Many thanks for your support of the Dairy Seminars and for sponsoring Hugh Chester-Jones from U of Minnesota

Transcription

1 Many thanks for your support of the Dairy Seminars and for sponsoring Hugh Chester-Jones from U of Minnesota

2 Use of Grazing vs. Confinement for Growing Post-Weaning Heifers Hugh Chester-Jones U of MN Southern Research and Outreach Center, Waseca Missouri Dairy Profit Seminars February 23-27, 2015 Missouri Dairy Association and University of Missouri 2014 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

3 Discussion on grazing and confinement as independent or integrated management systems How to meet target growth goals? Evaluate direct comparisons of heifers grazing or raised in confinement

4 Production (System) Goals Quality Control Systems (Hoffman, 2004) - Breeding Age/Weight - Calf Weaning Criteria - Feed efficiency - Calving Age/Weight - Feed Cost Controls --Precision feeding - Body condition - Reproductive Efficiency - Vaccination Goals - Colostrum Feeding Goals - Morbidity/Mortality - Passive Transfer - Bunk Score Guidelines - Variance Control -

5 More recent variables Genomics Sexed Semen

6 Main reasons listed by Rossini (MS Virginia Tech, 2004), of the heifers that left the herd prior to the end of first lactation, Culling heifers for feet and legs (14.4%), mastitis (17.4%) and reproduction (27.4%) were the The incidences of lameness in calves and heifers is variable and can occur due to congenital defects, infectious diseases, feeding and management systems or environmental factors (Shearer, 2005). Trendel et al. (2005) in a study with 572 Holstein heifers found that presence of claw disorders during heifer rearing increased the risk of developing claw disorders during lactation. In our 3 dairies there are 83% of the heifers that we raise complete lactation

7 Common nutrition and growth goals for grazing vs. confinement heifers Common factors that effect heifer performance

8 Growth and target profiles Biological variation Heifer monitoring

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10 Targets for large breed heifer rearing in Intensive management conditions (Van de Haar, 2009) Variable Age at first breeding Body weight at first breeding Age at first calving Target 13 to 15 months 800 to 820 lb 22 to 24 months Body weight after calving 1250 Withers height at calving (small breeds in) 56 in Body condition score at calving 3.0 to 3.5 Growth rate from 3 to 10 months of age 1.8 to 2.0 lb/day

11 Body Weight. lbs Jersey Guernsey Aryshire Swiss S-Holstein L-Holstein Shorthorn Age, months Breed Based Heifer Growth Hoffman, 2010

12 Example of raw means profile of heifers by farm showing relationships of initial serum protein to growth by 6 months of age at SROC and by complete lactations on their home dairies Initial SP, g/dl 4 or < or > Farm A (1,322) % of heifers Final BW, lb Final Hip Height, in ADG, lb First calving age Final Std ME, lb 27,076 28,997 29,387 29,186 29,270 Rations 6 mths to pre-fresh limit fed grain and forage or TMR

13 WCROC at 13

14 Cross breeding U of MN Established in 2002 with Jersey AI bulls and Holsteins at the seasonal grazing dairy in Morris and Confinement herd in St. Paul. Now also using Montbeliardes, and Swedish Red s. Have used Normande breed Advantages for reproduction efficiency and longevity Current work with 10 dairy herds cross-breeding (Montebeliardes, Swedish Red, Jersey) vs. Holstein

15 When to breed? Age, vs. BW vs. % of mature BW? Puberty begins at 50-55% of mature BW. This occurs at about 700 lb for large breeds, lb for smaller breeds When heifers reach 60-65% of their mature weight they are usually bred after exhibiting three to five estrus cycles (Hoffman, 2003b). Heifers within breed should reach 85% of mature BW after their first calving, 92% after their 2nd calving, and 96% after their third calving (Van Amburgh, 2005).

16 Age vs BW or MBW as breeding target? Hoffman, 2008

17 Table 1. Dietary energy and protein guidelines 1 for large breed dairy heifers gaining 1.8 lbs/day in a thermal neutral environment. Heifer Body Weight, lbs Item Unit Abbreviation Dry Matter Intake lbs/d DMI Crude Protein % of DM CP Rumen-Undegraded Protein % of CP RUP Rumen-Degraded Protein % of CP RDP Total Digestible Nutrients % of DM TDN Metabolizable Energy ME Mcals/lb Determined from the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 2001

18 Guidelines for feeding Holstein heifers ad libitum to calve at 23 months (Van de Haar, 2009) Age mths BW lb Gain lb/day WH in ME Mcal /lb NE m Mcal lb % CP CP: ME g/mcal precalf postcalf

19 Characteristics of Pasture 18-34% Protein High soluble protein Net Energy 30 55% NDF Low non-fiber carbohydrates 12-24% Heifer intake 1.2% of BW as cell wall (NDF). (Rickard U of MO Extension)

20 Pastured heifers do require 12-25% more energy and are more influenced by fluctuations in environmental conditions than those in confinement (James, 2004)

21 Overview of grazing systems

22 Copied by permission of Gardner and James, 2004

23 Use transition paddocks to train heifers to electric fence Paddocks as square as possible organize into optimum number and size 2 heifers/acre? Plan for 2.5% BW DMI or a total of 4% BW DM allowance System rotation 2-3 weeks in spring; 6-7 weeks in summer; 3-4 days/paddock?

