Trader’s Dispatch, February 2018 — Page C16
HAY FOR SALE 1000 ton of alfalfa hay, no rain, 3x4 bales, tarped................................. $120-$150/ton Discount for large orders
Call 406-249-8565, Polson, Montana
PICKUP FOR SALE
2007 GMC Duramax with HydraBed bale bed Phone 590-1572, Conrad, MT
WHEATHEART trailer mounted, heavy hitter POST POUNDER ..................................WAS $15,250 NOW $13,000 CHEM HANDLER II 3” manifold, 42 gallon .......................................................................WAS $2,195 NOW $1,600 EDUCTOR with slicer, 3” manifold, 65 gallon ....................................................................WAS $1,995 NOW $1,600 FS TRUE-KLEEN CHEMICAL PROCESSOR 2” ..............................................................WAS $2,195 NOW $1,600 FS TRUE-KLEEN CHEMICAL PROCESSOR 3” ..............................................................WAS $2,295 NOW $1,600 TORO SW3200 ZERO TURN 32” riding mower ...............................................................WAS $2,799 NOW $2,399 TORO SW3200 ZERO TURN 42” riding mower ...............................................................WAS $2,999 NOW $2,599
USED
10” X 59’ SAKUNDIAK hydraulic mover and winch, 40 hp Kohler ..................................................... SALE $10,000 13” X 70’ BRANDT HP hydraulic mover and winch ............................................................................ SALE $16,500 13” X 70’ BRANDT XL with electric mover & winch, 2013 ............................................................................$18,000 2007 M2 Freightliner truck w/16’ flatbed, gooseneck hitch and receiver hitch, Air Cab suspension ...........$30,000 1991 8760 JD, 4W tractor ................................................................................................................................ CALL 2009 Kenworth T800 under 200,000 miles, CAT C9 Engine, Auto Transmission, Tandem axle, wet kit ......$50,000 1964 JD 2010 Gas w/PTO, 3PT, loader, runs great .........................................................................................$5,000 7” X 39’ MERIDIAN AUGER fully equipped, 23.5 HP, EFI Kohler engine, 7” EK bin sweep, Meridian Mover, Electric clutch, reversing gear box, all the bells and whistles, like new ........................... WAS $16,785 NO TRADE $13,500
Walking a trail, understanding cow math
By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service range professional). So gather the average The search for efficient cows at the cow weight and do the “cow math.” Dickinson Research Extension Center has The center designated a set of cow-calf resulted in “cow math,” the translation of pairs with an average cow weight of 1,462 biological and economic efficiency into the pounds, meaning 96 pairs could be pastured herd production inventory based on land in the rotational system for the 4.5-month units. grazing season. The range community at That is a lot to understand but doable. the center asked, “Why 1,400-pound cows? The beef industry has efficient cows, but the Should we try to stock with 1,100-pounds definition of efficiency varies, depending on cows?” A quick “cow math” recalculation the background of the discussion. would allow 128 smaller cows to be pasAt the center, the search started in the tured (140,426 needed pounds divided by mid-1990s. Some cows in the herd were 1,100-pound average cow weight equals approaching 1,800 to 2,000 pounds because 127.6 pairs). growth was prevalent in This discussion continthe background genetued for several years with ics of the cattle and purno real action implementchased sires were good ed. Hold that thought! growth bulls. Heifer reThe center had been usplacement was a side ing smaller Aberdeen sires product of these good (formerly called Lowline growth bulls. cattle) to reduce calving If raised heifers were issues for first-calf heifers short in number, then since the mid-1990s. The those heifers purchased bulls had worked quite generally were crossbred well in improving calving heifers. These purchased ease and the subsequent heifers were from various steer calves were doing sources, and their mature well when fed out. weights were indicative We did not seem to find of growth bulls. In other any real disadvantage for words, the cows matured using the Aberdeen sires, at weights similar to the other than reduced mature size. But reduccenter’s raised heifers. ing mature size really was not discussed as To no surprise, the center’s cattle were negative. a product of available growth genes within In the meantime, the female counterparts the beef business. Was this an issue? Not at the center grew up. So “cow math” led the really because the cattle performed well all thought process. Would the extra 32 calves the way to harvest. (128 calves from the smaller cows minus The center has retained ownership in 96 calves if stocked with larger cows) really most of the steers since the mid-1990s, pencil out? Could those small cows actually and the cattle were representative of cattle carry the load? Could they be competitive throughout the industry. Multiple breeds with the mainstream beef production? were utilized and life was good; we had In the next phase, the center decided to no time for “cow math” because the center find the answers. A set of range pastures accepted what was. were targeted to be stocked with the smaller After the turn of the century, the large cows (target cow weight of 1,100 pounds). cows were becoming more noticeable. So, As time went on, many misconceptions of by June of 2010, the center sorted cow-calf just “what a smaller cow is” have been set pairs, particularly targeting the excessively aside and corrected. large cows and sold them. Why? The pasAs the center continues to evolve and tures at the center have set stocking rates, explore thoughts regarding the efficiency and the calculated stocking rate is based on of the beef cow, more and more pieces will total cow weight. evolve. In addition, getting the industry to Enter “grass math,” a prerequisite for better target efficiency discussions to be cow math. One 1,519-acre grazing parcel more reflective of biological and economic utilized the twice-over grazing system from efficiencies would help in putting the pieces early June to mid-October. The “grass math” in play within the industry. stocking rate, calculated using ecological These pieces are real. Having cattle that site maps updated in the mid-2000s, calls for are too large and cattle that are too small 789 animal unit months (AUMs) of forage has real consequences. Finding the middle for the three summer pastures’ stocking, or is critical to positioning the beef industry 1.92 acre per AUM. The “grass math” calfor the future. And finding the pieces that culated 175 animal units (AUs), with a total fit is good. herd stocking weight of 175,533 pounds. May you find all your ear tags. Next came “cow math,” which was the For more information, contact your local core target of our stocking rate discussion. NDSU Extension Service agent (https:// What was our stocking rate? The center’s www.ag.ndsu.edu/extension/directory) or targeted stocking rate was 80 percent, or Ringwall at the Dickinson Research Exten140,426 (175,533 times 80 percent) pounds sion Center, 1041 State Ave., Dickinson, of cows, for turnout in early June. North Dakota 58601; 701-456-1103, or kris. Each producer gets to set the targeted ringwall@ndsu.edu stocking rate (with, we hope, the help of a ##### “I got this great new hearing aid,” a guy announced to his friend. “It cost me a ton of money, but it works great.” “Really?” replied the friend. “What kind is it?” “Twelve-thirty!” ##### We’re not senior citizens–we’re recycled teenagers.
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