Gain to Grain

February, 2002

 Previous Page

Availability of wheat pasture for stocker cattle is the center of conversations in the coffee shops across Oklahoma each fall.  In years when September is cool and moist, wheat pasture potential is high.  However, in years when September is very hot and dry, the discussion turns to “how am I going to feed those cattle I purchased a while back?”

In addition to needing the cooperation of the weather, wheat producers can improve their return from wheat pasture by increasing the length of the grazing season.  They can do this in two ways: by grazing later or producing more forage earlier, allowing cattle to be placed on the pasture earlier.  At OSU we have always emphasized evaluating the impact of grazing termination on total return per acre in the wheat-stocker cattle system.  The most frequent question in this area has been, “what happens if I graze a few days longer?”  This question most frequently pops up when wheat prices are low and potential for profit from cattle is high. 

From data collected over four years at the Marshall Wheat Pasture Research Center, we know that wheat yield decreases 1.25 bu/a for each day the cattle graze after first hollow stem growth stage.  This yield decline is only appropriate for the first two weeks after first hollow stem.  The rate changes for even later grazing. 

Let’s assume the stocking rate is 1 animal per acre, and cattle are gaining 2 lb/day.  Wheat price is $2.65/bu, but we deduct $.15/bu for transportation and $.15/bu for harvesting.  Thus the grain is valued at $2.35/bu at the elevator.  Cattle are contracted on a $.35 per pound of gain.  Then the value of gain from grazing 14 days after first hollow stem is $9.80.  The value of the grain yield decline is $41.13. 

Now let’s assume the producer owns the cattle and the value of gain is the best that has occurred in the decade from 1992 to 2001.  Assuming the first hollow stem stage occurs on March 1 and we graze until March 15, now the value of gain is $33.39 and the grain losses are still $41.13.  In both instances, it is a losing proposition to graze beyond first hollow stem. 

Temperature in January and February, planting date, and variety all affect how early first hollow stem stage occurs.  It is the “variety” factor that has recently caught the attention of the Wheat Improvement Team.  By genetically manipulating the first hollow stem stage, i.e., by delaying it, we hope to produce varieties better adapted for winter and spring grazing but can still recover for maximum grain production. 

We cannot tip the scales too far, however, or heading date will be pushed back too far into the spring.  Our goal is to delay first hollow stem stage as much as possible while maintaining the maturity of varieties currently in production.  That was our goal in releasing Intrada and Ok101, and it will remain that way for future varieties.

For more information on what first hollow stem stage is, how to determine first hollow stem stage, or variety ratings for first hollow stem, go to the following web site http://clay.agr.okstate.edu/plantsoilsci/faculty/egk/krenzer.html#Grazing and select the appropriate publication.

Submitted by Gene Krenzer and Brett Carver, on behalf of OSU’s Wheat Improvement Team.