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.

50,000 actual pounds of milk in a 365-day lactation … Is still an enormous achievement for any Holstein cow!

 

50,000 pounds  (actual, not “Mature Equivalent”—which old timers call “Maybe Eventually”)  is 137 pounds per day, every day for a year.     While a normal lactation less than the world record cows (82,600 pounds in Japan;  78,170 pounds in the USA;  68,900 pounds for Red & Whites), it is still a magnificent 99^th percentile achievement for any dairy cow.

Our combine of  “real numbers”  AI studs may have the most sons of such cows

The ”Big Genomic AI studs” have adapted the IVF- ET technology to its most extreme level, thus their embryo donors never calve—never produce a drop of “real” milk.    The surgical process in use to harvest oocytes [eggs] from juvenile ovaries basically ruins the donor for any production.
With the exception of bulls big studs may buy from a handful of competing breeder-dairymen, you will never see a production record (or classification score) on the ancestry of their Genomic sires.    There are now bulls in AI service with no verified lactation or classification records for their nearest three generations of dams and grandams.

Examples  of  “real numbers”  cows behind bulls we offer

54 HO 929  Joliam DR Gamechanger- ET     (aAa 6 1 5)      A1A1 Beta Casein            $ 15
This even-tempered and intelligent bull is owned by No Bull Solutions.     His dam is the amazing USA world-record holder Selz-Pralle Aftershock 3918 who has twice exceeded 70,000 pounds (in fact, she did this back to back with only 55 days dry between!)  so has  three 50,000# lactations.
Her life production total of 317,150 pounds means she averaged 153 pounds per day in milk!!

54 HO 935  Jeffrey-Way Sporty *RC- ET       (aAa 2 4 3)                                           $ 15
This bull’s EX 94- 3E “Gold Medal” dam proves that polled in no way interferes with production.   Her last three lactations all exceed 50,000 pounds milk on 2x milking; with a life total to date of over 316,170 pounds at 12 years of age she continues to soldier on adding to exceptional totals.   Six of his seven nearest pedigree dams have made lactations above 40,000 pounds, proving this sort of behavior is maternally heritable.

Also worth considering:    566 HO 1303  Misty-Moor Porsche- ET    (aAa 3 1 5)     A2A2
His lower Somatic Cell Scores reinforce that healthy udders produce more milk, like his momma!
                                       288 HO 0237  Adaway Rio 2183    (aAa 3 4 5)     A2A2  &  BB
He has three maternal dams all over 40,000 pounds at immature ages, and is our highest PTAM.

Foreign investors now control the “Big AI” systems in the USA

 

Originally viewed as a major technology transformation in Dairy genetic selection, DNA mapping of the bovine genome is used to calculate “Genomic” index values.   Wider use of gender-sorted semen (under a patent controlled by Inguran LLC, dba “Sexing Technologies”) came about due to the sales spin put on Genomic “values”, causing a shift in favor of marketing young sires over progeny-tested sires, and the faster turnover of bulls from marketing lists.    

                              A destabilizing decade of change for the AI industry
At the time these two factors took hold the major Dairy AI studs were Accelerated Genetics, CRI Genex, Select Sires, ABS Global, Semex, Alta Genetics,Taurus-Service and International Protein Sires.   Sexing Technologies quickly formed “ST Genetics”  using the cash this generated to invest in high value Genomic ET donors…   Now, after ten years, first Accelerated failed and was absorbed into Select Sires;  then Genex failed and was absorbed into Alta Genetics;  Taurus-Service was purchased by ST Genetics; and last fall it was announced that Select Sires and ST Genetics are merging their genetic programs and technology development.   Ownership control of “big [Genomic] USA- AI” is now in Columbia, Europe, and Canada … 

Dean Wittenbach—in memoriam

  Many of you will remember Dean, our long-time route serviceman originally hired by my Dad (Charles Palen) back in the late “Curtiss” days, transitioning to Tri-State Breeders and Landmark Genetics, then Semex USA, then Taurus-Service.    Retiring in 2017, he had lived quietly with wife Julie outside Ionia.    Dean dealt with major circulation issues since then, and passed away after a heart attack late December. 
He was 72 years old.   

CONFIRMING PREGNANCY IN THE FALL

 

A highly skilled inseminator on a ranch with a lot of cows might choose to purchase their own “Ultrasound” equipment, but you have to be prepared to spend around $ 5,000.    For the rest of us, hiring a veterinary service to check the herd once or twice a year still pays, IF you decide to send the “open” cows to market, to save the feed $$ they will cost to carry to next season.

The cheapest alternatives today may include the Enlabs “P Test” which is a strip that will test for hormones in the urine stream.     They will give some indication nearly as early after breeding as ultrasound, but are most accurate around 60 days post breeding— and when you are checking spring bred cows in the fall, this covers a majority of the cows.

Breeding cows to get pregnant more easily, is a good long term strategy.    How much money is an “open” cow making you?     (She is costing you feed instead.)      How much do you currently spend to achieve optimal pregnancy percentages?     Genetic selection for cow fertility is maybe even more important to cow-calf profitability than chasing the premium price “performance” sires that do not enhance fertility genetics in your future cow herd.

Irregardless, whether seeking show type “clubby” sires, or performance type purebred sires, or maternal traits sires, our selection of breeds and variety of breeder sources works in your favor.

Mich Livestock Service, Inc  ***     “For the best in bulls”   as well as    “Higher energy forages”
ph (989) 834- 2661                              email:  greg@michiganlivestock.com