annual forages. South Georgia Beef Cattle Short Course. March 1.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Managing high yield forages. RW Griffin Industries Agronomist Training Series. February 2. Tifton GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Forage management in pastures and hayfields. ChemNut Inc Agronomy Training. March 24. Tifton GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Grass-finished beef project. Georgia Farm Bureau Tour. June 16. Eatonton GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Regenerative agriculture using pasture-based livestock systems. UGA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative Seminar. August 29. Athens GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: The better grazing project: Improving soil health on pasture-based livestock farms in the Southeastern US. Georgia Farm Bureau Beef Commodity Committee. Jekyll Island GA. December 5.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Regenerative agriculture using pasture-based livestock systems. UGA Sustainability Symposium. December 6. Athens GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Using winter and summer annuals to ease seasonal transitions. Georgia Grazing School. September 21.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Warm-season annual forages in beef production systems. Georgia Farm Bureau Tour. June 15.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Selecting warm-season annual forage varieties. Georgia Forage Conference. March 30.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Warm-season annual forages for finishing beef cattle: Forage and animal production. Georgia Forage Conference. March 30.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Warm-season annuals for southern beef production: Round table discussion. Georgia Cattlemen's Annual Conference. Perry GA. March 31.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Forage finished beef in the Southeastern US. Georgia Forages Conference. Perry GA. March 30.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Pasture and hayfield management research update. Upson County, March 12; Worth County, March 12; Habersham County, March 28; Greene County, May 9; Appling County, March 16; Putnam County, June 9; Brantley County, June 16; Madison County, August 15; and Tattnall County, September 15.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Grass-finished beef research update. Lee County. July 12.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pasture and hayfield management research update. Meriweather County. January 10.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Pasture and hayfield management research update. Wayne County. April 18.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Master Cattlemen's - Forage Management. Bulloch County. February 2.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Master Cattlemen's - Forage Management. Houston County. January 17.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Stelzleni, Segers, and Teutsch. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef production systems. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, Bass, Lorenzo, Teutsch, Segers, Stelzleni, Stewart, and Hancock. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages on forage production and stocking rate. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):291
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock. Managing the ryegrass transition. Hay and Forage Grower, 31(4):30-31.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock. Sugarcane aphids threaten sorghum. Progressive Forage Grower, 17(7):38-39.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon and Hancock. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. Progressive Forage Grower, 17(3):36-39.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Oconee Beef Lunch-n-Learn. Watkinsville GA. February 11. 12 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Supplementation options and limitations. Georgia Grazing School. Lyons GA. September 18. 48 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Understanding beef cattle nutrition. Master Cattlemen's Program. Dalton, GA. October 9. 45 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Nutritional strategies for when forage is limited. Better Grazing Field Day. Bowman, GA. September 26. 67 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Late winter feed strategies for brood cows. Northeast Georgia Beef Cattle Short Course. Athens GA. February 13.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Balancing rations utilizing hay samples. Georgia Hay and Baleage School. Monroe GA. March 21. 51 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Planning for Winter. Lincoln County Cattlemen's Association. Lincolnton, GA. October 30. 25 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Forage-based Nutrition for Beef Cows. UGA Cattlemen's Association. Athens GA. February 28. 28 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Summer annual forages for beef cattle production systems. 2018 Advanced Grazing School. Reidsville GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Planning for Late Winter. Franklin County Cattlemen's Association. Carnesville GA. January 14. 67 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Forage-based Nutrition for beef Cows. Johnson County Cattlemen's Association. Wrightsville GA. March 28. 82 in attendance
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Managing pearl millet. Georgia Cattlemen's Magazine. June 2019.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Warm-season annual grasses. Extension publication in preparation.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Forage systems for stocker cattle: Warm-season species. Advanced Grazing School. Athens GA. July 16.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Grassfed livestock production. Advanced Grazing School. Athens GA. July 16.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Data Review: Animal performance on summer annual forages. Advanced Grazing School. Athens GA. July 16.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Mckee, Harmon, Hancock, Rigdon, Sims, Stewart, Thomas, and Stelzleni. Grazing evaluation of pearl millet with and without soybean hull supplementation in a forage-finished beef production system. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Scientists-Southern Section. January 28. Oklahoma City OK.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Animal performance on Warm-season annual forages. Advanced Grazing School. Lyons GA. September 18.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Mckee, Harmon, Hancock, Rigdon, Sims, Stewart, Thomas, and Stelzleni. Evaluation of pearl millet with and without soybean hull supplementation in a forage-finished beef production system. American Meat Science Association Reciprocal Meat Conference. Fort Collins CO. June 24.
