Seedstock Beef Guide: Winter 2020

Winter 2020

Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 1

MONTANA A Publication of the Yellowstone Newspaper Group

Seedstock Beef 2020 • First Edition

Haylage and Baleage: Pg. 8 Are Ranches Getting Bigger?: Pg. 6

Page 2 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

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+12 -2.5 +67 +113 +21 +.58 +.68 +86 +77 +158

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Circle L Stunner 544G

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Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 3

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Page 4 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

Adjusting Feed Rations with Available Forage

By Emily Meccage, MSU Extension Forage Specialist

increasing production, especially in late gestation, when the fetus has higher demands due to elevated growth.

Reprinted with permission. Published by MSU Extension in Lives & Landscapes Magazine, Winter 2018.

In recent years, many parts of Montana have had to deal with drought and other environmental conditions that create lower quality forage production. Many producers are forced to buy whatever forage they can acquire, which sometimes means lower quality. So what can be done to still meet livestock needs?

The first thing that is critical in creating an adequately balanced ration is to get a forage sample. This will give an estimate of what nutrients are already available, and what nutrients will need to be supplemented. For information on how to collect a forage sample, refer to MontGuide Collecting a Forage or Feed Sample for Analysis (MT201610AG).

Knowing the required amounts of nutrients for an animal is important, and a local county Extension agent, beef or sheep specialist, NRCS consultant, or agriculture consultant can be of assistance. Animal needs will change based on many things such as age, production status, health status, and even environment. Therefore, it is important to start with the right required nutrient amounts. Upon receiving analysis results, you can begin applying the nutrients needed to the forage on hand.

Forages that are considered lower quality, with higher fiber and lower crude protein (CP) and energy (often reported as TDN, or total digestible nutrients) will likely need to be supplemented, especially during the winter when many cows are in late gestation.

In forages lacking protein, animals respond very well to supplemental protein forms.

A lick tub, block, or cake can often be helpful in meeting animal needs. However, using lick tubs or cake is not always a guarantee that all animals will get the right amount every day. Research has shown that particularly in tub or block form, not every animal will visit the lick tub or block every day. And even when cake is fed daily, more dominant animals will often crowd out those animals that are lowerrank, decreasing the likelihood that they meet their individual needs. Ruminants do have the ability to eat several days’ worth of protein at once, so it can be hard to account for.

Energy is another important nutrient that needs to be considered along with protein.

If energy is inadequate, animals will start to lose body condition which can affect performance. Livestock require adequate amounts daily to maintain or account for

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If forage does not have adequate energy concentrations, energy can be supplemented in forms such as added fat or grain. The forage analysis will help target exactly how much needs to be fed daily, to avoid overfeeding of supplements or supplemental feeds, and avoid decreased production. The additional expense of these supplements will easily outweigh the cost of possible production losses.

Vitamins and minerals should also be carefully considered in livestock management.

In forages that have higher fiber content and lower digestibility, vitamins and minerals are not as available as in more digestible forages. Again, having a quality forage analysis will help to evaluate the availability and amounts of these nutrients. Even in higher-quality forages, some minerals and vitamins may still be lacking, simply because they are in low supply in the soil. Supplementing with these minerals in adequate amounts, as well as ratios, is important to maintain optimal performance.

When trying to stretch out a low hay supply, ensure you are not feeding too little and affecting animals. General recommendations call for at least 1.5% of animal body weight to be fed daily in the form of forage dry matter. Another method to evaluate this is at least .7% of body weight should be fed as forage-NDF (Neutral Detergent Fiber), or fiber. This helps to create an adequate environment for rumination, and decreases risk of problems such as ulcers or acidosis.

Feeding when it is cold out will change these requirements slightly, as it is recommended to increase the amount of fiber fed to avoid cold stress; this can be in the form of hay or straw. It is recommended that for every degree below an animal’s thermoneutral zone, forage should be increased by 1% of current diet, with 18ºF used as a common lower critical temperature for winter. For example, if the ambient temperature dips to 0ºF, feeding an additional 18% may be prudent to maintain body condition.

