Feeding Method May Boost Calf Gains and Improve Pastures

By Scout Nelson

A Kansas State University research project is examining whether a simple change in cattle feeding practices could benefit both livestock production and long-term pasture management.

Graduate student Tasha Macholan is leading a study that evaluates whether placing protein supplements directly on invasive Old World bluestem can improve calf performance while reducing the spread of the troublesome grass.

Macholan's interest in the topic began while growing up on her family's Nebraska cow-calf operation, where drought frequently affected grazing conditions.

"I became really passionate about working to mitigate drought effects through cattle management and looking at pasture health overall," Macholan said.

"The past few years have been difficult for producers with varying weather and drought conditions."

Working with Professor KC Olson and fellow researchers Keith Harmoney and Emma Briggs at K-State's Agricultural Research Center-Hays, Macholan is studying dried distillers grains, a common protein supplement used when pasture quality declines later in the grazing season.

Instead of limiting feed to bunks, researchers placed supplements directly on selected patches of Old World bluestem. The goal was to encourage cattle to graze and trample the invasive grass while searching for feed.

"There have been studies looking at burning it and using chemicals to control it," Macholan said. "My project is a little bit different. We're looking at on-ground supplementation."

The study includes approximately 100 stocker calves divided among eight pastures. Researchers monitored animal weights throughout the grazing season while measuring forage production, vegetation changes, and ground cover.

Images collected during the trial showed cattle heavily grazing areas where supplements were placed. "They were basically taking it down to the bare soil in those areas," Macholan said. "It was interesting to see them eating a grass species they don't usually touch that time of year."

Early results suggest calves fed on the ground performed as well as those fed from bunks, while supplemented calves generally gained more weight than unsupplemented animals. Researchers also documented a noticeable decline in Old World bluestem after the grazing period.

"The areas that were grazed on the ground were a lot greener and a lot shorter," she said. "The calves were drawn to them more."

Although encouraged by the first-year findings, Macholan said more research is necessary. "The next year is really going to be the big part of the project," she said. "We'll see what grows back, how the grass and ground were affected and what happens to the biodiversity."

Macholan also praised the research environment, saying, "It's been awesome working out here. The people at the station are wonderful, and the setup has been really great for me and my research."

"I grew up with a cow-calf background," Macholan said. "Over the years, I became passionate about mitigating drought effects through cattle management and looking at pasture health overall."

Photo Credit: kansas-state-university