FAQs: We will graze irrigated cornstalks this year, at the rate of one 1400# cow per acre/month, with salt/mineral. What is the cheapest cost source to provide the rest of their needed diet? These are cows that will calve in March, and will be on these stalks until middle Feb. Also we were thinking of buying some last chance cows to graze,calve out,and sell as pairs in the spring. These cows might need to gain some weight.As in many areas this year, there is not as much corn on the ground as last year.We will watch condition closely, and possibly rotate cows to new stalks sooner.

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Q: We will graze irrigated cornstalks this year, at the rate of one 1400# cow per acre/month, with salt/mineral. What is the cheapest cost source to provide the rest of their needed diet? These are cows that will calve in March, and will be on these stalks until middle Feb. Also we were thinking of buying some last chance cows to graze,calve out,and sell as pairs in the spring. These cows might need to gain some weight.As in many areas this year, there is not as much corn on the ground as last year.We will watch condition closely, and possibly rotate cows to new stalks sooner.

A: If the stalk field that the cows will be grazing produced 200 bu/acre, then we would calculate that there is about 3200 lb of dry matter per acre for the cow to consume. I would assume about 50% use, therefore about 1600 lb of dry matter per acre. The cows weigh 1400 lb and that is 1.4 AUM (1 aum = 680 lb of dry matter) or 952 lb of dry matter per 1400 lb cow per month. So to graze these cows for 90 days (Nov 15 to Feb 15), you would allocate 2 acres per cow (I would probably allocate 2.5 acres per cow in this example) if the grain yield was 200 bu/acre. I go through these because if you over-stock, then my supplementation strategy may be different then if you stock the corn field aas calculated above. Remember, cows are selective grazers and will select the husk and leaves first. One of the keys here is how long after they are removed from the stalks will they begin to calve and what will they be fed this 20 to 30 day period prior to calving. If the cows are in a body condition score 5.5 on stalks and if they will be fed high quality hay and alfalfa prior to calving, I don't think I would supplement anything other than salt and mineral for cows on stalks, especially if in that time period you rotate into a fresh stalk field. Watch young cows (females coming with their second calf) closely to make sure they are not losing condition. If cows are BCS 5, 20 days before the end of stalk grazing, consider supplementation. They will need both protein and energy.

- 3 lb/hd per day of dried distillers grains, or 8 lb/hd/da of wet distillers. OR 5 lb/hd/da of alfalfa

For the purchased cows, supplementation depends on their condition. If they are thin, I think I would try to pick up condition early in the stalk grazing period. 30 days after the beginning of the grazing period, begin supplementing:

- 2.5 lb/hd per day of dried distillers grains, or 6.5 lb/hd/da of wet distillers. OR 4 lb/hd/da of alfalfa

For these cows, something that has both protein and energy would help increase utilization of the stalks and added energy to their diet.

I recommend March calving cows to be in at least BCS of 5 at calving.

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science
Animal Science, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
November 9th, 2007

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