Feeding lower quality forages in a ration is possible, but it is important to know the nutrient concentration of that forage in order to adequately balance the ration. Also knowing the herd’s daily nutrient requirements is imperative to maintain optimal production. Coupling low-quality forages with supplements and grains to balance out their needs will help to ensure optimum forage utilization as well as livestock performance.

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Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 5

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Page 6 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

Are Montana's Farms and Ranches Getting Bigger?

By Joel Schumacher, MSU Extension Associate Specialist in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Economics.

Reprinted with permission. Published by MSU Extension in Lives & Landscapes Magazine, Winter 2019.

Montana’s agricultural operations have been changing in size since the first homesteaders arrived more than a century ago.

Advances in technology that improve efficiency are probably the most significant contributor to changes in operation size.

These advances have come in the form of tractor and equipment capabilities, improved genetics for livestock, seed production and variety improvements, better fertilizers and pesticides, and the introduction of Global Positioning Systems (GPS), among others. Every few months, someone mentions that changing technology has enabled big operations to get bigger, while smaller operations, unable to adopt the technology changes, are having a hard time making it. Is this true?

Land in farms

Every five years, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducts the Census of Agriculture. The 2017 Census is a treasure trove of information about agriculture and provides the opportunity to look at this issue from a few different angles.

“Land in Farms” data is useful for exploring this farm size issue.

Land in Farms includes pasture, fallow, and crop land for all agricultural operations, whether the land is owned or rented. Total land in farms in Montana was 58.1 million acres in 2017, which was a decline of 2.7% from 2012 (Figure 1).

Farms with less than 180 acres accounted for 1.1% of all land in farms, which is the same as in 2012. Land in farms between 180 and 1,000 acres declined from 5.1% in 2012 to 4.6% in 2017.

Land in farms between 1,000 and 4,999 acres also declined, from 25.1% to 23.5%. The largest farms (over 5,000 acres) increased slightly in total acres and from 68.8% to 70.8% of all acres. This indicates that the very smallest farms are stable in terms of total acres but are a very small portion all land in farms. The largest farms are gaining slightly in total acres and share of all acres.

Both categories of mid-sized farms saw declines in total acreage, although the number of mid-sized farms increased slightly (Figure 2).

Cattle operations

Evaluating the size of cattle operations in Montana is another way to examine the changing size of Montana agricultural operations. A total of 11,400 Montana ranches reported owning 2,518,571 beef cattle in 2017. The number of ranches declined by 445 (3.8%) and the number of cattle declined by 115,160 (4.4%) since 2012. The only increase in number of ranches was for those with herd sizes between 200 to 500 head (Figure 3).

Another way to look at cattle operations is in terms of the percentage of the state’s cattle raised on different sized operations (Figure 4). These data tell a similar story that the only growth appeared in the mid-sized operations. The data also point out that the largest operations (over 1,000 cattle) control the largest portion of Montana’s cattle inventory.

In 2017, 8,013 ranches reported having an inventory of less than 200 head. Collectively, these operations own 16% of Montana’s cattle. About 2,160 ranches reported cattle inventory between 100 and 499. These operations own 27% of Montana’s cattle, up from 23% in 2012. Over 1,225 ranches reported owning more than 500 animals. These large operations own 57% of Montana’s cattle.

Trends over time

Are Montana agricultural operations increasing in size? When examining total land controlled by Montana agricultural operations over the past five years, the answer is yes. Although total land in farms declined by over 2%, the largest operations (over 5,000 acres) increased their collective holdings by about 0.1%.

The very smallest farms (under 180 acres) held steady while the farms in the middle declined in total acreage by over 9%. For cattle producers the trend is different. The sweet spot appears to be in the middle. Those operations with herds of 200 to 500 head are becoming more common and represent a larger share of all cattle production in Montana. The share of cattle in smaller and larger operations both declined slightly in recent years.

Color code for graphs, light gray bars are 2012 and dark gray bars are 2017

Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 7

Broadband Map Fix Will Reveal Rural Needs www.mfbf.org

The House of Representatives has passed Farm Bureau-backed legislation that will improve the accuracy of broadband coverage maps to better identify needs. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (H.R. 4229) requires broadband providers to report more specific data to create a significantly more accurate and granular National Broadband Map. With more precise data, federal agencies can target funding to areas that need it most.

