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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Farm-Scale Production Cost Of Switchgrass For Biomass, Richard K. Perrin, Kenneth P. Vogel, Marty R. Schmer, Robert B. Mitchell Mar 2008

Farm-Scale Production Cost Of Switchgrass For Biomass, Richard K. Perrin, Kenneth P. Vogel, Marty R. Schmer, Robert B. Mitchell

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The economic potential of cellulosic biomass from switchgrass has heretofore been evaluated using estimates of farm costs based on extrapolation from experimental data and budget estimates. The objective of the project reported here was to estimate the cost of production that would be experienced by farmers on commercial production situations. Switchgrass was produced as a biomass crop on commercial-scale fields by ten contracting farmers located from northern North Dakota to southern Nebraska. Results showed a wide range of yields and costs across the five production years and ten sites, with an overall average cost of $65.86 Mg-1 of biomass …


Evaluation Of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion On Performance And Economics Of Finishing Beef Steers, C. D. Buckner, T. L. Mader, G. E. Erickson, S. L. Colgan, D. R. Mark, V. R. Bremer, K. K. Karges, M. L. Gibson Jan 2008

Evaluation Of Dry Distillers Grains Plus Solubles Inclusion On Performance And Economics Of Finishing Beef Steers, C. D. Buckner, T. L. Mader, G. E. Erickson, S. L. Colgan, D. R. Mark, V. R. Bremer, K. K. Karges, M. L. Gibson

Panhandle Research and Extension Center

A 167-d feedlot study was conducted to evaluate feeding increasing levels of dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) to finishing cattle and the impact on performance and profitability. Crossbred steer calves (n = 240, BW = 306 ± 24.5 kg) were used in 30 pens with dietary treatments of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% DDGS dietary inclusion (DM basis). Quadratic relationships (P < 0.05) were observed for final BW and ADG as dietary DDGS increased, with the greatest ADG observed at 20% inclusion. The DMI was not affected (P > 0.15) by DDGS level, but G:F tended to be quadratic (P = 0.10) as 20% DM inclusion had the greatest value, although steers fed all levels of DDGS had numerically greater G:F compared with steers fed no …