2013 Forage research update
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Transcript of 2013 Forage research update
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
2013 FORAGE RESEARCH UPDATE
Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association
December 10 2013Paul Jefferson, H.A. (Bart) Lardner, and
Kathy Larson
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
• Mission:Collaboratively linking lab and land for the competitiveness and sustainability of the cow-calf industry in Saskatchewan.• Vision:WBDC is a leader in collaborative applied research for the beef and forage industries; identifying and communicating opportunities for profitable innovation• www.wbdc.sk.ca
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
• Nova sainfoin, 5 experimental lines, AC Grazeland alfalfa (check)
• Monoculture vs alternate row seeding, small plots (1.5 x 6 m)
• Simulated grazing in 2012 (sickle mower)
• Also studied at Lethbridge, Swift Current and Saskatoon
SAINFOIN ALFALFA MIXTURES
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Sainfoin persistence under simulated grazing
Experimentals and check
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Mountainview*Nova
% S
ainf
oin
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alfa
lfa
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cut 1 2011cut 1 2012cut 2 2012cut 3 2012
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Cover by Daubenmire frame method August 20 2013
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Sainfoin persistence under simulated grazing
Experimentals and check
35194012
39003901
Mountainview*Nova
% S
ainf
oin
cove
r 201
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alternate with alfalfapure stand
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
• 4 sites: Swift Current, Termuende (Lanigan), Saskatoon, Melfort
• 4 rotations: annual crops (2) vs alfalfa or red clover (2010 and 2011); all rotations grew wheat in 2012 and canola in 2013
SHORT ROTATION FORAGE LEGUMES FOR REDUCING N FERTILIZER
Rotation/Year 2010 2011 2012 20131 Alfalfa Alfalfa Wheat Canola2 Red Clover Red Clover Wheat Canola3 Barley Pea Wheat Canola4 Barley Flax Wheat (N rate) Canola (N
rate)
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
SHORT ROTATION LEGUME FORAGES 2013
September 14 2012
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Lanigan N response 2013
N rate lb ac-10 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160
Can
ola
bu a
c-1
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Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Rotation (2010-11-12)
Canola Grain yield bu/ac
Est. N provided kg/ha
1. Alfalfa-A-Wheat-Canola
33.2 34
2. Red Clover-RC- W-C
40.4 65
3. Barley-Pea-W-C 31.1 304. B-Flax-W-C 25.9
NS (P=0.09) NSSE = 3.6
2013 RESULTS LANIGAN
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
• Seeded in 2012• Oxley, Oxley II and Veldt vs AC Grazeland
alfalfa• 3 management systems: Stockpiled for
fall, Hay + SP, Simulated grazing• Termuende, Saskatoon, and Lethbridge
CICER MILKVETCH VARIETIES FOR FALL PASTURE
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Hay and Stockpiled Cicer Milkvetch 2013
Alfalfa Oxley Oxley II Veldt std err
DM
Yie
ld lb
ac-1
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Clip 1 July 2Clip 2 August 9
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Stockpiled Cicer Milkvetch 2013
Alfalfa Oxley Oxley II Veldt std err
DM
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ld lb
ac-1
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October 9
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Cicer Milkvetch 2013
Alfalfa Oxley Oxley II Veldt std err
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ac-1
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Simulated GrazingHay + StockpiledStockpiled
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Cicer Milkvetch 2013
Alfalfa Oxley Oxley II Veldt std err
TDN
% in
Oct
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Simulated GrazingHay + StockpiledStockpiled
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
GRAZING CORN RESEARCH ATWESTERN BEEF DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Dry matter yield and nutrient composition of corn varieties. (Lardner et al. 2012)Item 1 2 3 4 5 Average
DM, % 40.1 50.4 37.0 38.1 49.4
DMY, ton/acre 4.8 5.7 4.1 4.2 5.6 5.0
DMY, tonne/ha 10.7 12.8 9.2 9.4 12.5 11.0
CP, %
Whole plant 7.8 7.7 6.4 8.1 7.0 7.4
Leaves 7.4 13.1 12.0 13.6 13.0 11.8
Cob 12.3 10.9 11.4 12.9 11.2 11.7
TDN, %
Whole plant 69.7 70.8 68.6 69.2 68.7 69.4
Leaves 49.7 60.6 60.5 59.7 55.1 57.1
Cob 89.3 90.3 90.1 89.8 90.8 89.9
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Crop Expenses (2011)
(Lardner et al. 2012)
$207.60 to $226.36
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Grazing results of corn varieties (2011-12).Item
Yield (t/ac)Grazing
(day) Paddock
Size (acre) Cow
Days/acre $/Hd/Day
1 4.75 1894 6.2 305 $0.70
2 5.74 1755 6.8 258 $0.82
3 4.04 2070 6.5 318 $0.69
4 4.13 810 5.6 145 $1.40
5 5.64 1066 5.2 205 $1.02
(Lardner et al. 2012)
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Table 8. Grazing results of corn varieties (2011-12).
Item Yield (t/ac) Grazing (day)
Paddock Size (acre)
Cow Days/acre $/Hd/Day
1 4.75 1894 6.2 305 $0.70
2 5.74 1755 6.8 258 $0.82
3 4.04 2070 6.5 318 $0.69
4 4.13 810 5.6 145 $1.40
5 5.64 1068 5.2 205 $1.02
Grazing Costs$/cow/day
$0.71 to $1.42
(Lardner et al. 2012)
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
GRAZING NEW CORN VARIETIESWITH BEEF COWS AND CALVES
AcknowledgementsAlberta Livestock & Meat Agency Ltd.Saskatchewan Agriculture Development FundPioneer; Hyland; Monsanto
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
1. Small plot studies in Saskatchewan and Alberta• Melfort SK, Scott SK• Fairview AB, Evansburg AB
2. Beef cow grazing study• Grazing whole plant corn in field paddocks• Grazing swathed barley in field paddocks• Barley hay fed in drylot pens
3. Calf backgrounding/finishing study- similar treatments as cow study
THREE YEAR STUDY – 3 EXPERIMENTS
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
• Excessive cob intake (pH)• Digestive disturbances/grain
overload/founder• Adapt - feed grain supplement for 7 to
10 d before exposure to corn field• Addition of extra roughage
(hay/forage bales)• Limit daily corn graze time
HEALTH CONCERNS CONSIDEREDWHEN GRAZING CORN
Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan
Questions?
Field Day June 24 2014
Termuende Research Ranch
7 miles East of Lanigan, SK
www.wbdc.sk.ca