During the Montana Farm Bureau 100th Annual Convention, RJ Karney, American Farm Bureau Policy Director, who presented at a workshop on rural broadband, noted, “For agriculture, having broadband is necessary to compete in a global economy, from precision agriculture to watching commodity prices. In rural communities, it’s necessary for health care, public safety and education.

There are too many stories of kids going to the parking lot of a fastfood restaurant for connectivity so they can do their homework. Being connected expands opportunities for students to benefit from distance learn-

ing. American Farm Bureau has been pushing for this bill that focuses on coverage using accurate maps.”

MFBF Executive Director John Youngberg who has studied the maps, added, “Current maps are woefully inaccurate in telling the true story of availability in rural areas. Rural cooperatives are working hard to develop broadband networks but many times the ‘last mile’ cost outpaces available monetary resources. We thank members of the House who worked diligently to pass this legislation and who are committed to delivering broadband access to rural communities. We hope to see the Senate take up this issue without delay.”

Current broadband coverage maps are inadequate because they rely on census block data to determine which areas are covered.

Census blocks are too large in rural and remote locations to accurately determine need. If even one household in a given census block is reported by a provider as being served, then the entire block is considered served. Census blocks larger than 2 square miles comprise more than 64% of the U.S. land area, so every rural area is impacted by this problem in some way.

In addition to creating more accurate maps, the bill requires the FCC to establish an audit process that ensures internet service providers are providing accurate data used to create the maps. It also would create a user-friendly process to challenge the data.

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Page 8 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

What Are Haylage and Baleage for Cattle?

by Megan Van Emon, MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Reprinted with permission. Published by MSU Extension in Lives & Landscapes Magazine, Winter 2019.

Montana’s last mild summer with more regular rainfall has led producers to investigate feed alternatives. When there is little time between rain events to put up quality hay, some producers have begun to consider haylage and baleage as alternative feed to dry hay.

Haylage is hay that is chopped and packed within a silo or bunker to complete the silage, or fermentation, process.

The key steps for ensiling hay are similar to silage. Storage maintenance is the most important factor in creating a quality product for cattle. Haylage and baleage do not need to completely cure, they only need to wilt to 35–55% dry matter. Feed quality of ensiled forage is directly related to when the forage was harvested. Proper packing of the forage aids in the fermentation process and reduces the ability to allow oxygen to cause spoilage.

Baleage is created by baling partially dried hay and wrapping the bales in plastic. If you are considering baleage, there is added cost with a bale wrapper and the plastic needed. Previous work has suggested that when bales contain 40–60% moisture, a minimum of 6 layers of 1 mil plastic are needed, and reducing the chances of puncturing

the plastic wrap aids in providing proper fermentation and creating a stable product.

Proper moisture content provides the fermentation bacteria a better opportunity to complete the fermentation process. Dry forage does not provide sufficient moisture for bacteria in fermentation, but can lead to fungal growth, which will reduce feed quality. Additionally, mature forages have less fermentable carbohydrates, which do not allow for proper fermentation.

Moving bales after wrapping them in plastic also requires special care. Equipment may puncture or spear the plastic, creating opportunities for air to enter the bale and cause spoilage. Bale density can also play a role in spoilage.

Dense, tightly wrapped bales are less likely to spoil compared to bales with lower density.

Ensiling takes 2–6 weeks to complete, if properly packed.

When feeding baleage or haylage, only expose the forage enough to feed in 1–2 days. If baleage or haylage has been exposed to oxygen during the fermentation stage, it is recommend to have a sample submitted to determine mold growth and screen for potential mycotoxins.

If the forage was harvested and packed at the proper moisture level, this product can be a great alternative to

Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 9

feeding dry hay. Haylage and baleage quality are highly dependent on plant stage at harvest. Quality is relatively similar to dry hay, as forages mature, quality decreases and quantity increases. According to the 'Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle,' alfalfa haylage is approximately 41% dry matter, 63% total digestible nutrients, and 20% crude protein.

Length of cut can impact storage and feed digestibility.

