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Safety Around Horses • The National Agricultural Law Center and Other Noteworthy Web Sites • Clovers for Stocker Cattle Grazing Bermudagrass • Evaluating Hay Storage Methods • It's All About Cheese • New Herbicides for Summer Grass Control in Bermudagrass

The National Agricultural Law Center and Other Noteworthy Web Sites
Dr. Shane Gadberry, Assistant Professor

Many of the Animal Science eNews topics focus on production practices and demonstration results. However, it is also a valuable mechanism to introduce subscribers to other e-Resources. One resource Animal Science E-News readers may not be aware of is the National Agricultural Law Center located at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville campus. The center and its working relationship with the Drake Agricultural Law Center in Des Moines, Iowa, make it a one-of-a-kind center across the whole

U.S. It is recognized as the nation's leading source for agricultural and food law research and information, serving the entire agricultural community from farmers to policy-makers since its creation in 1987.

If there's a question regarding agricultural law, the answer can probably be found on their Web site <www.nationalaglawcenter.org>. The Web site is a clearinghouse of information on both federal and state laws pertaining to animal welfare, agri-tourism, country-of-origin labeling as well as 43 other topics that can be accessed through the reading rooms, publications or CRS reports menus. If the answer can't be found, the center has also posted contact information on their Web site.

If an animal disease is of interest, the Merck Vet Manual is available online <http://www.merckvetmanual.com>. The online manual covers pathology, clinical findings, diagnosis, treatment and disease control and prevention. It is a good source to learn more about various diseases if the reader is willing to use a medical dictionary to decipher the medical terminology. If trying to solve an animal health problem, definitely consult with a local veterinarian before trying to diagnose a disease from the manual.

A third web browser bookmark readers may find useful is the Compendium of Veterinary Products <http://bovinemeds.naccvp.com> sponsored by Fort Dodge (a part of Pfizer animal health) and Bayer. Product label information such as dosage and withdrawal information is available for dewormers, medicated feed additives and vaccines.

Along the same topic of labels, Crop Data Management Systems provides an agro-chemical database of herbicide manufacturer labels <http://www.cdms.net/LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx>. If a label is no longer legible on that jug of Grazon or Remedy, try a brand name search to get detailed information on application precautions and appropriate chemical protective clothing, mixing requirements and grazing or haying withdrawals.

The final database of information that some readers may find useful is the DairyOne feedstuff analysis database. The forage laboratory service of DairyOne maintains a feed composition library <http://www.dairyone.com/Forage /FeedComp/disclaimer.asp>. The library provides averages and normal ranges of energy and protein feeds analyzed for common feeds, such as corn gluten feed, as well as not so common feeds to Arkansas producers, such as soy byproduct. If looking for forage test or poultry litter values, Arkansas specific values can be obtained at <http://feedanalysis.uaex.edu/>.

Clovers for Stocker Cattle Grazing Bermudagrass
Dr. Paul Beck, Associate Professor

Clovers provide many benefits to pastures for stocker producers. Most people consider the ability of clovers and other legumes to fixate nitrogen from the atmosphere the primary benefit they offer our pastures. Clovers provide additional benefits to grass pastures because they are higher in digestibility, they grow well as a companion crop to grasses and their mineral profiles are naturally complementary to deficiencies in grass pasture and provide early grazing opportunities for warm-season pastures.

There are several options available in planting clovers in the Mid-South with a variety of benefits, growing seasons and maturity dates. White clover is a cool-season perennial that is productive throughout Arkansas, tolerates soils that are not well drained, is cold tolerant and matures in late spring or early summer. Red clover is a cool-season biennial or weak perennial in Northern Arkansas, requires well drained soils, is cold tolerant and matures in mid-summer. In the past few years new varieties of both white and red clover were developed that are more productive and disease resistant in conditions found in the Southeastern United States.