  • Type: Other Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2019 Citation: Forage production of and animal performance on pearl millet with and without soybean hull supplementation in central Georgia. Advanced Grazing School. Athens GA. July 17.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Lacey, Mckee, Hale, Thomas, Ford, Segers, Teutsch, and Stelzleni. 2019. Warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef systems: 1. Forage yield and quality. TAS. 3(2):911-926. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txz075
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Lacey, Mckee, Hale, Thomas, Ford, Segers, Teutsch, and Stelzleni. 2019. Warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef systems: 2. Animal performance and carcass characteristics. In preparation for TAS.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Other Year Published: 2019 Citation: McKee, Harmon, Hancock, Stewart, Rigdon, Segers, and Stelzleni. 2019. Warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef systems: 3. Meat chemical content, shelf-life, and sensory attributes. In preparation for TAS.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Meriwether County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Hart County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Gordon County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Oconee County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Walker County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Houston County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Greene County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Smart investments in beef cattle nutrition, Bulloch County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Franklin County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Madison County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Spalding County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, Hall County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smart investments in beef cattle nutrition, Jenkins County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smart investments in beef cattle nutrition, Lincoln County Cattlemen's
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Feed strategies for limited forage quality and quantity. North Georgia Beef Cattle Short Course
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought management strategies for beef cattle producers, South Georgia Beef Cattle Short Course
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Meeting nutrient requirements of cattle in grazing operations, South Carolina Cattlemen's Convention
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon and Hancock. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. The Carolina Cattle Connection. 32(2):17-21.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillon, Harmon, Rotz, and Hancock. Evaluation of average daily gain predictions by the integrated farm system model for forage-finished beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):137.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, Hancock, Harmon, Mullenix, Beck, and Soder. Annual forages: Influence on animal performance and water/nutrient management. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):358.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Selection of annuals for use as complimentary forages. North Carolina Beef Cattle Field Day. Ocatober 28. Reidsville, NC.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McKee, Harmon, Lacey, Hancock, Stewart, and Stelzleni. Evaluation of warm-season annual grasses for southern forage-finished beef systems. Proceedings of the 2017 Reciprocal Meat Conference.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, Lacey, Hancock, Segers, Stelzleni, Teutsch, and Stewart. Three-year evaluation of warm-season annual forages in summer forage-finishing beef production. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 1):22.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, Lee, Hancock, Stelzleni, Stewart, Segers, and Teutsch. Effect of warm-season annual grasses on forage-finished beef production., Proceedings of the 2017 American Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: The forage toolbox for pasture raised livestock. The Carolina Meat Conference. September 26. Winston-Salem NC.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Summer annuals in grass-finishing beef production. North Carolina State University, Livestock Extension Agent Training. August 08. Raleigh NC.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grazing for a better grazed beef: An update on grazing summer annuals. University of Georgia, Extension Agent Training. June 29. Watkinsville GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sorghum, pearl millet, and crabgrass, oh my! An update on grazing summer annuals. Oconee County Cattlemen's. June 26. Watkinsville GA.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock. The keys to making great baled silage. Georgia Forages YouTube channel.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sustainable grass: Grazing rain, sunlight, and soil. February 23. Tennessee Forage and Grasslands Council. Cookeville TN.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: RockHouse Farm Produces Grassfed Cattle. YouTube. Georgia Forages/FarmView Market Channels.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Forage-based beef finishing systems farm field day for North Carolina producers at Eatonton Beef Research Ranch. June 13. Three different presentations - weed control, forage and cattle management, meat quality controls.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Forage finished beef slaughter and meat quality evaluation. Tour and demonstration. September 12.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fenster, McKee, Stewart, Hancock, Harmon, and Stelzleni. Evaluation of warm-season annual grasses for southeastern forage-finished beef systems. University of Georgia Undergraduate Research Symposium.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle systems in the Southeast. University of Georgia Libraries, Athens GA.


