Cow/Calf "Intensification" ???

[Stocker Steve]

This has been a popular high input topic recently. One approach is to limit feed cows in a lot. Another approach is to supplement cows on pasture. Both assume expensive land and inexpensive feed and available labor. Ironically - - this intensification is not too far from the traditional heavy snow country approach where you feed hay in a wintering yard for 6 to 7 months of the year. The number of empty sheds and farm yards in northern MN suggest it did not work very well in the past.

Is there a reason is will work now - - in good times and in bad times ? Or is this just a temporary opportunity to increase TMR utilization until roughage and byproduct prices go up?

 

[bmoore87]

Depends on the situation we have to go up another $50 or so inper pair rents before we would start dry lotting most of our cows. Have done it with groups of 30-50 cows when short on pasture and have some neighbors who do it year since alot of pastures went into crop ground in our area. Would be nice to not have to haul cows out to pasture and be able to watch them better, but doing chores every day year round would get old.

 

[shaz]

This has been a popular high input topic recently. One approach is to limit feed cows in a lot. Another approach is to supplement cows on pasture. Both assume expensive land and inexpensive feed and available labor. Ironically - - this intensification is not too far from the traditional heavy snow country approach where you feed hay in a wintering yard for 6 to 7 months of the year. The number of empty sheds and farm yards in northern MN suggest it did not work very well in the past.

Is there a reason is will work now - - in good times and in bad times ? Or is this just a temporary opportunity to increase TMR utilization until roughage and byproduct prices go up?

It can work right now. 2008? No way.