Research conducted in 2009 at the University of Arkansas Livestock and Forestry Branch Station near Batesville compared the gains of stocker calves and carrying capacity of bermudagrass pastures interseeded with a mixture of red and white clovers to bermudagrass pastures fertilized with 0, 50 or 100 lb N/acre (which came from 0, 150 and 300 lb of ammonium nitrate/acre). Bermudagrass pastures were interseeded with 2 lb/acre RegalGraze Ladino white clover and 10 lb/acre Morningstar red clover in October 2008 with a no-till drill. Other bermudagrass pastures were either unfertilized or had 75 or 150 lb/acre ammonium nitrate applied in May and July. Pastures were divided into four paddocks and rotated weekly. Steers weighing 611 lb grazed these pastures from May 29 to September 9.

Crude protein and energy are essential for growth. A steer gaining 2 lb/d requires a diet that has at least 12% crude protein. Throughout the summer, all pastures were in excess of 12% crude protein and averaged in excess of 15%. Energy is conveniently measured using Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). Growing steers require TDN content of their diet to be 60% and 67% for gains of 1.25 lb/d and 2 lb/d, respectively. Total digestible nutrients of the bermudagrass increased with increasing nitrogen fertilizer throughout the summer. In May TDN content of bermudagrass increased from 60% to 69% with additional fertilizer; this can be compared to 69% TDN from forage in clover pastures. While in June, TDN of bermudagrass was 67%, 67% and 69% for 0, 50 and 100 lb/acre nitrogen rates, respectively, while TDN content of clover pastures was 72%. Fertilized pastures in July were only 62% to 64% TDN while clover pastures were 69% TDN. In August, clover pastures were 65% TDN compared to 62% to 67% for fertilized pastures.

Average daily gain of steers increased from 1.1 to 1.4 lb/day with increasing nitrogen fertilization. Steers grazing pastures with clover gained

1.6 lb/day. Carrying capacity of the pastures increased with nitrogen fertilizer (265, 286, 298 steer-days/acre for 0, 50 and 100 lb N/acre fertilizer rates, respectively). Clover pastures had as many steer grazing days per acre (295 steer days/acre) as the high nitrogen rate pastures, and total gain per acre was greater for clover pastures (467 lb gain/acre) than with nitrogen fertilization (302, 359, 391 lb gain/acre).

Clovers and other legumes are beneficial additions to pastures through nitrogen fixation, but even more benefits are realized from the added energy in the diet of grazing livestock.

Evaluating Hay Storage Methods
Kenny Simon, Program Associate

The winter of 2009 was one to remember with extended periods of record low temperatures and above average snowfall. Not to mention the rain. But, in spite of all the adverse weather conditions, spring has sprung! Days are getting longer, temperatures are rising and grass is beginning to grow. Soon there will be excess grass that will need to be harvested and stored for winter feeding. The method in which hay is stored will have an impact on the amount of hay required to carry the herd through the winter.

In 2009, five hay storage loss demonstrations were conducted in four counties: Calhoun, Fulton, Izard and Union. Storage methods included 1) outside, on the ground, uncovered, twine wrapped; 2) outside, elevated on tires, uncovered, twine wrapped; 3) outside, on the ground, uncovered, plastic net wrap; 4) outside, stored on concrete, uncovered, plastic net wrap; 5) barn, twine wrapped. The average hay quality of the bales was 11.1% protein and 58.1% TDN. The bales used measured 4' x 5' with an average dry matter weight of 674 pounds.

Several observations were made on storage losses over an average 237-day storage period. The greatest dry matter loss, 25.4% or 170 lb, was associated with bales that were stored outside, on the ground, uncovered, twine wrapped. Twine-wrapped bales showed significant deterioration along the twine valleys, penetrating several inches into the bale. Significant deterioration was also seen on the bottom of the bales where the bales were in contact with the ground. The higher moisture content at the bottom of the bales stored on the ground, outside, causes the hay to decay more rapidly, resulting in dry matter loss.

