A Users Manual for Cornell Cattle System II, PRIVATE a Spreadsheet for Projecting Performance and Profits for Growing Cattle. Ed Rayburn1 and Dan Fox2 Beef production is full of risks and rewards. It is a business of rapidly changing markets for feed, feeders, and finished cattle. Profitability depends on the producer staying flexible and considering all the alternatives available to him. He has to be able to rapidly evaluate cattle types, feeds available, and potential market windows to reduce his risk and increase his potential rewards. To do this the new cattle feeder cannot rely on experience to teach him his alternatives. Waiting for the "school of hard knocks" to teach the options would put most out of business before they learned the alternatives. However, good pencil pushing and a close study of the historical perspective of beef marketing can provide both the new and established producer the experience of the "school of hard knocks" without having to pay the tuition. Good computer models provide a rapid means of pencil pushing. Because the computer can do the math rapidly and easily, computer models can consider more biological, environmental, and market variables and alternatives than if pushing with the old fashion pencil. To determine the profitability of growing and finishing cattle the three most important animal characteristics to know are dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), and feed requirement per pound of gain (FPG). Because of the research conducted at Universities and Agricultural Experiment stations over the last century these values are predictable under given animal, feed, and environmental conditions. These performance characteristics, when used along with feed and non-feed costs, and feeder and finished cattle prices can predict estimated profits. In the long run these prices have an equilibrium such that good managers will be profitable over the long haul and poor managers will lose money over the long haul. So to stay profitable you have one choice - learn to be a good manager. This includes having the most accurate projections possible for making buying and selling decisions and for setting management priorities. The computer program described in this users guide is a tool to help predict animal performance under given animal, feed, and environmental conditions. When known or expected market and economic conditions are added to these biological conditions good estimates of potential profitability can be made. Cornell Cattle System II (CCSII) is a spread sheet based on the animal response equations published by Fox et al (1988). This model is a refinement of the equations used in the previous Cornell Cattle System (CCS) feeding program which has proven quite useful to cattlemen across the nation. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Extension Specialist, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6108 Morgantown WV, 26506-6108. 2. Professor of Ruminant Nutrition, Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14865. This model was programmed and tested against a data base of 299 Holstein steer feeding periods from university research feeding trials in New York, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (Rayburn and Fox, 1988). In this test the model predicted actual feed DMI, ADG, and FPG within 1 to 2% over all trials. Validation of the requirement and intake equations on beef cattle have been reported by Fox (1987) and Fox et al (1988). The program comes as a protected spread sheet. Only the needed input cells are unprotected so that the user can enter data. This way important equations cannot be destroyed accidentally. If your computer has a CGA monitor or CGA emulation the unprotected cells will be highlighted. If data is entered into a protected cell a "beep" will sound and an error message will be visible in the top left corner of the screen. Push the "escape" key to exit the error message. As with all computer programs make a back up copy of this program in case something happens to the copy your use regularly. Moving about the spread sheet: An attempt has been made to make CCSII easy to use. Being programmed as a spreadsheet, it is easy to modify inputs to run "What-if" analysis on feeding and marketing programs. The program is broken into logical input and output screens for: 1. Animal description 2. Market description 3. Management description 4. Feedlot Environment description 5. Feeds available for use in ration 6. Ration description 7. Ration cost and nutrient content 8. Check for ration balance 9. Costs and returns for feeding cattle 10. Feed usage 11. Summary