Winter feeding grass-fed feeder cattle to finish using brown midrib sorghum sudan cytoplasm 6

Winter feeding grass-fed feeder cattle to finish using brown midrib sorghum sudan cytoplasm 6

Summary

This project has been granted a one year no cost time extension. This extension was granted because of the very poor growing season in 2006 which severely limited the quantity of Brown MidRib Sorghum Sudan which could be grown and severely impacted the quality of Brown Mid Rib Sorghum Sudan that was produced.

Following two meetings of the Farmer Cooperators and Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators the project began in May 2006 with a soil sample being taken and sent to the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratories for a complete soil analysis. On June 23, 2006 the BMRSS was planted and fertilized at recommended rates. Due to heavy rains the planting date was about three weeks later than planned. Heavy rains followed the planting date leaching some of the fertilizer.

The first harvest of BMRSS took place on August 13, 2006 with 50, 80 pound bales produced. Harvest was delayed by over 2 weeks resulting in very poor quality forage. Because of the wet weather a portion of the field was not harvested and several acres were severely rutted. On August 21, 2006 400 pounds of nitrogen was top dressed on the field to enhance second growth. The second growth was harvested on October 5, 2006 with a yield of only 21,800 pound bales. The quality of these twenty one bales was much better than the first cutting but still not of the quality to produce adequate gains.

On August 15, 2006 the fifteen Angus cattle that would be participating in the trial weighing between 700-900 lbs were given ultra sounds.

On September 22, 2006 the cattle were body conditioned scored and sorted into two random groups. Feed samples were taken on October 8, 2006 and sent to Dairy One Laboratory for a basic plus minerals wet chemistry analysis. Results of the samples were received on October 12, 2006 revealing the low quality forage that was available for the winter feeding season.

Cattle were placed on feed October 24, 2006. The Angus Cattle which were previously sorted into two groups were placed in two pens. One pen of cattle received a mixture of first and second cut BMRSS full feed and the other group was placed on a ration of shelled corn, corn silage and a limited amount of Alfalfa hay.

Each animal was weighed going into the trial and at the end of the first 30 days. The corn fed group averaged just over 3 pounds a day weight gain, while the BMRSS group averaged no gain to one and one half pounds a day gain. It was evident at this point that the quality of the BMRSS produced during the 2006 growing season was not adequate enough to allow for this research project to continue.

A no cost extension has been granted and this trial will be repeated in its entirety starting in June 2007.

Objectives/Performance Targets

None met.

Accomplishments/Milestones

None met.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Project not completed.

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