One study compared bales stored outside, on the ground, uncovered, twine wrapped with bales stored outside, elevated on tires, uncovered, twine wrapped. Storing the bales on tires reduced waste from 22.6% to 19.8%, a 12% reduction. In a Louisiana study, 10 percent less hay was lost from handling and storage when hay was stored on a wooden rack versus being stored on the ground.

Plastic net wrapping was an effective way of reducing loss associated with hay being stored outside. Hay that was stored outside, on the ground, uncovered, plastic net wrap had an average dry matter loss of 13.3% or 86 lb. No benefit was seen in this study by storing the hay on concrete. This is likely due to the fact moisture was being trapped beneath the bale and the hay that was stored on the ground was at a well drained site.

The least amount of dry matter loss, 9.6% or 66 lb, was associated with bales stored in a barn, twine wrapped. A permanent hay shed is the best method of minimizing storage losses. However, the cost of building a hay barn must be compared with the cost of expected hay losses. In addition, hay harvested too wet and stored in a barn can result in a fire. Losses from poor quality hay are not as severe as losses from high quality hay. If there is not enough cover to store all hay, put the best quality hay under cover.

Before changing current hay storage practices on the farm, several items should be considered. The first is cost. Gather enough data (Table 1) to determine what losses would be expected under the current condition and losses under the alternative to discover the net value of conserved (or lost) hay. Second, evaluate hay quality. Obviously, invest in protecting the highest quality hay. If hay quality is low, losses will be minimal. Third, evaluate the life expectancy and labor involved in storage. Barns provide the best protection and smallest loss, but barns also have the greatest investment cost. The initial investment in a tarp is far less; however, the life expectancy of a tarp is short (some manufacturers offer a three-year warranty). In addition, a tarp has no benefit if it stays blown off its stack. Storing hay on structures to reduce moisture wicking should be approached with caution. Aggregate provides a well drained surface, but gravel size aggregate has resulted in cows breaking teeth from rock that gets caught up in the hay. Some producers have used tires. Be aware that belting caught in hay could lead to hardware disease. Broken pallets should be discarded to avoid the potential for hardware disease as well.

It's All About Cheese
Wayne Kellogg, Professor

The price dairy farmers received for milk declined dramatically after October 2008 when export market demand declined and did not hit bottom until May 2009. The recovery has been extremely slow, because there is just too much cheese in storage.

Excessive milk cannot be kept, so it must be stored as a stable product, generally either cheese or dried milk. About 10 pounds of milk is required to make a pound of cheese. However, in 2009 the amounts of cheese in storage continued to increase until July. Obviously, cows do not stop producing just because demand drops. Once that peak of storage of cheese occurred, the prices paid for cheese began recovering. Then the price paid to farmers also began increasing. By December 2009, farmers in Arkansas received an average of $16.46 per 100 pounds (cwt) of milk, up from $11.71/cwt in May 2009. Farmers receive a blend price based on the proportion of milk used for Class I (milk used for beverage products), Class II (milk used for manufacturing soft products including ice cream, yogurt and condensed milk), Class III (milk used for cheese) and Class IV (milk used for butter and dry milk products). While prices vary for the different classes, the entire pricing system is sensitive to the price paid for cheese. That system is receiving considerable attention after the very difficult year in 2009. Fluid milk is the perishable product and perhaps should have been buffered from the sharp decline in prices of other products. However, the pricing system is complicated.

While the pricing system is all about cheese, producers in Arkansas can have some impact on their own price for milk by taking advantage of differentials offered for greater content of fat in milk and incentives provided for reduced somatic cell content. While those differentials do not have a huge impact, they are important. Income to the farm can be expanded by enlarging the herd of milking cows. There are some advantages to larger farms, but when the cost of producing milk is greater than the price received, that is a losing proposition. Improving the milk yield per cow, or becoming more efficient, will be economically beneficial, if input costs are reasonable. Genetics are important, but usually feeding and management are limiting progress. Improved efficiency is especially important in marginal situations.

