The latest thinking on alfalfa seeding, stand life, and boosting nutrient quality

 Hay and Forage Grower reported this winter on research from South Dakota State University that says many of us are using more seed per acre than marginal yields justify.    In this study it was found that seeding rates as low as 12.5 pounds per acre generated the highest yields, or 9.6 tons of dry hay per acre over two years.    (These yields were made in drought conditions.)   

For conditions around the Great Lakes, the best yield strategy appears to be:   seed 12 to 16 lbs of alfalfa seed with 2 lbs red clover (14 to 18 lbs total) in the establishment year.    Follow this with an overseeding of high energy grass in the second or third year of stand life, which will aid in maintaining peak yields for an additional two years, resisting weed incursions.    

The Dairy Industry lost a stalwart friend

 Ron Sersland of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, principal owner of  International Protein Sires,  passed away tragically in a collision between his pickup and a semi-tractor-trailer late this winter.   He was only 63 years old, having begun his career as a foreign market representative for Tri-State Breeders Cooperative, forming his own export company Our Help, Inc and later purchasing the IPS brand name and bull stud from its founders Marlowe Nelson and Alvin Piper  (pioneers in exporting midwestern Holstein genetics to Europe and South America).

The tragedy in this is that, as Ron still felt young, the issues of business succession were not formally completed  (his stepson, Eric Taylor, was active in the management of the business)  and so the attorneys have managed the estate in a manner that has led to liquidation.

Those of us who were Ron’s friends and acted as his distributors are disappointed by this, and we at Mich Livestock Service have acted to secure a working inventory of the IPS sires we most favored as we work out this transition in our genetic focus.    There is a likelihood that a new AI marketing system, supported by the many breeders who provided sires for IPS, will be formed.    We have committed our experience to encourage this group so his concepts will carry on.

The new approaches to seeding hay stands and pastures

Most farmers know that the best field of corn you ever raise follows termination of a multi-year alfalfa (or grass + clover) hay field or pasture.    Nitrogen nodules on alfalfa and clover roots gives the corn plant a head start and the reserves of fertility from the recycling of organic matter (root systems) feeds the ear later.

When you have livestock, nothing feeds them cheaper than good hay and pastures

There comes the time when you need to rotate back into hay and/or pasture to restore soil structure (water holding capacity and recovery from compaction).     Alfalfa became preferred because of dairy cow and horse demand, was the focus of seed breeding for a time, but has declined as No-till and Round Up made growing row crop corn and soybean more “convenient”.

Byron Seeds remains focused on crops for animal feeding.    Thus they are maintaining alfalfa availability from independent growers as the chemical company brands lose interest.

Synergy X alfalfa blends are the innovation Byron has brought to alfalfa hay and haylage systems and are proving most cost-effective because the combining of alfalfa types leads to longer stand life.    No matter your soil profile, there is diversity in that Synergy bag that will thrive;  lowered risk of failed stands, better winter survival than depending on a single chosen alfalfa variety.

All four “Synergy” mixes are compatible with the practice of overseeding high energy grass into established stands (which also profitably extends stand life)  and in the Beef feeding world, this makes the sort of hay / haylage / balage that best fits low-cost reproduction and rate of gain.

     So what about the “nurse crop” for a spring seeding?
Oats are the traditional choice.    Why?    Because you get more straw, and when left to grain, grandad got “free” oats to feed the horses.   

However, recent comparison studies show that modern high-yield-potential Alfalfa varieties get stunted by Oat exudates in the young seedling stage.    In searching out alternatives, Byron has tested seedling vigor with varieties of Barley, Triticale, Wheat, Ryegrass, as well as forage oats.

Are you wanting to get feed volume out of your spring nurse crop in the seeding year?
Pick a Spring season variety of the above.   Harvest green as forage, leaving stubble protection.

Are you wanting to suppress weeds in your spring seeded stand, waiting to fall for first harvest?
Pick a Fall season variety of the above, which slows down its growth as the summer warms up.

Epigenetic effects when cattle are fed grass vs corn & oilseed

 

Beef is clearly targeted by “climate change” advocates as negative for atmospheric gases (primarily methane, a by-product of ruminant digestion).    But the data for that has not convinced many people yet, especially once the earth’s carbon cycle (and its relationship to supporting life) is fully understood.  Consumption of meat shows us most consumers are not switching away from animal proteins.

However, the nutrition industry may exert more influence on the future of animal food production by weighing in on the differences between corn and oilseed fed ruminants, compared to grass and forage fed ruminants for slaughter animals.

A recent issue of Stockman Grass Farmer carried an article by Allen Williams, PhD with the following comparisons in desired vs undesired animal fats, as examples of how Epigenetic effects change the function of genes within DNA,  resulting from major and sustained changes in the animal environment.    Nutritional changes in ration composition is as big an environmental change as modern cattle have faced.

