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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.
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
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 -
More recent variables Genomics Sexed Semen
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
Common nutrition and growth goals for grazing vs. confinement heifers Common factors that effect heifer performance
Growth and target profiles Biological variation Heifer monitoring
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 45-50 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
Body Weight. lbs 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 Jersey Guernsey Aryshire Swiss S-Holstein L-Holstein Shorthorn Age, months Breed Based Heifer Growth Hoffman, 2010
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 < 4.1-4.5 4.6-4.9 5-5.4 5.5 or > Farm A (1,322) % of heifers 2.0 5.1 8.3 32.9 51.7 Final BW, lb 476 465 466 471 473 Final Hip Height, in 45.8 45.2 45.3 45.5 45.5 ADG, lb 1.93 1.90 1.90 1.91 1.93 First calving age 712 718 713 706 703 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
WCROC at 13
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
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, 500-600 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).
Age vs BW or MBW as breeding target? Hoffman, 2008
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 300 600 900 1200 Dry Matter Intake lbs/d DMI 9.3 13.7 19.4 26.9 Crude Protein % of DM CP 16.9 15.0 14.2 13.3 Rumen-Undegraded Protein % of CP RUP 39.4 33.8 30.3 26.3 Rumen-Degraded Protein % of CP RDP 60.6 66.2 69.7 73.7 Total Digestible Nutrients % of DM TDN 67.4 65.3 63.3 62.3 Metabolizable Energy ME Mcals/lb 1.11 1.10 1.08 1.02 1 Determined from the Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 2001
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 2 170 1.6 34 1.3 0.82 18 63 4 280 1.8 38 1.2 0.73 17 63 6 390 1.8 41 1.1 0.68 15 63 8 500 1.8 44 1.1 0.68 15 60 10 610 1.9 47 1.1 0.68 14 60 12 730 2.0 49 1.1 0.68 13 53 14 850 2.0 51 1.1 0.68 13 53 16 970 2.0 52 1.1 0.68 13 53 22 1330 2.0 55 1.1 0.68 13 53 23 precalf 1390 2.0 55 1.2 0.73 15 56 23 postcalf 1240 56 1.3 0.77 18 63
Characteristics of Pasture 18-34% Protein High soluble protein 0.66-0.80 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)
Pastured heifers do require 12-25% more energy and are more influenced by fluctuations in environmental conditions than those in confinement (James, 2004)
Overview of grazing systems
Copied by permission of Gardner and James, 2004
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?
Plan for sufficient water 500 too 600 ft maximum for walking distance to water supply; Turn into new paddock when minimum of 1200-1500 lb DM/acre (2000 lb goal) 6 to 10 in graze down to 3 inches Adjust stocking rate with pasture availability
Important to understand monthly changes in pasture productivity during the grazing season
Forage Yield Courtesy of Scott Poock A Simple System CS Perennial Clover WS Annual CS Annual Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec
SW Missouri Pasture Dairy Dairy rations by season (Hamilton)
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 1,395 69.8 1,445 72.3 810 40.5 Soy hull pellets 440 22.0 0 0.0 500 25.0 Wet molasses 50 2.5 50 2.5 50 2.5 SB meal (47.5%) 0 0.0 130 6.5 0 0.0 Distillers grains (dried) 0 0.0 130 6.5 0 0.0 Corn gluten feed 0 0.0 130 6.5 435 21.8 Fat 50 2.5 50 2.5 50 2.5 Limestone 35 1.8 35 1.8 0 0.0 Trace mineral salt 20 1.0 20 1.0 20 1.0 Di-cal phosphate 0 0.0 0 0.0 10 0.5 Magnesium oxide 10 0.5 10 0.5 0 0.0
Eight 52 ft x 16 ft Receiving Pens for 250 to 350 lb heifers;
Calf and Heifer Housing Space and Grouping Suggestions (Graves, 1996) Age Group Age Spread Wt Spread 2-4 mo 3-5 3 wk 4-6 mo 6-12 2 mo 75 lb 6-9 mo 10-20 3 mo 150 lb 9-12 mo 10-20 3 mo 200 lb 12-18 mo 10-20 6 mo 300 lb 18-1sr calf 10-20 6 mo 300 lb
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 30 9-12 none 4-6 mo 30 15 27 x 48 6-9 mo 30 15 30 x 54 9-12 mo 30 18 34 x 60 12-18 mo 40 20 38 x 72 18-1st calf 40 22 42 x 84
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)
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)
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%
Gustafson Dairy Heifers, Willmar
Gustafson Dairy Heifers, Willmar MN Ration Example
Freestall pens with drive-thru feeding
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
What have we learned when comparing grazing and confined heifers?