Progress 04/01/17 to 03/31/18

Outputs
Target Audience:During the 2017 project year the project team was able to reach a large population of our target audience including students, other professionals, and producers. In 2017 we had one PhD student working on this project as part of his degree, another two PhD students and a MS student heavily involved in the project because their project is of a similar nature and two other PhD students providing field and technical support. During laboratory analyses, there were two undergraduate students working part-time with the PhD student learning laboratory assays and how the project could benefit forage and beef producers in the southeastern United States and other semi-tropical climates. Efforts were also made to include discussion of the current project in formal classroom settings (ADSC 3650 - Meat Science, and ADSC 4350 Grazing Animal Production and Management), and informal settings with students and student groups in Animal Science and Crop and Soils departments. To reach our target audience of scientists, extension agents, and other producers a variety of seminars, programs, and talks were given at the local (16), state (5), regional (7), and national 57) levels. Additionally, a total of 7 abstracts were published in proceedings and presented at local, regional, and national meetings, two new videos were uploaded to the Georgia Forages and American Forages and Grasslands Council YouTube website, and one popular press article. In addition prior digital media previously uploaded to the Georgia Forages and American Forages and Grassloands Council YouTube sites continue to generate new hits (views) and previous digital and handout note sets for state and regional extension professionals continue to be utilized in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. The broad delivery mechanisms employed allowed the team working on this project to maximize delivery potential and reach hundreds of individuals in a primary setting and unknown amount via secondary routes through affiliate agents, and web cast outreach. Over the past year our team has reached over 2,500 individuals not counting professional scientific and sociatal meetings through our product outreach. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As described above there were numerous opportunities for training related to the current project. Graduate and undergraduate students gained training and experience in research design, implementation, and execution. These students also gained valuable experience in laboratory assay development, application, and data analysis. Training opportunities were also provided to regional and county extension personnel through annual seminars and trainings. Producers were able to gain training through increased knowledge obtained by attending the various workshops and seminars that were provided at multiple levels of outreach. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary and past reviewed results relating to the current project have been disseminated in a variety of methods. Results from preliminary trials related to this project have been presented at both scientific and producer oriented seminars and workshops at the local, state, regional, and national levels. These results have been utilized extensively in extension agent trainings and via producer talks and workshops. Lay publications have been written and published relating to the use of warm season annuals for beef production and several extension based publications have been written and are currently in the review process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period we will continue as proposed. Currently the third and final year has begun with test, extra, and plot forages having been planted and steers have been placed on trial. Over the next period we will continue to finish the analysis from the previous year and well as collect and analyze data from the current period. It is expected through the current period that 1-2 additional abstracts will be prepared and presented at national meetings. Ongoing we have already given several presentations to producer groups and additional lay publications and videos are in the works. We are currently planning 1-2 field days for producers and extension agents at the research and test plots during the summer of 2018. At the conclusion of the current and final period a final report will be prepared for submission. Looking beyond the reporting period it is expected that 1-2 additional graduate students will complete their degress, produce dissertations, present complete data at national meetings, and prepared scientific articles for publication. The project team is also in the phase of evaluating systems and approaches to better quantify the differences in BMR and normal type pearl milet and other BMR varities for their use in grazing and stored forage programs.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Addressing our specific objectives first, over the past year we were able to continue work on specific objectives 1, 2, and 3 by completing the first year of data collection and analysis, conducting the live and meat quality portion of the second year (2017), and analyzing the majority of the samples collected from 2017. Sample analysis from 2017 was delayed due to laboratory equipment failure and replacement. As this report is being written the remaining samples from 2017 are being analyzed and the research portion (live animal studies) for 2018 have commenced. Although still analyzing data from 2017, current results show, as expected, that additional supplementation with soy hulls at 0.75% of body weight increased average daily gains and body weight gain, leading to an increase in carcass weight and salable product (yield). Although differences were not seen in 2016, the addition of data from 2017 are starting to show differences in carcass quality between supplemented vs non-supplemented. With two years data between brown mid-rib pearl millet and regular pearl millet differences due to forage type is still not seen. It was expected that the BMR variety, with its lower lignan content, would be a more digestible and utilizable forage, therefore allowing for better gains. The lack of difference between BMR and normal variaties could be due to grazing the forage vs whole plant consumption. When grazing (while keeping plants in the vegitative state) the steers are primarily consuming the foliage (leaves) and new growth. This would limit their exposure to the BMR trait which is primarily concentrated in the plant stem. It is hypothsizied that if the whole plant was consumed differences would occur. As part of this project, excess and extension plots have been planted, harvested and converted to balege. Although this balege has been tested for forage quaity there are plans to collect additional samples from the balege, compare the BMR to normal for lignan content and conduct in-situ digestibility trials in comparison to leaf and new growth samples. However, it was interestingly found that the normal type pearl milet had faster and better regrowth potential than the BMR variety producing more T/hectare, thereby increasing carrying capacity while