Cow-Calf Corner | November 28, 2022
Herd Liquidation May Be Slowing Down
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist
Weekly beef cow slaughter has been higher year over year for 70 consecutive weeks. In that period, on only four occasions has the year over year increase been less than 3.0 percent. The latest weekly data shows that beef cow slaughter was up 2.7 percent year over year, just the second week this year up less than 3.0 percent. It’s too early to be sure but beef cow slaughter may be slowing down. In Oklahoma auctions, the weekly volume of cull cows was double last year from July through early November before declining the past two weeks. Two weeks ago, the weekly cull volume was about equal to last year, and the volume in the latest weekly data is down 9.0 percent year over year.
For the year to date, beef cow slaughter is up 12.3 percent year over year. If beef cow slaughter were to decline to just equal year ago levels for the remaining weeks of the year, total beef cow slaughter for the year would be up 10.5 percent year over year. This would be a net beef cow herd culling rate of 13.1 percent for the year, a new record level. The actual culling rate is likely to be a little higher.
However, heifer slaughter has not yet shown any signs of decreasing. The October 1 quarterly cattle on feed report showed that the number of heifers in feedlots was still up 1.7 percent year over year. Since that report, weekly heifer slaughter has continued to be up over four percent year over year with the most recent week up 5.8 percent over the same week one year ago. Lower feedlot placements in October presumably means fewer heifers entering feedlots as well and reduced heifer slaughter eventually.
For the year to date, heifer slaughter is up 4.9 percent over last year. By several relative measures, 2022 heifer slaughter is at the highest level since 2003. Similar to the beef cow slaughter speculation, if heifer slaughter dropped to be just equal to last year for the remainder of the year, total annual heifer slaughter would be up 4.3 percent year over year. Beef cow and heifer slaughter could drop to year ago levels, or even lower, but it seems unlikely at this point and the number of weeks remaining in the year is dwindling rapidly.
With drought continuing, it is not clear what to expect for cow and heifer slaughter going forward. It seems likely that many producers have adjusted herd inventories, given hay and feed supplies, to be able get through the winter. This might mean that cow culling will slow down through the winter. If La Niña persists next spring, more liquidation can be expected going into the next growing season.
In any event, the damage to cattle industry female inventories is already done in 2022. Total cow plus heifer slaughter is over 51 percent of total cattle slaughter so far this year and is likely to average over 50 percent for the entire year. This is the highest female slaughter percentage since 1986. The female slaughter percentage varies in a fairly narrow range, and it looks like the percentage for 2022 will be more than two standard deviations above the average of the past 30 years. In other words, the level of cow plus heifer slaughter this year is very rare and indicates the most severe depletion of female cattle inventories in more than three decades.
Feeding Baled Crop Residues to Wintering Beef Cows
Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist
The Rancher’s Thursday Webinar on November 17th had Dr. Mary Drewnoski from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln present over feeding baled crop residues to beef cows as an alternative to feeding normal hay crops. To effectively feed cows through the winter producers should understand the quality of the forage they are feeding and how it fits the cow’s nutrient requirements and impacts forage intake.
Crop residues like wheat straw, corn stalks, or soybean residue are low quality roughages, with total digestible nutrient (TDN) content ranging from around 39% for soybean residue to 45% for wheat straw and corn stalks. Protein levels are also very low at around 3 to 5%. Also, the bottom end of the corn or sorghum stalk is very low in nutrient quality, cows will sort out most of this portion and intake will be very low. Drewnoski stated that grain sorghum residue is actually higher in TDN and crude protein at 52 5o 55% TDN and 5 to 7% crude protein.
Grain sorghum residue can meet the requirements of a cow in late gestation, the stage most of our spring calving cows are in from now through mid-February, while other residues from corn, wheat, or soybean harvest will need significant supplementation for these cows.
Hay baled from a failed soybean crop is much higher in quality than residues baled after harvest. Soybean hay often reaches 55% TDN and 14 to 20% crude protein. It is key to capture the soybean leaf because that is where the best nutrient content is, and the stems are low in energy. Also, the pod adds a lot of protein and energy as it fills, because of the high protein and oil content of the soybean seeds. It is very hard to dry down soybean hay because of the stems and pods, so Drewnoski warns of the potential of mold forming in the bales.
Drewnoski’s final comments:
- The residue bales should be sampled for analysis to determine the feeding value. At least 15 to 20 bales should be sampled from each field.
- Be aware of nitrate issues in these residues and test to ensure levels are below toxic thresholds.
- Feeding waste will be an issue.
- Feeding processed hay and residue on the ground can result in losses of up to 40%, so feeding in a bunk is advisable.
- Open bottom round bale feeders can have up to 30% waste, sheeted bottom feeders can reduce this to 20%.
- Cone feeders reduce the waste to less than 10%.
This Thursday producers, County Extension Educators and Area Livestock Specialists will cover limit feeding hay and concentrate in Atoka county and using cotton crop residues to winter beef cows in Comanche county. Register for this webinar.