Phytonutrients are naturally occurring bioactive compounds derived from plants:  anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory  benefits to animals come from these compounds found in fresh forages at a level  5 to 20 times greater  than exist in the typical grain-based feedlot Total Mixed Ration.

Phytonutrient profiles are significantly higher in  grassfed beef  finished on diverse pastures than you will ever find in typical feedlot beef.  Likewise, the vitamin profile is superior.   The inference is simple:  Healthier soils growing healthy vegetation makes the ideal feed for any ruminant.  For humans the meat of these subsequently healthy animals is provably superior for our health.

Hippurate.   Improved gut microbial diversity and metabolism.    57% higher from grassfed beef.
Cinnamoylglycine.    Reduces Parkinson’s and cancer risks.     65% higher from grassfed beef.
Ergothioneine.    Aids immune function vs an array of diseases.    59% higher from grassfed beef.
4-Ethylphenylsulfate.   Strong anti-fungal activity.    85% higher from grassfed beef.
Histidine Betaine.    67% higher from grassfed beef  when grazed on healthy soils higher in soil fungi and microbial activity...   evidence of the benefit of animal exudates to soil biology.   
Dimethyl Sulfone.    Found in native plant species, 71% higher  demonstrating value of diversity in pasture seedings.        (Clearly, “animals are what they eat.”   All beef is NOT the same.)

As for Vitamin profiles, these studies found Vitamin E to be 64% higher, Vitamin A to be 34% higher, Vitamin C to be 33% higher, Vitamin B6 to be 27% higher, and Vitamin B3 25% higher.    

TRENDS IN MEAT CONSUMPTION over the recent decade

 

40% of USA annual corn production and 60% of USA annual soybean production is currently used in livestock feeding.     Of course, the majority of forage production, in the form of pasturage, hay, haylage, balage, etc is also used in livestock feeding.

And how do we use this livestock?    For dairy, beef, pork, lamb, poultry and pets     (that includes horses)   Of the fraction utilized for meat consumption, the pounds eaten per person per year has increased slightly:

Chicken        115 # per person in 2020      vs  95 # per person in 2010.
Beef                84 # per person in 2020      vs  82 # per person in 2010.
Pork                67 # per person in 2020      vs  59 # per person in 2010.
Lamb     under 2 # per person in 2020      vs 1# per person in 2010.

Of 268 pounds of livestock meat consumed in 2020,  Beef  represented 31.5% of the total.    This compares to 34.75% of the total consumed in 2010.

Is any livestock meat being replaced by seafood (wild caught plus farmed)?
Seafood        19 # per person in 2020      vs  16 # per person in 2010

Fake “meats” made from soybeans have proven to be negligible in consumption.

The cheapest milk you make comes from matured cows

  As you will find from reading the bull highlights enclosed, the cows who make the exceptional lactations and breed back in the process, do these feats in and after a third lactation.

The theory behind “accelerating generations” to increase production carries with it the negative concept that a third lactation cow is “obsolete” fit only for Burger King.     Given Zoetis’ research still proves that a functional third-plus lactation cow will out yield heifer cows by at least 30% is a qualitative gain well above the marginal gains from genetic/genomic selection.   

Productive Life  (PTA-PL)  has done a decent job of screening out the short herdlife cows, but has accomplished nothing across five genetic base periods to increase the realized lifetime of a common dairy cow.    If you wish to breed for exceptional cows, you need to bring in maternal lines that express exceptional productivity in maturity.    This is common cow-sense that seems to be lacking among many who advise you on what sires to use and why you choose them.

When your breeding (and cow performance) gets stuck in a rut of fast turnover and a low percentage of third-plus lactation super cows, consider these concepts.

What do exceptional milk cows look like?

 

The trend of cow physiques coming from multiple generations of highly-ranked Genomic sires may be capable of marginally superior first and second lactations  (when fed an energy-dense ration based on grain corn and oilseeds)  but a trend of progressive physical failure beginning in  third lactation aligns with the sales pitch for accelerating the generations in your herd—keeping a “young” herd from “current” ranked Genomic sires masks the lack of maturability these tight- hipped, short-necked, heavy-shouldered, posty-legged cows typically express in production.

A tight-hocked cow who starts out standing on her toes develops very stiff joints as her legs and feet cope with her maturing weight, leading to early onset of arthritis.    The shallow flank, tight hips and coarse legs squeeze udders forward, with rear udders never developing full capacity – none of these physical developments will aid a cow in fulfilling her mature milking capability.

Among desired qualities:    straight topline, level loin, maintains alignment of interior organs.

Level ridge to rump, moderate interior slope to pelvis, wide thurls centrally placed, open pins.

Full rear udder.   Ample teats centrally placed under quarters, level udder floor.   Soft texture.

Deep, well-sprung rib, triangulated loin from shoulder back to broad hips, elastic fore udder.

Sturdy front end—even stance on front feet, width in chest.          Deep chest—for full heart.