maintaining forage in the vegitative state. To meet objective 4 our team gave seminars, programs, talks, and had publications at the local (16), state (5), regional (7), and national (5) levels. Additionally, a total of 7 abstracts were published in proceedings and presented at regional and national meetings, two videos were uploaded to the Georgia Forages and American Forages and Grasslands Council, one popular press article was produced, and previously produced media and handouts were incorperated in local and regional extension agent trainings in Georgia and North Carolina. This allowed our team to reach > 2300 unique individuals in a primary fashion not counting professional scientific and societal meeting contacts. These contacts ranged from forage planning, hay production, best use summer annuals, supplementation strategies, and what are the best options when faced with drought conditions. After the severe drought conditions experienced in 2016 much of the late 2016 and 2017 outreach had a strong focus on how to manage warm season forages during periods of extended drought. Two new videos were uploaded to the Georgia Forages YouTube channel and the prior videos uploaded to this channel remain accessible. Through these outreach programs numerous beef producers in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee have converted their pastures or implimented stratagies to produce summer annual forages in a complete forage rotation program for finishing beef, but also for overall production including the cow herd and stocker cattle programs. Objective 5 was attained in 2017 with the training of several graduate students and undergraduates in various capacities. There were 2 PhD students and one MS directly involved with the planning and execution of the trial phase gaining experience in practical forage based beef production techniques and controlled research design and experimentation. Additionally, there were 2 other PhD students and one MS student providing technical support. These students also gained experience in laboratory assays and data analysis from this project. There were 2 undergraduate students directly involved with sample collection, assays, and data analysis. The ideals and preliminary data from the current project (and similar projects) have also been used for in course discussions for at least two classes in 2017 targeting meat science students, and animal science and crop science students. Additional students were reached from a technical reach as employees of the lab where the research was conducted. The two PhD students primarily involved in the current project also gained experience in extension by developing and giving numerous talks (technical and scientific) and writing lay publications. One of the PhD students completed her degree requirements in the summer of 2017 and has already accepted a position as a livestock and forage specialist in the southeastern United States.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Meriwether County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Hart County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Gordon County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Oconee County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Walker County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Houston County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Greene County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Smart Investments in Beef Cattle Nutrition, Bulloch County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Franklin County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Madison County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Spalding County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Hall County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smart Investments in Beef Cattle Nutrition, Jenkins County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Smart Investments in Beef Cattle Nutrition, Lincoln County Cattlemens
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Feed Strategies for Limited Forage Quality AND Quantity. Athens Beef Cattle Short Course
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Drought Management Strategies for Beef Cattle Producers, Tifton Beef Cattle Short Course
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Meeting Nutrient Requirements of Cattle in Grazing Operations, South Carolina Cattlemens Convention
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, D.D., and D.W. Hancock. 2017. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. The Carolina Cattle Connection. 32(2):17-21. February 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillon, J.A., D.D. Harmon, C.A. Rotz, and D.W. Hancock. Evaluation of average daily gain predictions by the integrated farm system model for forage-finished beef steers. 2017. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):137.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Dillard, S.L., D.W. Hancock, D.D. Harmon, M.K. Mullenix, P.A. Beck, and K.J. Soder. 2017. Annual forages: Influence on animal performance and water/nutrient management. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 4):358.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: McKee, R.W., D.D. Harmon, J.L. Lacey, D.W. Hancock, R.L. Stewart, Jr., A.M. Stelzleni. Evaluation of warm-season annual grasses for southern forage-finished beef systems. 2017. Proceeding of the 2017 Reciprocal Meat Conference.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, D.D., J.L. Lacey, D.W. Hancock, J.R. Segers, A.M. Stelzleni, C.D. Teutsch, and R.L. Stewart, Jr. 2017. Three-year evaluation of warm-season annual forages in summer forage-finishing beef production. J. Anim. Sci. 95(Suppl. 1):22.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, D.D., J.L. Lee, D.W. Hancock, A.M. Stelzleni, R.L. Stewart, Jr., J.R. Segers, and C.D. Teutsch. 2017. Effect of warm-season annual grasses on forage-finished beef production. Proceedings of the 2017 American Forage and Grasslands Council Annual Meeting.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Selection of annuals for use as complimentary forages. North Carolina Beef Cattle Field Day. October 28, 2017. Reidsville, NC
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: The forage toolbox for pasture raised livestock. The Carolina Meat Conference. September 26, 2017. Winston-Salem, NC
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Summer annuals in grass-finishing beef production. North Carolina State University, Livestock Extension Agent Training. August 08, 2017. Raleigh, NC
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Grazing for a better grazed beef: An update on grazing summer annuals. University of Georgia, Extension Agent Training. June 29, 2017. Watkinsville, GA
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sorghum, pearl millet, and crabgrass, oh my! An update on grazing summer annuals. Oconnee County Cattlemens Meeting. June 26, 2017. Watkinsville, GA
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2017. The Keys to Making Great Baled Silage. (48 min. 10 sec.) Georgia Forages YouTube Videos. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.
  • Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, Deidre D. 2017. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle systems in the Southeast. University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Sustainable GRASS: Grazing Rain, Sunlight, and Soil. February 23, 2017. Tennessee Forage and Grassland Council. Cookeville, TN.
  • Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: RockHouse Farm Produces Grassfed Cattle. YouTube. Georgia Forages/FarmView Market. 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Forage-based Beef Finishing Systems Farm Field Day for North Carolina Producers at Eatonton Beef Research Ranch. June 2017. 3 different presentations based on weed control, forage and cattle management, and meat quality controls (at UGA Athens Meat Science Technology Center)
  • Type: Other Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Forage Finished Beef Slaughter and Meat Quality Evaluation. Tour and Demonstration at UGA Meat Science Technology Center. September 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fenster, L., R. Mckee, L. Stewart, D. Hancock, D. Harmon, and A. Stelzleni. 2017. Evaluation of Warm-Season Annual Grasses for Southeastern Forage-Finished Beef Systems. University of Georgia Undergraduate Research Symposium. March 2017, Athens.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Fenster, L., R. Mckee, L. Stewart, D. Hancock, D. Harmon, and A. Stelzleni. 2017. Evaluation of Warm-Season Annual Grasses for Southeastern Forage-Finished Beef Systems. University of Georgia CAES Undergraduate Research Symposium. April 2017, Athens.


Progress 04/01/16 to 03/31/17

Outputs
Target Audience:In 2016 the project team was able to reach a large population of our target audience including students, other professionals, and producers. During 2016 we had one PhD student working on this project as part of his degree, another PhD student and a MS student heavily involved in the project because their project is of a similar nature and two other PhD students providing field and technical support. During laboratory analyses, there two undergraduate students working part-time with the PhD student learning laboratory assays and how the project could benefit forage and beef producers in the southeastern United States and other semi-tropic climates. Efforts were also made to include discussion of the current project in formal classroom settings (ADSC 3650 - Meat Science, and ADSC 4350 Grazing Animal Production and Management), and informal settings with students and student groups in Animal Science and Crop and Soils departments. To reach our target audience of scientists, extension agents, and other producers a variety of seminars, programs, and talks were given at the local (16), state (8), regional (13), and national (7) levels. Additionally, a total of 9 abstracts were published in proceedings and presented at regional and national meetings, two videos were uploaded to the Georgia Forages and American Forages and Grasslands Council, three popular press articles, and six digital and handout note sets for state and regional extension professionals were also produced followed by two extension agent trainings in south and north Georgia. The broad delivery mechanisms employed allowed the team working on this project to maximize delivery potential and reach hundreds of individuals in a primary setting and unknown amount via secondary routes through affiliate agents, and web cast outreach. Changes/Problems:During the late spring continuing through fall of 2016 central and north eastern Georgia experienced a prolonged drought that was not foreseen by the research team or climatologists. The drought resulted in forage planting delays (both trial pastures and those planted for excess balage in case of late drought) and a delay in the start of the study by approximately 20 days. Additionally, due to the drought conditions 4 paddocks were removed from the study (1 paddock per treatment) due to lack of forage germination and production. The original intent was to conduct the trial phase without the use of irrigation since most small land holders and stockmen likely would not have access to irrigation. However, as the drought persisted, and since the early drought impacted emergency baleage supplies, it became apparent that emergency irrigation protocols had to be implemented. The four paddocks that were removed from the 2016 study were out of range of irrigation equipment. Between May 1 and September 10, 2016, the research station housing this project only received 8.31 inches of rain, with most that occurring on 4 event days early in the forage growth period. The 2016 rainfall was 6.75 inches less than 2015 amounts and 15.37 inches less than the 4-year average. Over 1 inch of the 2016 rainfall reported fell at the end of the trial. Additionally, there was a record 34 straight days with temperature highs above 90 degrees F. Because of the drought and lack of balage, even with emergency irrigation, the forage rapidly matured with a loss in quality and started to go dormant causing us to slaughter the cattle at less days on forage than planned (55 days vs 72-84 days). For the 2017 trial we have contingency plans in place for early irrigation if required. Although the drought negatively impacted the research portion of 2016, it offered the opportunity of real world production scenarios and issues faced by forage and beef producers in Georgia and the southeastern United States. As a result, a large portion of our extension focus turned to helping producers cope with crippling drought and how to best manage forage and cattle during severe drought. These programs were well received by producers and were given around Georgia and the southeast. During the drought it was noticed that an "invasive" grass, signal grass, seemed to persist with little effect due to the drought (comparative to the annuals planted for the trial and surrounding perennials). Although not intentionally planted at the research station, in subsequent years we intend to further characterize the signal grass for growth and quality characteristics. Signal grass is commonly thought of as an invasive weed species; however, it appears to relatively drought tolerant, hardy, and grows well in the southeast. Further characterization may provide insight of signal grasses suitability as warm season forage. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?As described above there were numerous opportunities for training related to the current project. Graduate and undergraduate students gained training and experience in research design, implementation, and execution. These students also gained valuable experience in laboratory assay development, application, and data analysis. Training opportunities were also provided to regional and county extension personnel through annual seminars and trainings. Producers were able to gain training through increased knowledge obtained by attending the various workshops and seminars that were provided at multiple levels of outreach. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Preliminary and past reviewed results relating to the current project have been disseminated in a variety of methods. Results from preliminary trials related to this project have been presented at both scientific and producer oriented seminars and workshops at the local, state, regional, and national levels. These results have been utilized extensively in extension agent trainings and via producer talks and workshops. Lay publications have been written and published relating to the use of warm season annuals for beef production and several extension based publications have been written and are currently in the review process. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Activities are already underway for the next reporting period. From an extension and outreach perspective several talks at the local and regional level have already been given. At least one abstract for presentation at a national scientific meeting has been written and accepted (Reciprocal Meats Conference) and it is expected for at least one additional abstract to be written and published during the 2017 reporting period. One to two extension articles have been written and are currently in review for publication for open access to the scientific and general public communities. One of the PhD students working on this project is expected to graduate in the summer of 2017 and will have a defended and published dissertation relating to the current work and it is expected that 2-3 publications will be at least in the review process through the next reporting period. The PhD student that is expected to finish has already accepted a position in the southeastern United States as a forage and livestock extension specialist. We currently have one field day scheduled for late July/early August at the University of Georgia Meat Processing Center and Eatonton Beef Research Center where the major focus will be the results of the ongoing project and how they can utilized in forage based beef production systems. This field day was scheduled at the request of a regional extension professional from North Carolina based on knowledge of the project. It is expected that additional workshops and seminars will be given throughout the year by the state livestock and state forage specialists that are an integral part of the current project. As of the writing of this report we have already planted extra balage plots, test paddocks, and exhibition paddocks for the 2017 trial. It is expected that cattle will go on trial as planned in late May/early June. We have 1 PhD student actively involved in the planning and experimentation and 1 other PhD student and 1 undergraduate student working in support and technical rolls gaining experience. We have also already hired 2 additional undergraduate students to start work with laboratory assays and data reporting for the fall of 2017.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Addressing our specific objectives first, over the past year we were able to start working on specific objectives 1, 2, and 3 by starting the research phase of the project. Currently we are still analyzing the data from the past year. However, we have already planted (May 2017) for the subsequent year and plan to start the second year of the trial and data collection the first week of June 2017. Although still analyzing data from 2016, preliminary results show, as expected, that additional supplementation with soy hulls at 0.75% of body weight increased average daily gains and body weight gain, leading to an increase in carcass weight and salable product (yield). Differences were not seen in carcass quality in 2016 between supplemented vs non-supplemented which could be due to environmental stressors encountered: lack of rain fall which limited forage production in the mid and late phases of the finishing period and abnormally prolonged heat streak. To date data between brown mid-rib pearl millet and regular pearl millet are still unclear. Again, the lack of differences currently seen between the two forage varieties could be due to the previously mentioned environmental conditions