24 Plan for sufficient water 500 too 600 ft maximum for walking distance to water supply; Turn into new paddock when minimum of lb DM/acre (2000 lb goal) 6 to 10 in graze down to 3 inches Adjust stocking rate with pasture availability

25 Important to understand monthly changes in pasture productivity during the grazing season

26 Forage Yield Courtesy of Scott Poock A Simple System CS Perennial Clover WS Annual CS Annual Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

27 SW Missouri Pasture Dairy Dairy rations by season (Hamilton)

28 SW Missouri Dairy Center Dairy Rations Ingredient Spring Ration Summer Ration Winter Ration Cool Season Grass Warm Season Grass High Quality Alfalfa lbs/ton % lbs/ton % lbs/ton % Corn 1, , Soy hull pellets Wet molasses SB meal (47.5%) Distillers grains (dried) Corn gluten feed Fat Limestone Trace mineral salt Di-cal phosphate Magnesium oxide

29 Eight 52 ft x 16 ft Receiving Pens for 250 to 350 lb heifers;

30 Calf and Heifer Housing Space and Grouping Suggestions (Graves, 1996) Age Group Age Spread Wt Spread 2-4 mo wk 4-6 mo mo 75 lb 6-9 mo mo 150 lb 9-12 mo mo 200 lb mo mo 300 lb 18-1sr calf mo 300 lb

31 Calf and Heifer Housing Space and Grouping Suggestions (Graves, 1996) Age Min Sq ft/hd Feed Bunk Freestall pen/pack 20% < TMR W x L, in 2-4 mo none 4-6 mo x mo x mo x mo x st calf x 84

32 Key control points in confinement Monitoring and manage variance Adjust to change in environment Avoid over conditioning High tonnage forage TMR quality control Cull heifers effectively Have a good management team (Hoffman, 2006)

33 Feeding variance control Minimize shrinkage and waste Avoid overfeeding protein, minerals and vitamins Procure forages that are economical in heifer rations Purchase ingredients that result in the cheapest ration while providing needed nutrients. Minimize heifer maintenance costs Avoid weigh back or wasted feed in the bunks Consider limit feeding where appropriate (Bethard, 2009)

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36 Feed bunk management to control feed loss and help save on feed costs U of WI Scoring modified from SDSU and ISU 0 = Slick concrete 1 = Few feed particles remaining (daily objective) 2 = Many feed particles but concrete still visible 3 = Large amounts of feed covers the bottom of the bunk If 0 score = increase feed 2% 1 = No change 2 = decrease feed 2% 3 = decrease feed 5%

37 Gustafson Dairy Heifers, Willmar

38 Gustafson Dairy Heifers, Willmar MN Ration Example

39 Freestall pens with drive-thru feeding

40 Heifer transition to first calving Adjust to change in housing type (pasture to free stalls or bedded pack) Moderate energy diet prepartum to prevent overconditioning House heifers and cows separately Provide exercise opportunities Adapted from Litherland, 2009

41 What have we learned when comparing grazing and confined heifers?

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43 Producer question: Feedlot or Pasture for Growing Heifers Can growing dairy heifers attain a target 2 pounds per head per day in a MIG pasture system over the grazing season? How do costs of the MIG pasture system compare to a feedlot system for growing dairy heifers? Does raising dairy heifers on pasture generate enough returns per acre to justify converting corn-soybean land into pasture? Funded by Sustainable Agriculture Program, MDA

44 Confinement feedlot 2 pens of 72 heifers for the study

45 Fenceline feeding

46 Moving heifers from transition paddock to main pasture

47 Daily observation of heifers prior to moving fences

48 Transition from TMR to pasture and Fed 1-2 lbs of supplement/heifer daily- Bloat guard block in the paddocks; hay also fed

49 Animal performance Feedlot Average Daily Gain 2.00 in in in 2002 Pasture Average Daily Gain 2.04 in in in 2002

50 Feedlot Costs Feed Labor Machiner y Facilities Bedding Health costs Total

51 Pasture Costs Feed Labor Machinery Fencing Health costs Seed & Fert Pasture Death Loss 0.15 Total

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53 Heifer Raising Regime months May 9, 2000 September 15, 2000 (Torbert)

54 Nutrient Composition of Diets C Pasture R Pasture TMR Alfalfa Pellets DM, % DM Basis CP, % NDF, % ADF, %

55 Heifer Growth C R F P-value N Initial BW, lb Final BW, lb b b a 0.03 ADG, lb b 1.69 b 2.34 a 0.01 Initial BCS Final BCS 3.5 b 3.6 b 3.7 a 0.01 Initial HH 1, in Final HH, in HH= hip height

56 Lactation Phase

57 DMI (lb/d) Dry Matter Intake Pre-Partum Days Pre-partum P=0.14 C R F

58 Lactation Results

59 Diet Ingredient Composition Pre-fresh Lactating Ingredient -----% of Diet, DM basis----- Alfalfa Hay Corn Silage Corn grain Protein mix Grain mix

60 DMI (lb/d) Dry Matter Intake Week of Lactation C R F

61 Cow Removals From Lactation Data C R F DA Death Mastitis Skeletal injury Other* TOTAL *Removed because of 2 blind quarters

62 Lactation Performance C R F P-value N, through 250 days DMI, lb/d 43.2 a 45.2 a 40.4 b 0.03 BW, lb BCS Milk, lb/d % FCM, lb/d

63 Summary observations

64 Heifers will meet target goals on pasture or confinement. Good management is the key to success.

65 Thanks for Listening