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The Professional Animal Scientist 30 ( 2014 ):215–224 © 2014 American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists U sing corn stover and dried distillers grains with solubles to conserve stockpiled forages and improve reproductive performance and progeny 1 growth in fall-calving beef cows P. J. Gunn ,*2 PAS, R. P. Lemenager ,* PAS, and G. A. Bridges †3 * Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, 915 West State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907; and † North Central Research and Outreach Center, University of Minnesota, 1861 E HWY 169, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 or corn stover plus DDGS (DG; DDGS Key words: corn stover , dried ABSTRACT at 0.7% of BW/d). Following timed AI, distillers grains with solubles , fertility , Angus-cross, fall-calving beef cows (n CON cows were fed grass hay, and DG progeny growth , stockpile fescue = 153) were used in this experiment. cows were placed on stockpiled tall fescue The objective was to determine whether until grass was exhausted (Julian d 20) INTRODUCTION incorporating a period of corn stover and then fed grass hay. Cow BW and and dried distiller grains with solubles BCS did not differ during the supple- To remain profitable and thrive (DDGS) feeding into a preexisting nu- mentation period. The proportion of within the beef industry, producers tritional program that included grazing cows cycling at breeding-season initiation must find ways to cut production stockpiled tall fescue affects reproductive tended (P = 0.06) to be greater in CON- costs without impairing productiv- performance and progeny growth. On (92.2%) than in DG-treated (80.6%) ity. Because feed, especially harvested Julian d 267 cows were stratified and al- cows. Pregnancy rates from timed AI forage, is the largest cost in cow-calf lotted by BW, BCS, and calving date (if did not differ between the CON (42.4%) production systems, finding eco- calved) to receive 1 of 2 isocaloric dietary and DG (50.0%) treatment. However, nomical, alternative feed sources and treatments through timed AI (TAI; Ju- breeding-season pregnancy rates were feeding strategies may be the easiest lian d 336): stockpiled tall fescue (CON) greater (P = 0.03) in the DG (89.6%) way to maintain or increase profit- than CON (74.2%) treatment. Progeny ability. A viable way to reduce feed from cows fed DG were heavier at 62 d costs, especially in fall-calving herds, of age and at weaning (P ≤ 0.03) when is to stockpile forages. In addition, 1 Appreciation is extended to J. E. Tower compared with CON progeny. In sum- in the Corn Belt, where corn residue and employees of the Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural Center for their help in mary, including a dietary period of corn and corn by-products such as distill- conducting research. stover and DDGS to a traditional man- ers grains with soluble (DDGS) are 2 Present address: Iowa State University, agement practice of grazing stockpiled readily available, combining the use of Department of Animal Science, 313 Kildee tall fescue and feeding hay resulted in stockpiled forages, corn residue, and Hall, Ames 50011. greater breeding-season pregnancy rates corn coproducts may be a cost-effec- 3 Corresponding author: [email protected] and heavier progeny. tive management practice that allows 216 Gunn et al. for reduced use of harvested forages ing stockpile grazing in fall-calving piles were exhausted. Cows on the DG in fall-calving beef herds. Braungardt cows can be used to reduce harvested treatment were placed on their allot- et al. (2010) reported that winter- forage needs without negatively af- ment of stockpiled tall fescue (Julian ing diets containing corn stalks and fecting reproduction or preweaning d 342) until stockpiles were exhausted DDGS for spring-calving cows were progeny growth. (Julian d 20) and then placed in a up to 33% less expensive than feeding Before initiation of the experiment, drylot and fed grass hay identical to ad libitum alfalfa-mix hay. all available stockpiles, composed that of the CON treatment. To date there is little, if any, re- primarily of endophyte-infected tall Diets were formulated to deliver search currently available regarding fescue, were divided into 2 equal a similar amount of NEg between the effects of stockpiled forage versus parts, and each treatment was given treatments and for cow BW to be corn residue with supplemented pro- 93 ha for grazing during their desig- similar from experiment initiation tein on reproductive efficiency in fall- nated period. At Julian d 267, cows through TAI. Diets were formulated calving beef cows. Research by Hitz were blocked by age, and within age, using individual ingredient chemical and Russell (1998) noted that preg- cows were stratified by BCS, BW composition analysis obtained by wet nant spring-calving cows grazing fall (which was adjusted for gravid uterine chemistry methods (AOAC, 1990) stockpiled tall fescue–alfalfa pasture weight when applicable; Ferrell et before the start of the experiment gained more BW than cows grazing al., 1976), and