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
Confinement feedlot 2 pens of 72 heifers for the study
Fenceline feeding
Moving heifers from transition paddock to main pasture
Daily observation of heifers prior to moving fences
Transition from TMR to pasture and Fed 1-2 lbs of supplement/heifer daily- Bloat guard block in the paddocks; hay also fed
Animal performance Feedlot Average Daily Gain 2.00 in 2000 2.03 in 2001 2.10 in 2002 Pasture Average Daily Gain 2.04 in 2000 1.98 in 2001 1.97 in 2002
Feedlot Costs 2000 2001 2002 Feed 0.73 0.74 0.85 Labor 0.17 0.16 0.20 Machiner y 0.16 0.17 0.18 Facilities 0.05 0.07 0.05 Bedding 0.07 0.12 0.11 Health costs 0.03 0.03 Total 1.21 1.29 1.39
Pasture Costs 2000 2001 2002 Feed 0.28 0.35 0.20 Labor 0.10 0.15 0.07 Machinery 0.06 0.07 0.07 Fencing 0.08 0.15 0.10 Health costs 0.04 0.03 Seed & Fert 0.11 0.05 Pasture 0.23 0.32 0.22 Death Loss 0.15 Total 0.94 1.18 0.71
Heifer Raising Regime 18-22 months May 9, 2000 September 15, 2000 (Torbert)
Nutrient Composition of Diets C Pasture R Pasture TMR Alfalfa Pellets DM, % 37.66 29.05 47.52 90.08 ----------DM Basis---------- CP, % 15.71 17.92 17.95 18.92 NDF, % 54.96 50.78 38.71 51.85 ADF, % 34.45 32.60 28.70 41.79
Heifer Growth C R F P-value N 21 21 21 Initial BW, lb. 968.0 956.7 963.8 0.99 Final BW, lb. 1194.0 b 1175.0 b 1265.0 a 0.03 ADG, lb. 1.74 b 1.69 b 2.34 a 0.01 Initial BCS 3.1 3.0 3.2 0.08 Final BCS 3.5 b 3.6 b 3.7 a 0.01 Initial HH 1, in. 53.8 53.1 53.2 0.46 Final HH, in. 55.1 54.8 55.3 0.57 1 HH= hip height
Lactation Phase
DMI (lb/d) Dry Matter Intake Pre-Partum 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12-14 -12-10 -8-6 -4-2 0 Days Pre-partum P=0.14 C R F
Lactation Results
Diet Ingredient Composition Pre-fresh Lactating Ingredient -----% of Diet, DM basis----- Alfalfa Hay 23.29 12.43 Corn Silage 52.19 38.99 Corn grain --- 17.05 Protein mix --- 31.53 Grain mix 24.52 ---
DMI (lb/d) Dry Matter Intake 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 Week of Lactation C R F
Cow Removals From Lactation Data C R F DA 3 2 7 Death 1 0 1 Mastitis 0 0 1 Skeletal injury 0 1 1 Other* 0 1 0 TOTAL 4 4 10 *Removed because of 2 blind quarters
Lactation Performance C R F P-value N, through 250 days 16 17 11 DMI, lb/d 43.2 a 45.2 a 40.4 b 0.03 BW, lb 1183.9 1161.6 1189.8 0.76 BCS 2.9 2.9 3.1 0.29 Milk, lb/d 66.4 73.4 68.8 0.19 4% FCM, lb/d 60.6 64.2 59.8 0.31
Summary observations
Heifers will meet target goals on pasture or confinement. Good management is the key to success.
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