Education Commons^™

Equine Nutrition: Pasture Planning In Nebraska, Emma Vazquez

Honors Theses

This paper describes the rationale behind four infographics on equine nutrition and pasture planning. These infographics are intended to provide Nebraskan horse owners with general advice on setting up and maintaining their pastures. The first three infographics cover pasture basics when building, pasture care, and ideal grass types. These grass types are further broken down between Western and Eastern Nebraska. Additionally, the fourth infographic gives some insight into why forage is a staple in the equine diet based on the digestive system.

All four infographics have been posted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Horse Program social media pages in an …

2006 Beef Report Summaries, James Gosey

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Reports on recent beef research are briefly summarized in this publication. Summaries of the research featured in the 2006 Beef Report appear here. Topics include cow-calf, growing, finishing and beef products.

Ec05-185 Grazing Winter Wheat In Nebraska, Tom Holman, Drew J. Lyon, David D. Baltensperger, Ivan G. Rush, Ray Weed

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Grazing cattle on winter wheat, often prior to grain harvest, is common throughout the southern Great Plains. Grazing generates about $50 million in income for Texas wheat producers and reduces the risk of growing wheat by providing a substantial income source other than grain. Benefits can be realized by grazing prior to the primary environmental risk period for drought, heat stress, and hail, all of which frequently reduce grain yield while having limited impact on forage production. Cattle also are grazed on winter wheat fields in western Nebraska and the surrounding region. Typically in Nebraska, fall forage would be used …

G05-1582 How To Reduce Heat Stress In Dairy Cattle, Jeffrey F. Keown, Paul J. Kononoff, Richard J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Four ways to reduce heat stress and maintain production and fertility in dairy cattle.

Heat stress is one of the leading causes of decreased production and fertility in Nebrasks dairy cattle during summer months. These losses are apparent in the decreased amount of milk shipped, increased days open and decreased breedings per conception. Some heat stress is unavoidable, but effects can be minimized if certain management practices are followed.

Ec03-153 Selecting Alfalfa Varieties For Nebraska, Bruce Anderson, Michael Trammell, Charles A. Shapiro, David D. Baltensperger

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The most important variety decision on many farms and ranches is the selection of alfalfa. The choice of alfalfa variety affects production for three to ten or more years, whereas varieties of annual crops can be changed annually. Yield potential, pest resistance, and seed price should be considered when selecting alfalfa varieties in Nebraska.

Ec03-181 Alfalfa In Nebraska, Bruce Anderson, Loren J. Giesler, Thomas E. Hunt, Shripat T. Kamble, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Charles A. Shapiro

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Alfalfa is the most important forage crop grown in Nebraska, with over 1,000 acres grown in every county. It has the highest feeding value for livestock and one of the highest yield potentials. Alfalfa can produce more protein per acre than any other crop and can provide all of the protein needed by many livestock as well as supplying large amounts of vitamins, minerals, and energy. Protein of alfalfa. In also covers the cultural practices, insect pests, diseases, weeds that affect alfalfa.

G03-1510 Using Burrow Builders For Pocket Gopher Control, Dallas R. Virchow, Scott E. Hygnstrom, Bruce Anderson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Pocket gophers spend nearly their entire lives underground and may only appear aboveground when they excavate soil to the surface or when they disperse to new areas. Each animal moves tons of soil during a year and creates dozens of mounds, sometimes in the span of a few days.

This NebGuide discusses how to use tractor-drawn mechanical bait applications to manage pocket gophers.

G02-1456 Seeding Alfalfa, Bruce Anderson, Jerry D. Volesky

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This 2002 NebGuide discusses alfalfa production, including site selection and preparation, fertilization, variety selection, seeding, companion crops, stand management, weed control and stand renovation.

Drought-Stressed Corn, Thomas Dorn, Bruce Anderson, Richard J. Rasby

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact details how to identify drought stress in corn, its effect on potential yield and how to maximize economic return from drought-damaged corn.