either calving date (Sure-Tech Laboratories, Indianapo- corn residue alone. Conversely, Larson or projected calving date and allot- lis, IN). For the CON treatment, ad et al. (2009) observed that pregnant ted to 1 of 2 dietary management libitum daily DMI from the stockpiled spring-calving cows grazing fall corn schemes. In addition, calf sire and calf tall fescue pasture was estimated us- residue had a greater prebreeding BW sex (when applicable) were balanced ing the following formula (NRC, 2000) and BCS than cows grazing winter between treatments. It should be for lactating beef cows: range. These conflicting data illus- noted that the calving season began trate the need to define production on Julian d 243 and concluded on DMI = {[shrunk BW0.75 × (0.04997 schemes that optimize reproductive Julian d 302. At time of nutritional × NE 2 + 0.03840)/NE ] × (TEMP1) efficiency in fall-calving cows. Martin treatment initiation, 103 of 153 cows m m et al. (2007) and Harris et al. (2008) had calved [n = 50 in control (CON); × (MUD1) + (0.2 × Yn)}, indicated that low-level supplementa- n = 53 in DDGS]. Treatments (Table tion of DDGS before breeding may 1) were designed to deliver a simi- where adjustments for TEMP1 (tem- enhance reproductive performance lar amount of NEg and to meet or perature) and MUD1 (mud) were 1.00 and increase pregnancy rates in exceed the protein, vitamin, and and 1.00, respectively, and Yn was spring-calving cows. Therefore, we mineral requirements (NRC, 2000) of milk production in kilograms estimat- hypothesized that a management sys- a lactating, fall-calving multiparous ed at 10.9 kg/d. tem that combines the feeding of corn cow. Figure 1 illustrates the dietary Ad libitum daily DMI of corn stover stover and DDGS before breeding management scheme timeline. Treat- was estimated using the same equa- with grazing of stockpiled tall fescue ments included ad libitum grazing tion previously described. Once corn after breeding will improve reproduc- of stockpiled tall fescue (CON; n = stover intake was estimated, DDGS tive efficiency in fall-calving cows and 77) or ad libitum baled corn stover supplementation rate was calcu- increase preweaning calf performance. and DDGS supplemented to meet the lated so that the DG diet delivered a energy requirements of a fall-calving similar amount of NEg per day as the MATERIALS AND METHODS cow in early lactation (DG; DDGS at CON treatment. Corn stover bales 0.7% of BW/d; n = 76). Baled corn were presented for consumption in Animals and Diets stover was used as a feed resource fence-line large bale feeders. The DG because grazing of corn residue was supplement, which consisted of DDGS All cows were handled in accordance not feasible at the research location. and limestone to balance the Ca:P with procedures approved by the Pur- Therefore, the DG treatment was only ratio was delivered in concrete fence- due Animal Care and Use Committee. fed from the beginning of corn harvest line bunks once daily at approximate- Multiparous, Angus-Simmental cows (Julian d 267) until 6 d after timed ly 0900 h. It should be noted that (n = 153; BW = 540 ± 71 kg; BCS = AI (TAI; Julian d 342) to mimic a because of bunk design and DDGS 5.4 ± 0.5; age = 5.4 ± 2.1 yr) at the period of time in which producers delivery, it was impossible to restrict Southern Indiana Purdue Agricultural may have access to corn residue for access of DG progeny to DDGS. How- Center in Dubois, Indiana, were used grazing. The day after TAI (Julian d ever, all DDGS were consumed within in a randomized complete block de- 337), CON cows were moved to a dry approximately 15 min of delivery and sign to assess if a nutritional program lot and fed large round bales of tall before cows exiting the bunk area. that incorporates corn stover and fescue hay for the remainder of the Therefore, calf access to DDGS was DDGS in combination with preexist- winter because their allotted stock- severely limited. Dried distillers grains with solubles and stockpiles 217 Initial BW and initial BCS (1 = emaciated, 9 = obese; Wagner et al., 1988) was taken the day before treat- ment initiation. Subsequent BW and BCS were assessed 28 and 56 d after dietary treatment initiation and at steer progeny weaning (146 ± 16 d in Figure 1. Dietary treatment scheme implemented in lactating, multiparous beef lactation), which occurred 63 d after cows to determine the effect of management scheme on reproductive efficiency of treatments concluded. All BCS assess- the cow and preweaning growth of the progeny. Treatments included ad libitum ments were conducted by the same access to stockpiled tall fescue pasture until stockpiles were exhausted, followed by person throughout the experiment ad libitum hay consumption in a drylot (CON), or ad libitum access to corn residue and recorded on the basis of a plus- with supplemental dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS), followed by ad libitum stockpile grazing until stockpiles were exhausted, at which point cows were given ad minus system in addition to whole libitum access to hay in a drylot (DG).

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