of 2016 and the lack or replicates for statistical validity with only having one year's worth of data. We expect differences between forage types to become clearer in subsequent years as more data are collected. For objective 4 our team gave seminars, programs, talks and had publications at the local (16), state (8), regional (13), and national (7) levels. Additionally, a total of 9 abstracts were published in proceedings and presented at regional and national meetings, two videos were uploaded to the Georgia Forages and American Forages and Grasslands Council, three popular press articles, and six digital and handout note sets for state and regional extension professionals were also produced followed by two extension agent trainings in south and north Georgia. The total number of seminars, workshops, and publications in 2016 was 59 unique contact potential points. This allowed our team to reach hundreds if not more than 1,000 unique individuals in a primary fashion. These contacts ranged from forage planning, hay production, best use summer annuals, supplementation strategies, and what are the best options when faced with drought conditions. We extended programing beyond just using forages and supplementation for finishing beef as many producers in our region are also interested in utilizing summer annual forages for backgrounding and stocker purposes as well as maximizing stocked forage supplies. To date two YouTube videos have been produced for two organizations (AFGC and GFE) with a total of 4,154 views to date. The videos produced from our group referencing this research are also linked to numerous other videos providing individuals with additional options to easily gather more information from additional experts outside of the current project. Multiple digital format handouts have also been produced and utilized at two extension agent trainings targeting all of Georgia livestock and forage extension agents as well agents from surrounding states. These efforts ensure that we also have a secondary reach as extension agents from the state and region are trained with the latest information and tools to further aid producers. Objective 5 was attained in 2016 with the training of several graduate students and undergraduates in various capacities. There were 2 PhD students and one MS directly involved with the planning and execution of the trial phase gaining experience in practical forage based beef production techniques and controlled research design and experimentation. Additionally, there were 2 other PhD students and one MS student providing technical support. These students also gained experience in laboratory assays and data analysis from this project. There were 2 undergraduate students directly involved with sample collection, assays, and data analysis. The ideals and preliminary data from the current project (and similar projects) have also been used for in course discussions for at least two classes in 2016 targeting meat science students, and animal science and crop science students. Additional students were reached from a technical reach as employees of the lab where the research was conducted. The two PhD students primarily involved in the current project also gained experience in extension by developing and giving numerous talks (technical and scientific) and writing lay publications. One of the PhD students is expected to complete her degree requirements in the summer of 2017 and has already accepted a position as a livestock and forage specialist in the southeastern United States.

Publications

  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., and D.W. Hancock. 2016. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. Proc. Am. Forage Grassl. Conf. 2016. Baton Rouge, LA. AFGC, Berea, KY.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., D.W. Hancock, R.L. Stewart, Jr., A.M. Stelzleni, C.D. Teutsch, and J.R. Segers. 2016. Evaluation of warm season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle production. Proc. Am. Forage Grassl. Conf. 2016. Baton Rouge, LA. AFGC, Berea, KY.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, D.D., D.W. Hancock, R.L. Stewart, Jr., and A. Stelzleni. 2017. Evaluation of warm season annual forages in forage-finishing beef cattle production systems. Proc. Am. Forage Grassl. Conf. Jan. 22-24, 2017. Roanoke, VA. AFGC, Berea, KY.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D., D.W. Hancock, R.L. Stewart, Jr., A. Stelzleni, and C.D. Teutsch. 2016. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef production systems. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. November 6-9, 2016. Phoenix, AZ.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Storing carbon and building soil organic matter through grazing management. Grassfed Exchange Conference. April 28-29, 2016. Perry, GA (122).
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2017. Managing forages to meet beef cattle nutritional needs. Cattlemens College at the National Cattlemens Beef Associations Annual Conference. Nashville, TN. February 1, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Maximizing warm season annual forage production. Deep South Stocker Conference. August 4, 2016. Carrollton, GA (78).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Summer annual forage management for pasture-based dairies. UF Corn Silage and Forage Field Day. May 24, 2016. Citra, FL (90).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Renovation of Old Pastures: Tools in the Toolbox. NC State Univ. Extension Agent  Forage/Livestock Training Days. August 2, 2016. Raleigh, NC (34).