Optimal chopped length for haylage would be 3/8-inch with about 20% of the particles being longer than 1.5 inches. Chopping forages to smaller lengths results in increased passage rate, reduced rumination, and could potentially cause acidosis.

Grass silage is also a possibility for areas that receive excessive rain. Allowing grass to wilt to 65–72% moisture and chopping at 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch length is crucial for proper packing. Grass silage is ideally cut when the first stems begin to head out. Use caution that grass silage is not packed too wet, as it can lead to higher pH. Also, a secondary clostridial fermentation can lead to a foul odor and may increase protein breakdown.

Baleage may be an option if haylage is not. Baleage product is an excellent forage source for livestock, but cost and lack of baleage equipment can be deterrents. Baleage reduces the curing time for harvest and baling, reduces labor and handling costs when curing dry hay, and the potential for increased leaf retention within the bale leads to increased quality.

Disadvantages to baleage are the increased cost of harvesting and baling due to special equipment and supplies needed, and disposal of the plastic wrap. Haylage has an increased chance of spoilage, and maintaining plastic wrap integrity after baling and during bale transportation can be difficult.

Feeding baleage is similar to feeding large round bales to livestock. Rolling baleage on the ground has similar losses to dry hay, approximately 50%. Livestock should consume a freshly unwrapped bale within 1–2 days. Once the bale is exposed to oxygen, spoilage may occur, which will result in an intake reduction.

Baleage and haylage may be good alternatives to dry hay, especially in wet years in Montana. The quality of ensiled forage is only as good as how it was stored, so ensuring proper storage will aid in maintaining quality.

Photo by Mitch Fox on Unsplash

Page 10 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

Ranching: Is it profitable AND fun?

Today’s management requires a new mindset. Those who are unwilling to change will be left behind.

By Burke Teichert

There are numerous articles and information pieces that talk of the advancing age of American farmers and ranchers. There are twice as many over 65 than there are under 45. There also appears to be a declining number of young people who want to return to the ranch on which they grew up. We see estimates that up to 60% of ranches could change hands before 2030. Thus, the question, “From whence comes the next generation of ranch managers?”

There are many reasons that our young people don’t come back. Our kids go to college and get other interests, or they marry someone from the city who can’t or won’t adjust to country life.

But one reason stands out to me. If they grew up thinking or hearing that ranching could not be profitable or that it is no fun, why would they want to even think of coming back?

Since the possibility of me going back to the family ranch on which I was raised was not very good at the time I needed to make those decisions, I am very glad that I had been led to think that a ranch could, and should, be profitable; and, for me, it surely had been fun.

Because of that, I combined my early ranch experience with a good college education and a couple of stepping-stone jobs before becoming a general manager of a significant livestock operation.

I am sure there are similar opportunities for other young people who are honest, have a good work ethic, and have a good intellect and a passion for the work. If they will then become life-long learners, they can become very successful.

I have long said that it’s a good day when I can let my horse do 75% of my work and 50% of my thinking. It still is; but most of ranch management work and even the economically important day-to-day tasks are done when your horse is in the pasture.

In fact, many good ranches don’t even have a horse. Today’s management requires a new mindset. Those who are unwilling to change will be left behind. The biggest problem most of us have is between our ears.

New Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program is Now Open The Montana Department of Commerce is now accepting applications for the Montana Historic Preservation Grant Program. The new grant program is designed to support the preservation of historical sites, societies and museums in Montana.

With awards of up to $500,000 for each eligible grant recipient, the funding will be used to improve historical sites, historical societies or history museums in Montana.

Applications are due by Feb. 28, 2020. Grant recipients will be determined by the Montana Legislature during the 2021 legislative session.

Often when giving talks, I present a summary slide fairly early in the talk and then spend a lot of time talking about these activities for improving profit. Here is the slide:

To manage for profit:

• Reduce overheads as much as possible.

• Achieve excellent cow herd reproduction.

• Market well.

• Improve three key ratios: • Reduce acres per cow.

• Increase cows per FTE (full time equivalent in labor).

• Reduce fed feed vs. grazed feed.

I further suggest for wise expenditure of time, effort and money, you become a systems thinker. That will help you see the interconnectedness of these economically important pieces.

