1. Effect of Extended Grazing
Management on Economics &
Manure Distribution
Doug Landblom
Dickinson Research Extension Center
Beef Cattle Specialist
November 19, 2013

2. Management Decisions Have a
Large Impact on Economics and
Manure Distribution

3. Management Situations

Backgrounding
Utilize annual forage (unharvested corn) to provide
good quality growing diet after 7 days
In drylot to recover from weaning
2 Methods:
 Early Weaning (Aug – Sept)
Early & Normal Weaning vs. Feedlot Direct
 Normal weaning (November 1st) –
Lucas Hoff Farm, Richardton

4. Management Situations
Integrated Crop & Beef Cattle

5. Management Situations

Integrated Crop & Beef Cattle Systems

Yearling Steer Component (Pasture & Annual Forage):
 Winter:
 Summer
Backgrounding at modest gain grazing corn with hay
and Fall Sequence Grazing
Crested wheatgrass > native pasture > pea-barley > unharvested corn >
feedlot finishing

Cow Component (Pasture & Crop Residues):
 May
– June Calving
 Summer:
 Fall
Native Range
& Winter After Weaning (Nov):
Sequence Grazing: Cover crops > winter pasture > corn and sunflower
residue > drylot (1.5-2.0 month) > calving on early spring pasture with
supplemental hay

6. WEANING DATE:
Backgrounding Systems Economics
Pasture
Control
(Feedlot)
Normal
Wean–Nov
(Corn)
Early WeanAug
(Corn)
Early Wean
(Feedlot)
System Days
80
38.5
81
86
End Wt
620
703
645
611
Gain
165
85.2
179
206
ADG
2.06
2.21
2.21
2.40
Net Ret/Hd
$87.50
-$5.82
$93.19
$69.56
Cost/Lb. Ga.
$0.59
$1.08
$0.52
$0.66

7. %
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
100
81
7.9 T
6.5 T
19
1.5 T
Grazing Feedlot
0
Grazing Feedlot

8. Lucas Hoff Farm:
Extensive Weaning Demonstration

9. 32 Day Corn Grazing Economics
2012
32 Day Estimated Calf GainValue
8,652# Gain @ $1.55/Cwt
2013
$13,411
Expenses for Corn, Stress Barrels, and Hay
-$1,589
Estimated 32 Day Net Return
$11,822
Corn Yield: 40 bu/Ac
1200 bu @ $7/bu
$8,400
Difference
$3,422
Corn-Beef Price/Bu Equivalent
$11,822/1200 bu.
$9.85
Gain over $7/bu corn
$2.85
Gain over $3.70/bu corn
$6.10

10. %
0.11 TON
100
80
60
40
20
0
93
1.6 T
7
Grazing (%)
Drylot (%)
0.11 T

11. Yearling Steer Growing-Finishing Life Cycle

12. Yearling Production System Net Return, $
PST
9.09
200
0
200
400
ANN
-30.10
-298.05
FTL

13. 100
80
60
%
40
20
0
86
65
7.65 T
8.9 T
35
4.0 T
Grazing Feedlot
14
1.4 T
Drylot Feedlot

14. %
100
80
60
40
20
0
88
10.1 T
12
1.4 T
Grazing
Drylot