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Warm season annual forages: current research and recommendations. 2016 Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 18, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mckee, R.W. Utilizing annuals and perennials with and without legumes. 2016 Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 19, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Mckee, R.W. Stockpiling bermudagrass. 2016 Sunbelt Ag Expo. October 19, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Summer annual forages for beef cattle. 2016 Blackstone Forage and Livestock Field Day. July 28, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Variety selection of warm-season annual forages. 2016 Blackstone Forage and Livestock Field Day. July 28, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Filling the grazing gap with warm-season annual forages. Tifton Beef Cattle Short Course. March 01, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Managing high yield forages. R.W. Griffin Industries Agronomist Training Series. February 2, 2016. Tifton, GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Forage management in pastures and hayfields. ChemNut, Inc. Agronomy Training. March 24, 2016. Tifton, GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Grass-finished beef project. Georgia Farm Bureau Tour. June 16, 2016. Eatonton, GA.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Regenerative agriculture using pasture-based livestock systems. UGA Sustainable Food Systems Initiative Seminar. Athens, GA. August 29, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. The Better Grazing Project: Improving soil health on pasture-based livestock farms in the Southeastern US. Georgia Farm Bureau 2016 Beef Commodity Committee. Jekyll Island, GA. December 5, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Regenerative agriculture using pasture-based livestock systems. UGA Sustainability Symposium. Athens, GA. December 6, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Using winter and summer annuals to ease seasonal transitions. 2016 Georgia Grazing School. September 21, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., Mckee, R.W. Warm-season annual forages in beef production systems. 2016 Georgia Farm Bureau Tour. June 15, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Selecting warm-season annual forage varieties. Georgia Forage Conference. March 30, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D. Warm-season annual forages for finishing beef cattle: forage and animal production. Georgia Forage Conference. March 30, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stelzleni, A.M. Warm-season annuals for southern beef production: Round Table. Georgia Cattlemen's Conference. Perry, Georgia. March 31, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Stelzleni, A.M. Forage finishing beef in the Southeastern US. Georgia Forages Conference. Perry, Georgia. March 30, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Pasture and hayfield management research update. Upson Co. Mar. 12; Worth Co. Mar. 12; Habersham Co. Mar. 28; Green Co. May 9; Appling Co. Mar. 16; Putnam Co. June 9; Brantley Co. June 16; Madison Co. Aug. 15; Tattnall Co. Sept. 15, 2016
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Grass-finished beef research update. Lee Co. July 12, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2017. Pasture and hayfield management research update. Meriweather Co. Jan. 10, 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2017. Pasture and hayfield management research update. Wayne Co. Apr. 18, 2017.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Master Cattlemen  Forage management. Bulloch Co. Feb. 2, 2016.
  • Type: Other Status: Other Year Published: 2017 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2017. Master Cattlemen  Forage management. Houston Co. Jan. 17, 2017.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: J.A. Dillon, D.D. Harmon, C.A. Rotz, and D.W. Hancock. Evaluation of average daily gain predictions by the integrated farm system model for forage-finished beef steers. 2017. Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: S.L. Dillard, D.W. Hancock, D.D. Harmon, M.K. Mullenix, P.A. Beck, and K.J. Soder. 2017. Annual forages: influence on animal performance and water/nutrient management. Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Animal Science.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Harmon, D., J.L. Lacey, D.W. Hancock, J.O. Segers, A.M. Stelzleni, C.D. Teutsch, and L. Stewart. 2017. Three-year evaluation of warm-season annual forages in summer forage-finishing beef production. J. Anim. Sci. 95 (Suppl. 1):22.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., D.W. Hancock, R.L. Stewart, Jr., A.M. Stelzleni, J.R. Segers, and C.D. Teutsch. 2016. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef production systems. Proceedings of the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy.
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., M.L. Bass, J. Lorenzo, C.D. Teutsch, J.R. Segers, A.M. Stelzleni, R.L. Stewart, Jr., and D.W. Hancock. 2016. Evaluation of warm-season annual forages on forage production and stocking rate. J. Anim. Sci. 94(Suppl. 5):291.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Managing the ryegrass transition. Hay and Forage Grower. 31(4): 30-31.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Hancock, D.W. 2016. Sugarcane aphids threaten sorghum. Progressive Forage Grower. 17(7): 38-39.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Harmon, D.D., and D.W. Hancock. 2016. Variety selection of summer annual grasses. Progressive Forage Grower. 17(3):36-39.