When considering this as one “whole” or a single complex, integrated system, I am always led to our stewardship over our land and livestock and the importance of making a profit.

In recent months I have written about breeding cows to fit the environment and our management. Cows and other livestock are an important and integral part of the entire system. They are an important part of a complex system that can be managed to greatly improve ecosystem functions and the soil.

In addition to what we already know about soil erosion and depletion, other things are apparent. When cheap nitrogen became available at the end of World War II, soils had become depleted; so, nitrogen fertilizer had a profound effect on production and became a Band-Aid for depleted soil.

Now fertilizers are expensive and require more sophisticated application and timing techniques, thus reducing their cost-effectiveness. We are also learning that they alter natural soil microbial activity and burn up carbon.

It seems like this is true of many of our inputs like fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, etc. Their costs increase faster than the value of our products, and they become less effective over time. In the meantime, are they killing beneficial soil micro-organisms?

The biggest causes of soil degradation are forests and rangelands being converted to farmland and overgrazing of rangelands by livestock. The degradation following the conversion is primarily the result of farming and grazing creating: • Much more bare ground • A huge reduction in variety of plants, animals, soil microbes, bugs and birds

Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 11 • Diminished depth of rooting • Fewer functioning roots during a large part of the year • And in many cases, complete removal of grazing animals from the landscapes.

Carbon and organic matter losses, erosion and topsoil loss, desertification, poor water infiltration rates and poor moisture-holding capacity in our soils are all evident in many of our farms and rangeland pastures. These functions along with soil fertility were all maintained on the prairies, in forests and on rangelands for thousands (millions) of years.

Why? How? Why not now? Many farmers and ranchers are learning good farming and grazing methods. They are demonstrating that the functions of healthy soils can be restored, and soil can be built much faster than we ever thought possible.

This reversal of soil health doesn’t just happen. It requires changes in the way we farm and in the way we manage livestock grazing. To have adapted and productive livestock and to use farming and grazing methods is a challenge that can result in profitable operations and a lot of “fun” for young, aspiring managers—including those not raised on a farm or ranch.

Teichert, a consultant on strategic planning for ranches, retired in 2010 as vice president and general manager of AgReserves, Inc. He resides in Orem, Utah. Contact him at burketei@comcast.net.

This article first appeared in BEEF magazine and on beefmagazine.com.

Reprinted with permission.

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Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 13

Managing Un-Weaned Dairy Calves During Cold Weather Tracey Erickson, SDSU Extension Dairy Field Specialist https://extension.sdstate.edu

Cold stress starts when temperatures drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit in dairy calves who are less than 21 days of age and when below 42 degrees (Litherland, 2013) in calves greater than 42 days of age.

Winter can present extra challenges for dairy producers and heifer growers as they try to keep calves alive and growing adequately in frigid temperatures.

Some tips to care for un-weaned calves in cold weather are as follows: Get them off to a good start in the first 48 hours of life - following proper protocols for newborn calves, especially drying them off as quickly as possible after birth and making sure they are consuming 4 quarts of high quality colostrum within the first 6-12 hours of life, as well as giving proper vaccinations, and dipping their navels. Jersey calves will consume less than large breed dairy calves of colostrum. Check the quality of colostrum making sure it has adequate antibody Consider using a calf warmer to quickly dry newborn calves and help increase body temperature.

Deep Clean & Dry bedding. Provide a proper nest; when they are laying down a guide is that one should not be able to see the feet & legs of the calf.

Calf blankets - even though they add extra expense, they are reusable and provide an extra layer of protection for calves. Make sure to adequately clean and dry blankets between uses.

Proper ventilation is important but you must also prevent direct drafts from hitting young calves. Fresh air helps reduce the presence airborne pathogens and ammonia that produced by urine & manure.

Keeping the housing environment and equipment clean is also necessary to improve the overall survivability. All equipment should be cleaned using 120 °F water along with using adequate detergents and disinfectants solutions on bottles, nipples, tubing equipment, balling guns, and buckets. Rinse with cold water when done cleaning.

Additional feedings per day – NRC estimates that one ad-

ditional feeding of (0.5 pounds of powder) of 20% protein, 20% fat milk replacer will meet the maintenance energy needs of calves at 20 °F less than 3 weeks of age. At -20 °F you would need to increase it to 2 additional feedings.

