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| Summer 2007 | Summer 2007 Newsletter:
We made it through the winter because of moisture and the winter grazing described in our winter letter. The Apache clover was fabulous for grazing, weed control and nitrogen deposition. We must admit we have had record rainfall (be careful of what you ask for) that has really slowed our hay harvest. We were late with our silage harvest because of wet weather, but did get it up early June with excellent yields. The protein ranged from 13.2% to 14%.
We are now (8/19/07) into our first hay harvest with excellent production as far as volume is concerned, but I am not looking forward to finding out the protein content. The problem this winter will be how to supplement the hay with protein to meet the needs of the different classes of cattle, i.e. open heifers, bred heifer, etc.
We have silage (or hayage) with protein of 13% to 14%, but the dry matter of this is about 28% to 33%, so open young cattle can not be developed on this alone. If a 700 lb. heifer, whose protein needs are 2.2-2.5% lb/day, eats 3% of body weight per day – so if silage is 21 lbs= about 7 lbs. of dry matter at 13% protein = .91 lbs. of protein so growing stock will need at least 1.3 lbs. of protein from somewhere. Grown cows need 1.5 lbs. of protein/day, but they can eat 40 lbs. to 50 lbs. of this silage, so that the dry matter is about 15lbs., at 13.2% protein is over 1.9% .I guess the secret is that developing young breeding stock on silage is not the answer.
We will be having our 33rd Annual Purebred Female, Commercial Heifer and Purebred Bull Sale on October 27, 2007. We will be offering about 90 PB bulls and 90 PB and SimAngus females, all bred to Simmental and Angus bulls-mostly A.I. We will be offering 125 F1 Braford females, all bred or with calves. Some lots are being consigned by North Star Ranch in Winona and Sun Bar Ranch in Winona and Jimmy Bain of Bullard, TX. All are bred to low birth weight Angus bulls. The cattle look great, thanks to our moisture.
The use of Simmental genetics is becoming more important with beef demand staying up and cattle numbers down – that extra 50 – 75 pounds weaning weight is needed.
When I have the answer to higher fuel, fertilizer and corn, I will let you know. We are in better shape than our friends in the hog and chicken business – since cattle can eat grass.
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