Ec01-158 Integrating Management Objectives And Grazing Strategies On Semi-Arid Rangeland, Patrick E. Reece, Jerry D. Volesky, Walter H. Schacht

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Rangelands account for about half of Nebraska's total land area or about 24 million acres. Much of these expansive natural resource areas are in the semi-arid climatic region of Nebraska where grazing management decisions have a profound effect on ranch survival.

The educational object of this circular is to explain management practices that optimize the sustainability of rangeland-based enterprises. Additionally a decision-support tool is provided for selecting grazing systems best suited to livestock production and natural resource management objectives.

Ec01-150 Range Judging Handbook And Contest Guide For Nebraska, James T. Nichols, Peter N. Jensen

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Range judging contests can be a challenging and effective learning tool for everyone - youth, adults, beginners, professionals - whether from rural or urban areas. This circular provides information about Nebraska's rangelands and grasslands. It is designed to help individuals and teams prepare for range judging contests and to learn more about rangeland and its management. Each of the nine sections that follow corresponds to a section on the range judging scorecard used in contests.

Ec01-120 Certified Perennial Grass Varieties Recommended For Nebraska, Bruce Anderson, Roger Kanable, Ken Vogel

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

More than 100 species of perennial grasses are adapted to and grown in Nebraska. They are classified as either "cool-season" or "warm-season" grasses. The following map, "Major Land Resource Areas For Selecting Adapted Grass Species and Varieties," depicts 16 regions within the state of Nebraska. The table, "Varieties of Grasses for Use in Major Land Resource Areas of Nebraska," shows which grass varieties are best adapted to different sites in each region. After identifying the region on the map, use the table to select an appropriate grass variety for your site.

Nf584 Strategies For Range Beef Cattle Producers In Arid Environments Following Drought, Tom Holman, Patrick E. Reece, Ivan G. Rush, David D. Baltensperger

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact addresses how to deal with an inadequate supply of forage for range beef cattle because of drought. Precipitation can be below average for much of the Nebraska Panhandle and adjoining areas for prolonged periods. Prolonged drought results in an inadequate supply of forage for hundreds of thousands of beef cattle on millions of acres of rangeland. While some variation occurs among ranches and among pastures within a given ranch, all rangeland vegetation in arid environments like western Nebraska can be moderately to severely damaged by drought stress and/or excessive grazing. Consequently, even if soil moisture is not limited …

Ec00-1879 Sorghum Ergot In The Northern Great Plains, Jim Stack

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Sorghum is grown throughout Nebraska on approximately 0.6 million acres of land. It is grown as a forage crop as well as a grain crop. There is no significant commercial seed production in Nebraska. Grain sorghum is used domestically as livestock feed, in ethanol production, and to a limited extent as a food crop.

Grain sorghum is also exported to several countries. All sorghum hybrids (grain and forage) are susceptible to ergot disease. Ergot is a disease that impacts sorghum production directly by infecting unfertilized flowers and preventing seed development. Ergot also impacts sorghum production indirectly. Affected fields with honeydew-covered …

Ec00-153 Selecting Alfalfa Varieties For Nebraska, Bruce Anderson, Michael Trammell, Patrick E. Reece

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Yield potential, pest resistance and seed price should be considered when selecting alfalfa varieties in Nebraska.

The most important variety decision on many farms and ranches is the selection of alfalfa. The choice of alfalfa variety affects production for three to 10 or more years, whereas varieties of annual crops can be change every year.

This extension circular lists the alfalfa varieties that have been tested in Nebraska with commercial seed for two or more years since 1997 and marketed in the state. These are the 2000 results.

Nf99-397 Gray Leaf Spot Of Perennial Ryegrass In Nebraska, John E. Watkins

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Gray leaf spot, caused by the fungus Pyricularia grisea, was reported in the early 1970s to be a damaging disease of annual ryegrass grown for forage in the southeastern United States. Forage yield losses were so severe that the disease was named ryegrass blast.

This NebFact discusses the diagnosis, future occurrences, and management of gray leaf spot in Nebraska and surrounding states.

