The Colquitt County area received much-needed rain over the weekend. Below is an illustration from the National Weather Service showing rainfall totals from around the area.
Below is a list of row crop production meetings being held in Colquitt County starting in January.
How can I feed cotton seed to cattle? I get questions all the time about feeding cotton seed to cattle. One good thing about hand feeding whole cottonseed in a trough each day is that it prevents over-consumption. Cattle growers need to provide at least 2 feet of bunk space per cow so all cows will be able to eat at the same time. In dry conditions, whole cottonseed may be fed on sod under a temporary electric fence with little wastage. Once cattle are adapted to whole cottonseed, some producers feed cottonseed in a self-feeder. On average, cattle may eat recommended daily amounts; however, individual animal intake is highly variable. Poor quality feed may greatly increase intake. One study reported an intake of 14 pounds of cottonseed per day when self-feeding first-calf heifers. If intake from self-feeders is greater than recommended feeding rates, limiting intake to avoid overeating and providing another source of feed to reduce risk of poor performance and possible reproductive losses would be most economical. It is not recommended to feed whole cottonseed in self-feeders with a V shape because the cottonseed will bridge in the feeder. Take care when self-feeding bulls because they may eat more than the recommended rates, resulting in possible reduced fertility due to excessive gossypol intake.
When can I start grazing my winter annuals? Regardless of species, rotational grazing is strongly recommended for use in annual forage fields. Initiate grazing once forage species planted have reached a minimum of 4-6 inches of growth and are well-rooted. For best results, maintain at least 4-6 inches of stubble height (residual forage) during the growing season until you intend to terminate the crop in the spring. Winter annual legumes can cause bloat if not managed correctly. The risk of bloat can be reduced if the stand is at least 50% grass and animals are not turned onto the pasture when there is dew or they are hungry.
I have a forage test; do I use the as feed or the dry matter? A forage test will have two different numbers listed for each measure of forage quality. To compare numbers and balance rations, use the numbers for dry matter.
What is this RFQ value on my forage test report? This is a common question from cattle producers. Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) is a new index that is currently being used in the UGA Feed and Water Testing Laboratory to evaluate hay samples. This single number index evaluates hay and silage based on the predicted forage digestibility and intake. Currently, all forage sample results from the UGA Feed and Forage Testing Lab in Athens have an RFQ estimate. This value is a single, easy to interpret number that improves producer understanding of a forage’s quality and helps in setting up a fair market value for the product. The index helps hay producers categorize and price hay lots by quality. Cattle producers can buy hay lots depending on its end use. For example, there is little need to feed high-end quality hay to livestock that could easily use a lower quality forage.
Hay with a Relative Forage Quality index of less than 90 should not be considered acceptable for any class of livestock. Hay with a RFQ of 90 to 110 is acceptable, but may need supplementation depending on the class of livestock. Hay with a RFQ of 115 to 130 can be fed to maintain beef cow-calf pairs, with hay with an RFQ of 125 to 150 is adequate for stocker cattle or young growing replacement heifers. Hay with an RFQ of 140 to160 is suitable for dairy cattle in the first three months of lactation.
It is easy to see how the Relative Forage Quality index provides the framework for a quality hay marketing system. For example, hay with an RFQ of 155 could conceptually be labeled “premium” hay, while hay with an RFQ of 105 could be labeled “fair.” This simple system allows producers to price hay consistently and fairly across harvest maturity, fertilization regimes or even plant species (i.e. bermudagrass, bahiagrass, perennial peanut or tall fescue).
Using Relative Forage Quality to Categorize Hay
Is there a way to balance cattle rations for my farm? Why, yes, there is. The UGA Basic Balancer is a spreadsheet-based decision aid to formulate basic rations for beef cattle operations. The nutrient requirements used in this program are adapted from guidelines presented in the 2000 National Research Council publication “Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle: Seventh Revised Edition: Update 2000.” The UGA Basic Balancer program consists of a feed library, least-cost feedstuff analyzer, a ration analyzer, and sections to balance rations for brood cows, bulls, heifers, and stockers. If you would like to use the Basic Balancer, please go to the following link.
Master Irrigator Program – This past year, I had the opportunity to participate in the Master Irrigator Program (MIP). The Master Irrigator Developmental Program teaches farmers to use soil moisture sensing technology to conserve water and increase yields and profits. The initiative is led by the UGA Extension Ag Water Team, which collaborates with local and state agencies to provide one-on-one training with farmers. Participants are assisted by their County Agent and members of the Ag Water Team in installing, reading, and interpreting the data that comes from the soil moisture sensors during the growing season. Kevin Perryman participated in the program last year. The picture below shows producers and county agents who participated in the program this past year. This meeting occurred a couple of weeks ago. If you are interested in going through the program next year, contact your local county agent.
Have a safe week,
Jeremy M. Kichler
Colquitt County Extension Coordinator
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension does not endorse or guarantee the performance of any products mentioned in this update