Adding additional feedings should be offered when cold weather is expected to set in for a week or more. It is better to increase the number of feedings instead of adding fat to milk replacers. The reasoning is that by providing extra calories by adding fat to milk replacer causes calves to expend energy to digest the extra fat that they are not accustomed to in their daily diet. Research has shown that feeding milk replacer three times per day will help stabilize the pH in the rumen of the calf for better feed efficiency.

Provide a high quality, fresh starter daily (free of mold and fines), to encourage daily intake. Calves greater than 3 weeks old need to consume an additional 0.6 pounds of 18% crude protein starter at 20 °F and at -20 °F starter intake should increase by 1.4 lbs per day.

Other options of increasing caloric intake. Provide warm water above 102 degrees F about 30 minutes after feeding.

Water is essential to start and keep the digestive track of the calf working properly, along with promoting dry matter intake. Again, remember, be careful not to get it too hot though and scald the calves’ mouth. Clean out water sources daily while, providing fresh clean warm water after each feeding encourages starter intake in cold weather.

Be consistent in feeding times, making sure milk is warm but does not scald the calves’ mouth.

Review your dry cow management. Research has shown that dry cows with adequate body condition and nutrition levels produce calves that are stronger, more aggressive and are born with additional body fat reserves, which directly correlates to increased survivability of newborn calves.

Lastly, producers/employees should take care of themselves so they can be vigilant and observant as they care for the animals during extreme weather conditions.

Reference:

Jones, C., & Heinrichs, J. (2019, January 22). Calf Management Tips for Cold Weather. Penn State Extension.

Litherland, N. (2013). Feeding and Management tips to combat cold stress in nursery calves. University of Minnesota.

Page 14 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

Understanding Sweetpro’s Approach to Protein Usable Protein -vs- Available Protein

Protein is critical for all stages of cattle production including breeding, lactation, fetal programming, growing, and finishing.

Cattle are excellent protein converters and are able to produce 10 times more protein than they take in. Microbial protein is the best form of protein that there is for a cow so everything that SweetPro is and does focuses on feeding the microbial protein and providing the right environment for them to thrive.

Sources and influencers of protein in SweetPro:

Protein in SweetPro: All of the SweetPro blocks contain natural protein as listed on the label and varies in hardness/ bitterness to regulate intake. One can figure ½ again the natural protein (rumen degradable protein) value to calculate the rumen bypass protein that is provided. So a SweetPro 16 is all natural protein, therefore there is an additional 8% protein that is rumen bypass protein (absorbed directly by the cow and excellent for milk production and frame & muscle development) resulting in the product performing like a 24% protein. The SweetPro blocks that contain NPN have Biuret and Ammonium Sulfate (no Urea) which are slow release and better for protein production over time.

Amino Acid Profile: Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and there are number of essential amino acids. Think of this as a staved bucket with a short stave. Regardless of how much water you pour into the bucket, it will never fill up past the “limiting stave”. The same thing holds true in protein production.

Regardless of how much protein is available, the cow will not be able to utilize more than is limited by the limiting amino acid.

Each of the fermented grain sources (corn from the DDGS & CDS, wheat, oats, barley, flax in the ProBiotein digestive aid) in SweetPro have an amino acid profile. When these are overlapped, it raises the level of the limiting amino acid allowing more protein to be utilized.

Energy in SweetPro: An adequate amount of energy is re-

quired in the rumen Heifers on SweetPro grazing winter grass for proper protein utilization. SweetPro supplies 5% fat from multiple energy sources including Condensed Distillers Solubles (10X the fat as molasses), vegetable oil, and the ethyl alcohol from the fermented wheat, oats, barley, and flax. SweetPro blocks also seem to shift the VFA profile more toward propionic acid.

ProBiotein Digestive Aid: SweetPro ferments wheat, oats, barley, and flax to make the digestive aid, ProBiotein. Not only does the ProBiotein have a wide amino acid profile as mentioned above, it also has viable yeast and enzymes. These yeast and enzymes feed the microflora in the rumen and also are able to break down the forage to make it more available for the cow. When these yeast and enzymes die, they are a valuable protein source themselves.