Nf98-372 Preparation And Use Of Wheatgrass Stands After Crp And Associated Costs/Income — Part I, Patrick E. Reece, Tom Holman, David W. Cook

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Wheatgrass species (Agropyron spp.) were seeded on many Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres in western Nebraska and adjoining states. These species included crested (A. cristatum, desertorum), intermediate (A. intermedium), pubescent (A. trichophorum) and western (A. smithii) wheatgrasses. Good to excellent stands of wheatgrass can be valuable forages sources for livestock during the spring, summer, or fall, however, accumulation of large amounts of poor quality residual herbage during 10-year CRP contract periods can reduce animal performance.

This NebGuide discusses field evaluations, results, recommended preparations, spring and summer grazing after CRP; and associated …

Ec98-151 Amaranth: Production Manual For The Central United States, Jane Sooby, David D. Baltensperger, Robert Myers, David Brenner, Richard Wilson, Charles Block

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Amaranth is a small-seeded grain crop with a dramatic history. Once a staple in the diet of the Aztec Indians, today it is grown throughout the world. In the United States much of the production is small-scale and organic, grown mainly for the natural and health food markets. There also has been steady use of the crop for breakfast cereals, snack foods, and mass-produced multigrain bread products. Amaranth is a broadleaf plant well-adapted to a range of arid and humid environments. As a crop it fits into many dryland rotations, performing well following wheat, proso millet, or other grain crops. …

Ec98-278 Grazing Crop Residues, Richard J. Rasby, Roger Selley, Terry Klopfenstein

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Nebraska has an abundance of crop residue available for late fall and winter grazing. However, several factors prevent the grazing of many fields, including the location of fields in relation to the cattle, the lack of shelter or appropriate fencing and water availability. Despite these limitations, residue grazing is an important resource to many cattle operations, primarily as either a winter feed resource for maintaining the breeding herd or putting weight on cull cows. Calves weaned in the fall can also be wintered on cornstalks if appropriate supplementation is used.

Ec97-277 Minerals And Vitamins For Beef Cows, Richard J. Rasby, Dennis R. Brink, Ivan G. Rush, Don C. Adams

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Introduction

Mineral supplementation programs range from elaborate, cafeteria-style delivery systems to simple white salt blocks put out periodically by producers. The reason for this diversity: little applicable research available for producers to evaluate mineral supplement programs. There is a need of information regarding mineral composition and availability from various feedstuffs (i.e. pasture grasses, hays, by-products, etc.) and the possible interactions between minerals in the digestive system. Also lacking is a data base to establish accurate estimates of mineral requirements for beef cattle.

Assessing the consequence of mineral deficiencies in the cow, calf or stocker animal is difficult because slightly lowered …

G97-1320 Feeding To Maximize Milk Solids, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide describes feeding guidelines to increase production of solids-corrected milk.

Proper feeding management of the dairy herd can improve the economy of production and provide for a healthier cow. Feeding to increase production of milk with maximum levels of milk fat and protein is essential for achieving these benefits.

Milk solid components include fat, protein, lactose, and minerals. Normal values for milk fat range from 3.7 percent (Holstein) to 4.9 percent (Jersey); milk protein ranges from 3.1 percent (Holstein) to 3.8 percent (Jersey). Lactose is usually 4.6 to 4.8 percent for all breeds and minerals (ash) average .74 percent. …

G96-1306 Feeding Dairy Cows To Reduce Nitrogen, Phosphorus, And Potassium Excretion Into The Environment, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide discusses feeding strategies to optimize dairy cow performance while minimizing negative environmental impacts.

