Author: Roger "Darrell" Simpson
Planning Unit: Muhlenberg County CES
Major Program: Farm Management
Plan of Work: Planning for the Family and Farm
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
Utilizing all available resources to their maximum potential is key to reducing costs and increasing profit in the beef cattle business. Darrell Simpson Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources in Muhlenberg County along with Kevin Laurent, Senior Associate for beef cattle production, and Dr. Chris Teutsch, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment, Forage Specialists worked with a local producer representing Hopkins and Muhlenberg counties to meet that goal. The initial consultation with the producer in 2017 revealed that several factors were contributing to the limited success of the beef business. Stocking rate was too high and both a spring and fall calving season were being utilized resulting in limited pasture management. Limited culling was occurring with open and late calving cows. Hay was being fed in one sacrifice field for nearly 140 days of the year resulting in it having limited production the remainder of the year. Nearly a third of the 350 round bales of hay being fed were being purchased or produced offsite. After reviewing all of the information, the producer was informed about an Integrated Resource Management program developed by Dr. Les Anderson, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment beef cattle reproductive physiologist. The changes that Kevin, Chris, and I recommended included reducing the number of brood cows and replacement heifers, utilizing estrus synchronization, utilization of a single calving season, utilization of cool and warm season annuals and perennials, and improved rotational grazing. In the fall of 2017, the producer started culling the unproductive cows and inferior replacement heifers. The herd size was initially reduced from 108 brood cows and replacement heifers to 77 cows and heifers during the winter of 2019. Twenty six cows were heat synchronized and bred natural service in December of 2017. Pregnancy testing in April of 2018 revealed an 82 percent conception rate. The five open cows from the estrus synchronization program were either second calf cows or cows with a low body condition score. The producer gained knowledge regarding the correlation between conception and nutrition in the beef herd due to the program. The producer decided to not breed the spring calving cows back in the spring of 2018 but rather to move to a 100 percent fall calving season. Eight of the twenty one cows from the estrous synchronization program had calves in the first twenty one day cycle. Other changes that were made included converting a forty five acre hay field into pasture bringing total acres grazed from 107 to 152 acres, increasing water availability with portable water troughs while improving on rotational grazing practices, and liming and fertilizing according to soil sample results. The sacrifice field was utilized for a ten acre demonstration plot to produce warm season annual and perennial grass plots. This resulted in ninety two cows and calves grazing warm season forages for twenty five days while allowing some of the perennial cool season pastures a greater rest period. The program cooperator commented in September of 2018, “I have never had this much grass at this time of the year”. When asked about the amount of hay he had purchased for the 2018-2019 winter, the producer said that he had only purchased six bales of hay. He commented that his cows look better this winter than they ever had. When asked if he had saved any money due to the practices that he learned, he said “yes on several fronts”. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment is truly making a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens by helping them increase their knowledge and profitability through the management and utilization of all available resources.
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