New Herbicides for Summer Grass Control in Bermudagrass
John Jennings, Professor, Blair Griffin, Staff Chair, and Bob Scott, Professor

"What will control crabgrass and other summer grass weeds in my bermuda hay meadow?" is an annual question, and the short answer has been that nothing is labeled for this application. But that may have changed this year with two new herbicide products coming into the forage market. These products are Prowl H₂O by BASF and Pastora by DuPont. Both will be labeled only for established forage bermudagrass.

BASF announced the new label for Prowl H₂O in January for use on forage bermudagrass. The active ingredient in Prowl H₂O is pendimethalin which has been used for years for annual grass control in certain row crops, turfgrasses and ornamentals. This new use for Prowl H₂O is on a supplemental label posted at <http://www.cdms.net/LDat/ld6CT014.pdf>.

For many years, producers of high-quality bermudagrass hay have needed a preemergence herbicide for the control of crabgrass, goosegrass, Texas panicum, sandbur and other summer annual grasses. At this time, Prowl H₂O will be labeled for applications to only dormant bermudagrass. Prowl H₂O may be applied to forage bermudagrass grown for hay or pastures and should only be applied to established bermudagrass when dormant in the late winter and early spring months.

The main key to using this product is timing. Applications made too early may allow the product to dissipate before weeds germinate and those made too late won't control emerged weeds. The active ingredient in Prowl H₂O will only control annual weeds as they germinate and will not control weeds after they emerge. Crabgrass is one of the earliest emerging grassy weeds. It begins to germinate when soil temperatures average 55°F, so late winter or very early spring applications are needed for effective control. According to U of A weed scientist Dr. Bob Scott, rainfall needs to occur within 10 days of application to move the herbicide into the soil for activation. If dry conditions occur after application, control effectiveness will be reduced.

Recommended rates of Prowl H₂O range from 1.1 to 4.2 quarts per acre, but research in other states has shown that rates of 2.1 to 3.2 quarts per acre are needed for season-long annual grass control. The product may be applied in spring when the bermudagrass is dormant or it may be applied in two split applications. The first split should be applied at onset of winter and the second application must be made prior to spring greenup. It may be tank-mixed with other herbicides registered for use on forage bermudagrass, which may help control any emerged weeds. Dr. Scott also says applying this product on thin or winter damaged bermudagrass stands may slow stolon development and subsequent filling-in of thin areas of the field. Harvest restrictions state that Prowl H2O should not be applied less than 60 days prior to bermudagrass hay harvest or less than 45 days before grazing.

DuPont is about to launch a new product called Pastora that combines metsulfuron (formerly known as Ally) and nicosulfuron (known as Accent) – two previously proven herbicides. The label for use on established forage bermudagrass is expected in April 2010. Pastora gives preemergence control of broadleaf weeds and postemergence control of grassy weeds, particularly johnsongrass and sandbur. Since it only gives postemergence control of grasses, it is an option for situations where early dormant herbicides could not be applied. Crabgrass, sandbur and signalgrass and others must still be small for good control. Application rates are 1 to 1.5 ounces/acre with non-ionic surfactant or crop oil concentrate at 0.25-0.5% v/v. Total application rates should not exceed 2.5 ounces/acre per year. Application is recommended in late winter/early spring when bermudagrass is dormant or very soon after hay cutting to reduce any possible injury to the bermudagrass. Including UAN liquid fertilizer in the tank mix also reduces any injury. According to Johnson County Agent Blair Griffin, Pastora controls a wide spectrum of broadleaf and grassy weeds, but tank mixing with 1 quart of 2,4-D will improve control of thistle, ragweed and plantain. This product is not a burn-down type herbicide so weed control may appear to be slow. However, weed growth ceases within hours of application and the weeds begin to develop yellowing symptoms within several days. Complete death may take three to four weeks. There is no grazing or hay harvest restriction expected for this product on bermudagrass.

Timely application is a major consideration for applying these herbicides, but used correctly, either one should provide some relief for the age-old summer grass weed problems in forage bermudagrass.

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