Reducing N, P and K Excretion--The Challenge

Increasingly, our society demands livestock production systems that not only produce economic, high-quality food products, but also minimize negative environmental impacts. Feeding management has improved continuously and helps explain increases in milk production averages. The future challenge for dairy producers and nutritionists will be to properly formulate rations for high production levels while simultaneously minimizing the environmental impact of excessive N, P and K excretion in the urine and manure. A realistic approach will be to keep formulation …

G96-1308 Management Of Eastern Redcedar On Grasslands, John Ortmann, James L. Stubbendieck, George Pfeiffer, Robert A. Masters, Walter H. Schacht

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Developing an integrated control program including prescribed burning, herbicides, and cutting may be the best way to control eastern redcedar in Nebraska, according to recent research. Eastern redcedar is a serious threat to grassland productivity. Some control methods may be too expensive to use on grasslands, but in many cases, an integrated approach combining fire with more intensive follow-up methods will provide reasonable control at an acceptable cost.

Nf94-129 Adding Water To Grain, Silage, Or Hay, Rick Stock, Rick Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Water additions to feeds stored as high-moisture grain, silage, haylage, dry hay, or dry rations may be desirable for several reasons.

G94-1198 Switchgrass And Big Bluestem For Grazing And Hay, Robert B. Mitchell, Lowell E. Moser, Bruce Anderson, Steven S. Waller

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

The grazing management and cultural practices discussed in this NebGuide can make switchgrass and big bluestem high quality summer forage. Switchgrass and big bluestem are native warm-season grasses that can provide abundant, high-quality forage during summer. Switchgrass and big bluestem produce 70 to 80 percent of their growth after June 1 in Nebraska, while more than 75 percent of cool-season grass growth, such as bromegrass and bluegrass, occurs before June 1. Therefore, switchgrass and big bluestem can provide forage to graze after cool-season pastures have been utilized. However, switchgrass and big bluestem must be managed differently than cool-season grasses. Poor …

G94-1192 Feeding Dairy Cows With Limited High Quality Forage, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

During excessively wet or dry years, there is a wide range of forage quality with most dairy producers forced to feed at least some moderate to poor quality forage. This NebGuide discusses basic alterations in the feeding strategy to help cope with minimal reductions in milk yield.

During excessively wet or dry years, there is a wide range of forage quality with most dairy producers forced to feed at least some moderate to poor quality forage. This NebGuide discusses basic alterations in the feeding strategy to help cope with minimal reductions in milk yield.

G92-1118 Forage Allocation System For Dairy Producers -- Using A Forage Inventory And Allocation Worksheet, Rick J. Grant

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide provides a worksheet to organize your forage inventory and properly allocate forages of different qualities to various groups of cows.

Importance of Forage Quality

Properly feeding high quality forage to the dairy herd improves the profitability of the dairy enterprise. A dairy herd demonstration program involving 28 herds in Nebraska illustrated the importance of feeding high quality forage. Herds which improved forage quality over the two-year program produced 30 percent more milk yearly, with over 8 percent less feed cost compared with those herds that failed to feed high quality forage. University of Wisconsin research indicates maximum milk …

Nf92-60 Feeding The Club Calf Properly, Scott Brady, Rick Stock, Doyle Wolverton

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebFact suggests a set of diets for club calves.

Ec91-123 Drought Management On Range And Pastureland: A Handbook For Nebraska And South Dakota, Patrick E. Reece, Jack D. Alexander, James R. Johnson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Drought is generally defined as a prolonged period during which annual precipitation is less than 75 percent of average. Based upon this definition, drought has occurred in 21 percent of the years in the northern Great Plains since 1940. Poor distribution of precipitation in a single year or less than average precipitation in successive years can also cause drought conditions.

This extension circulation discusses the following: how plants respond to drought, management preparation for drought, herd management, animal response to drought, predicting forage production and stocking rates, drought management plans, rangeland resource inventory, grazing management, and plant recovery after drought.

G89-912 Alfalfa Crown And Root Rots And Stand Longevity, John E. Watkins, Fred A. Gray, Bruce Anderson

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Causes of crown and upper root rot, symptoms and management are discussed here.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is the most important forage crop species in North America. It is widely adapted, energy efficient, and produces the most protein yield per acre. Alfalfa is well-suited to both dryland and irrigationd soils of Nebraska.

Many factors contribute to the decline in productivity of an alfalfa stand. Under favorable growing conditions and proper management, alfalfa stands in Nebraska can last over 10 years.