SweetPro’s pH: The pH of the SweetPro blocks are between 9 & 10. Forage digesting bacteria in the rumen thrive and multiply in a higher pH allowing them to maximize forage digestion & utilization. When they are spent, they are the best form of protein that there is for cattle. Note molasses and grains pull down on the pH in the rumen resulting in the Negative Associative Effect (the negative effect of starch digesting bacteria on fiber digesting bacteria in the rumen) and a loss of efficiency.

Protein in the Feed: Finally and maybe most importantly, SweetPro helps breakdown forages up to 25% better and grains about 10% better meaning that you get about 25% more nutrients out of your forages and 10% more out of your grains including protein.

When choosing which SweetPro block to feed to your cattle, we are not as concerned about the protein level of the block but rather getting the target consumption of around a pound per head per day (1.5lb/pair/day). When we get the consumption that we are targeting, we will help cattle maximize and utilize the available protein and help meet their protein needs.

For more information on SweetPro, please call 866 601-6646. www.agribestfeeds.com/

Billings Area News Group - January 23, 2020 • Page 15

Bulls of the Bitterroot

9th Annual Angus Bull Sale

March 7, 2020 Sutherlin FarmS Feedlot • StevenSville , mt

Sale begins at 1PM Mountain Time • Lunch served at Noon

g n i l l e S 40+ Yearling Angus Bulls

4 Mytty Angus Coming Two Year Old Bulls

60+ Commercial Angus Replacement Heifers

Selling Sons of

3F Epic Basin Payweight 1682 BC Authority BUBS Southern Charm Ellingson Chaps EXAR Upshot Jindra Acclaim KM Broken Bow LD Capitalist 316 Mytty Natural SAV Raindance

All lots have been tested

3C Cattle

406/ 360-1875

Chad, Lacey & Cayden Sutherlin Chad 406-360-1875 Lacey 406-544-0043

www.

Genetic Connection

406/ 546-8318 Kevin & Traci Mytty Kevin 406-360-8939 Jock 406-239-5310

406/ 360-1246

Loren & Dorothy Brubaker Loren 406-360-1246 Dorothy 406-777-3503

B u l l s O f T h e B i T T e r r O O T .cOm

Page 16 • Seedstock Beef - January 23, 2020

RM 2 Trend 3105

Customer Service- Providing health, feedlot and grid performance

data for our customers for over 25 years.

Reminisce Cows- Cow herd performance starts with measuring

structural soundness and disposition. If these 2 traits aren’t in order, it doesn’t matter how fertile she is or how big of calf she can raise.

20 Sons Sell!

AAA# 17812999 DOB: 06/01/2013 CED BW WW YW M MB RE +11 +0 +51 +90 +45 +.61 +.42

RM Natural 1812

Reminisce Bulls- Born and raised in altitudes above 7,000.’

Developed on a 41 mega cal ration; Summered in big sage brush pastures to learn to travel in big country.

How Good are Your Cattle?

Bragging rights on performance begin and end on the rail. On that 14 Sons Sell! day you will know how healthy they were, how well they gained, how AAA# 17115754 DOB: 02/06/2011 well they converted, and how well they will taste to a consumer that CED BW WW YW M MB RE doesn’t know you. We all sell our cattle by the pound and on that day +12 -.7 +55 +101 +26 +.37 +.82 you will be paid accordingly. Do you know how good your cattle are? RM Baron 5811 Reminisce Angus customers do. They have the data. They have the bragging rights.

Annual Bull Sale

MARCH 6, 2020 1:00 PM at the Big West Feeding Facility, Dillon, Mont.

Semen For Sale!

40 Sons Sell!

AAA# 18229734 DOB: 02/04/2015 CED BW WW YW M MB RE +6 +.3 +56 +83 +29 +.53 +.53

Connealy Combination 0188

All Reminisce sires, $30/unit.

We offer volume discounts.

AAA# 16748950 CED BW WW +6 -1.0 +55

42 Sons Sell!

DOB: 01/24/2010 YW M MB RE +96 +17 +.57 +.43