sheet The CCSII is constructed so that the "cursor" keys (arrow keys), "end" key, "tab" keys, and "home" key will move you at will through the spread sheet. The lines across the spread sheet can be used with the "end" key and "cursor right" or "cursor left" keys to move rapidly from left to right hand side of the spread sheet. By pressing the "home" key the user is placed at the top left hand corner of the CCSII spreadsheet. To place the cursor in the far right hand column, where most of the data input is required, you need only to press the "end" key then the "cursor right" key. Then to page down through the entry screens use the page down key to move one screen at a time. When you are within a screen of interest use the "cursor down" key to move down one line at a time. If entering or reviewing data in the feed table use the "tab" key to move right one screen at a time. On the following pages you will find reproduced the various screens of CCSII with a short description of the needed inputs. These screens use a 700 pound yearling steer as an example. After all inputs are entered, the user must push the "F9" function key to cause recalculation. Inputs required are numeric values and codes. A partial listing of codes is available on the screen where the input is being made. For a complete listing of codes refer to the appendix of this users manual. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ANIMAL DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Purchase weight (lb) 700 Is this a shrunk weight? yes Sex (Steer=1, Heifer=2) 1 Frame size (Small=1, Large=9) 5 Body condition (V Thin=1, Avg=5, V Fleshy=9) 5 Breed (Beef=1, Holstein=3) 1 Hide thickness (Thin=1, Thick=3) 2 Hair coat depth (in) 1.0 Age (Newborn=1, Calf=2, Yearling=3, Adult=4) 3 Number head purchased 60 Expected sale weight (lb) 1200 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen provides a description of the animal type and the number of animals to be placed on feed. The average or critical weight of animals you are feeding is entered in pounds. Calculations of animal growth are made on body weight after adjusting for a 4% live weight shrink. The weight tickets often reflect a shrunk weight. If the weight you have is a "green" or unshrunk weight adjust it for 4% shrink or enter "no". Enter the code for the animal's sex, frame size, body condition, breed, and hide thickness as indicated. Enter an estimate of the hair coat depth in inches. Enter the code for the animal's age class. Enter the number of animals being fed and the expected sale weight of the animals after a 4% pencil shrink. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Purchase price ($/cwt) $76.00 In trucking cost ($/hd) $2.62 In processing cost ($/hd) $7.00 Interest rate on cattle 10.0% Interest rate on feed 10.0% Daily yardage charge ($/hd) $0.25 Sale cost ($/hd) $10.00 Anticipated sale prices Sale Wt Price/cwt 200 $80 400 $77 500 $70 600 $70 700 $70 800 $70 900 $68 Select 1000 $70 Choice 1200 $70 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen provides a description of the market conditions expected to apply to the purchase and sale of cattle. Purchase price should be entered as the cost per hundred weight (cwt) of 4% shrunk body weight. Enter other production costs such as trucking and in-processing on a per head (hd) basis. Enter the interest rate you are paying for your use of capital for purchasing cattle and retaining ownership or purchasing feed. Make interest rate entries as a decimal, Lotus will display them as a percent. Animal interest is calculated for the whole feeding period. Feed interest is calculated for one half of the feeding period. Daily yardage cost is the daily overhead cost to run the feedlot or farm divided by the the number of animal being fed. Yardage should cover all labor and management salaries; facility costs such as taxes, utilities, depreciation, and maintenance; equipment costs such as fuel, depreciation, and repairs; and any other none feed costs. Cost of selling cattle (commission and trucking) should be entered on a per head basis. An estimate of the market prices should be entered. This market price listing will be used to calculate returns over animal purchase, feed, yardage, and sale costs at the estimated sale weight. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- MANAGEMENT DESCRIPTION The following management is expected ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date received: Month 10 Day 1 Year 1988 Hours to truck cattle in 2 Expected shrink on cattle 4 Expected days to recover shrink 4 Expected death loss 1% Relative DMI 100% Will the ration be finely processed? (yes or no) no Legume content in forage 25% Feed additive implant combination which will be used 3 code No Implant 0 Implant only 1 Implant plus: Rumensin @ 20 g/ton air dry feed 2 Rumensin @ 30 g/ton air dry feed 3 Bovatec @ 33 g/ton air dry feed 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen provides the input for management alternatives to be used. Currently these are the only options available for comparisons. As more become available they can be added here but must also be added to the appropriate look-up tables. Date the cattle are received is entered and used to calculate the expected sale date of the cattle. Hours required to truck the cattle is used to give an estimate of shrink and days required to recover shrink from trucking. If cattle are purchased at a sale barn, weighing conditions and previous trucking are not considered. Enter the percent death loss you anticipate. Enter the percent relative DMI you have in your lot. This is obtained with experience by comparing animal intake of feeds in your lot as compared to the predicted values. For example, if your animals tend to consume 10% more feed than predicted, enter this as 1.1 Relative DMI (displayed as 1.10%). Factors which may affect DMI, not considered by the program, would be silage quality due to fermentation, quality of byproduct feeds, and feed bunk management. If the ration is finely ground enter "yes" otherwise leave it as "no". In high forage diets enter the percent legume in the forage. On the last line enter the code of the feed additive implant combination. -------------------------------------------------------------------------FEEDLOT ENVIRONMENT DESCRIPTION LTENVIRON ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avg Temp Lot Mud Effective Coat Month Days - deg F - Condition Wind Condition 1 Jan 31 24 0 2 1 2 Feb 28 23 0 2 1 3 Mar 31 32 0 2 1 4 Apr 30 41 0 2 1 5 May 31 50 0 2 1 6 Jun 30 59 0 2 1 7 Jul 31 67 0 2 1 8 Aug 31 68 0 2 1 9 Sep 30 59 0 2 1 10 Oct 31 50 0 2 1 11 Nov 30 41 0 2 1 12 Dec 31 32 0 2 1 Are there cool nights in hot weather months? yes ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this screen enter the description of your feedlot environment condition. Once entered you may want to protect these cells so that they cannot be changed accidentally. Average monthly temperatures for your area can be obtained from your local Extension Office. Lot mud conditions need to be taken from your local experience. Effective wind is dependent on if the animals have protection and is not the average weather station wind speed when wind breaks or building are available to the animals for use. Coat conditions are dependent on the wetness or muddyness of the animals hair and is a result of if cover is available to the animals and also dependent on the precipitation expected in the area. A listing of codes is as follows: Hair condition code No mud, hair dry 1 Some mud on lower body 2 Mud on sides, hair wet 3 Covered with mud or wet snow 4 For the last entry, enter "yes" if there is night cooling during the hot months. If not, enter "no". -------------------------------------------------------------------------FEEDS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN RATION----------------------------------------------------- -------------------- Feed Price Dry MEbeef CP Ca P # Name $/Ton Matter Mcal/Kg % % % As Fed ------------- DM Basis -------------------------------------------- ----------------------->>>> Minerals >>>> 1 AGHaylage $40.00 50% 2.10 17.0% 1.35% 0.28% 2 hay #1 $75.00 90% 2.73 15.0% 1.20% 0.26% 3 Tim Hay $50.00 90% 2.06 10.0% 0.38% 0.30% 4 Pasture $5.00 20% 2.53 22.6% 1.14% 0.46% 5 Ear Corn $80.00 90% 3.00 9.0% 0.07% 0.27% 6 Shell Cor $95.00 90% 3.08 10.0% 0.02% 0.35% 7 Corn Sil $20.00 33% 2.53 8.1% 0.23% 0.22% 8 CalfStart $166.00 90% 2.80 15.4% 0.80% 0.80% 9 Pro 16% $175.00 90% 3.04 17.0% 1.50% 1.50% 10 Pro 40% $264.00 90% 3.04 44.0% 2.60% 1.00% 11 TM salt $160.48 100% 0.00 0.0% 0.00% 0.00% 12 dical-P $519.40 100% 0.00 0.0% 19.00% 10.00% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (tab right from previous screen) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEEDS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN RATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------- % % % % ppm ppm ppm ppm Mg K Na S Co Cu I Fe 0.26% 2.06% 0.16% 0.29% 0.17 11 0.16 134 0.20% 2.06% 0.17% 0.17% 0.30 11 0.10 154 (only the first two lines are shown here) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (tab right from previous screen) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEEDS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN RATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ppm ppm ppm IU/kg Mn Se Zn Vit A 43 0.37 25 56700.0 115 0.20 40 53000.0 (only the first two lines are shown here) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen provides room for twelve feedstuffs or supplements available for ration formulation. One line is used for each feed or supplement. The feed name, cost per ton as fed, and percent dry matter are entered in the appropriate columns. Then the content of the feed dry matter for each nutrient is entered in the appropriate column. To enter all of the information the user must tab to the right of the initial screen. In the example above, only the first screen is presented in full. (The screens to the right have been reduced to the header and first two lines and have been brought under the first screen.) By entering all of this nutrient information, CCSII checks nutrient intake against the NRC recommendations. A feed library is contained at the lower left hand end of the CCSII spreadsheet. You can move to the feed library by pushing the following key sequence: "end", "home", "end", "cursor left". The Lotus copy function can be used to copy any feed description wanted from the feed library to the "FEEDS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE RATION" section. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATION DESCRIPTION OVER WEIGHT PERIODS OF 83 POUND INCREMENTS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Feed # 1 7 6 9 10 Name AGHaylageCorn Sil Shell CorPro 16% Pro 40% $/T $40.00 $20.00 $95.00 $175.00 $264.00 DM 50% 33% 90% 90% 90% ME 2.10 2.53 3.08 3.04 3.04 CP 17.0% 8.1% 10.0% 17.0% 44.0% Ca 1.4% 0.2% 0.0% 1.5% 2.6% Period P 0.3% 0.2% 0.4% 1.5% 1.0% Wtin %CHECK Date Star ------ Feed as % of Ration Dry Matter ---- 700 100% 01-Oct 10% 40% 40% 0% 10% 783 100% 01-Nov 10% 30% 55% 0% 5% 867 100% 28-Nov 10% 20% 65% 0% 5% 950 100% 25-Dec 10% 20% 65% 5% 0% 1033 100% 24-Jan 10% 20% 65% 5% 0% 1117 100% 26-Feb 10% 20% 65% 5% 0% --------------------------->>>>----> ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In this screen the user enters the feed numbers of the feeds to be included in the rations fed. The feed numbers are the line numbers of the feedstuffs listed in the "FEEDS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE RATION" screen. Pushing the "F9" key then brings up the name, cost, and major nutrient contents of each feed. There are six lines available for describing different feeding period rations. These feeding period intervals are divided over six weight intervals between the purchase and sale weights that were entered. In the example used, a sale weight of 1200 pounds minus a 700 pounds purchase weight divided over 6 feeding periods gives a 83 pound weight interval. If the user pushed the "F9" key there will also be the starting weight of the animals at the left hand side of each period. In the columns under "Feed as % of Ration Dry Matter" enter the percent of the feed you will use in the ration on the line corresponding to the feeding period. After entering values for all feeds over all periods push "F9" to recalculate. This will check that the percentages add to 100% and give the date in which the feeding period is expected to start, based on gain predicted for each period. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATION COST AND NUTRIENT CONTENT BY WEIGHT PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avg Wt $/Ton $/TonDM DM% MEbeef CP Ca P 742 $76 $121 63.2% 2.76 13.3% 0.50% 0.36% 825 $75 $110 68.9% 2.82 11.8% 0.35% 0.34% 908 $83 $111 74.6% 2.87 12.0% 0.32% 0.35% 992 $79 $105 74.6% 2.87 10.7% 0.27% 0.37% 1075 $79 $105 74.6% 2.87 10.7% 0.27% 0.37% 1158 $79 $105 74.6% 2.87 10.7% 0.27% 0.37% Nutrient intake as a percent of NRC estimated requirement Avg Wt DMI CP Ca P Mg K Na 742 101% 123% 105% 142% 196% 146% 162% 825 100% 115% 80% 139% 175% 123% 100% 908 99% 122% 81% 147% 167% 112% 100% 992 94% 113% 73% 159% 158% 106% 95% 1075 89% 118% 78% 159% 151% 102% 91% 1158 81% 122% 81% 151% 136% 92% 82% ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tab right from previous screen) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATION COST AND NUTRIENT CONTENT BY WEIGHT PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mg K Na S Co Cu I Fe 0.23% 2.02% 0.52% 0.20% 1.39 16.78 2.30 152.32 0.23% 2.02% 0.52% 0.20% 1.39 16.78 2.30 152.32 (only the first two lines are shown here) S Co Cu I Fe Mn Se Zn 203% 1390% 209% 458% 304% 364% 397% 496% 203% 1390% 209% 458% 304% 364% 397% 496% (only the first two lines are shown here) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Tab right from previous screen) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- RATION COST AND NUTRIENT CONTENT BY WEIGHT PERIOD ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mn Se Zn Vit A 146.00 0.80 149.20 60164 146.00 0.80 149.20 60164 (only the first two lines are shown here) Vit A 6000% 6000% (only the first two lines are shown here) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- The top half of this screen shows the average animal weight during each feeding period, an estimated cost of the ration per ton as feed and per ton dry matter, and nutrient content of the ration on a DM basis. The second half of the screen gives DM and nutrient intake as a percent of the recommended NRC requirement. Where a safety factor of nutrient intake is desired these values should be above the NRC requirement. When nutrient levels are below NRC recommendations feeds entered in the "Ration Description" or the desired concentrations of nutrients in supplements as listed in the "Feeds Available" section can be altered to determine what is needed to balance the ration. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHECK FOR RATION BALANCE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- DMI CP Ca P Mg K Na Avg Wt lbs grams grams grams grams grams grams NRC estimated requirement 742 17.2 860 37 20 8 51 6 825 18.5 866 36 20 8 55 7 908 19.6 871 35 21 9 58 7 992 21.0 838 33 21 10 62 8 1075 22.3 816 31 21 10 66 8 1158 23.5 752 29 21 11 70 9 Predicted nutrient intake 742 17.4 1056 39 28 15 74 10 825 18.5 995 29 28 15 67 7 908 19.4 1061 29 31 15 65 7 992 19.6 951 24 33 15 66 7 1075 19.9 965 24 34 15 67 7 1158 19.0 920 23 32 15 64 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- S Co Cu I Fe Mn Se Zn Vit A grams mg mg mg mg mg mg mg IU NRC estimated requirement Predicted nutrient intake ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen calculates the NRC recommended requirement and the predicted nutrient intake for the ration fed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- COSTS AND RETURNS FOR FEEDING CATTLE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Period - - Feed cost - - Value Margin Avg Wt DMI# ADG# F/G $/#gain $todate $/CWT 742 17.42 3.06 5.69 $0.34 $34 $70 ($18) 825 18.50 3.05 6.07 $0.33 $68 $70 $7 908 19.41 3.07 6.32 $0.35 $103 $68 $11 992 19.61 2.78 7.05 $0.37 $140 $70 $51 1075 19.91 2.54 7.84 $0.41 $181 $70 $68 1158 18.97 2.06 9.21 $0.48 $230 $70 $78 Period DOF Months on Feed - - - Date - - - Total Ending Wt Period To DATE Start End DOF 783 31 1.0 01-Oct 01-Nov 189 867 27 1.9 01-Nov 28-Nov 950 27 2.8 28-Nov 25-Dec 1033 30 3.8 25-Dec 24-Jan 1117 33 4.9 24-Jan 26-Feb 1200 40 6.2 26-Feb 07-Apr ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen shows for each feeding period the predicted average weight, DMI, ADG, FPG, feed cost for the period, feed cost to date, value of the gain, margin over feed cost, period ending weight, days on feed (DOF), months on feed to date, and period starting and ending dates. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- FEED USAGE ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Period - - - - Pounds feed as fed basis - - - - Avg WT DMI Total DM AGHaylageCorn Sil Shell CorPro 16% Pro 40% 742 17.4 544 109 659 242 0 60 825 18.5 506 101 460 309 0 28 908 19.4 527 105 319 381 0 29 992 19.6 588 118 356 424 33 0 1075 19.9 653 131 396 472 36 0 1158 19.0 767 153 465 554 43 0 Total # 717 2656 2382 112 118 Feed Stuff Cost $14.34 $26.56 $113.14 $9.76 $15.55 Total Feed Cost $179.36 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen shows the calculated feed usage by feedstuff and feeding period, with a total over the whole feeding period by feedstuff and total feed cost per head. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY FOR: Frame 5 AvgFlesh Beef Steers ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Purchase date Oct-88 Expected sale date Apr-89 Purchase Weight 700 Sale Weight 1200 Purchase Price ($/Cwt) $76.00 Sale Price ($/Cwt) $70.00 Days On Feed 189 Average Daily Gain 2.65 No. Head Purchased 60 No. Head Sold 59 - Cost / Returns ----------- /Head ----------------------------- /group- Animal Purchase $532.00 $31,920 Feed $179.36 $10,761 In Trucking $2.62 $157 In Processing $7.00 $420 Yardage $47.24 $2,834 Interest on Animals $27.54 $1,653 Interest on Feed $4.64 $279 Sale cost $10.00 $590 Death Loss $5.32 $319 * * TOTAL COSTS * * $815.72 $48,933 * * GROSS SALES * * $840.00 $49,560 Net Return to Feeding $24.28 $1,457 Break Even Price for Sale $67.98 for Purchase $79.47 Annual Margin for All Costs 6% Annual Turnover Rate 1.93 - Feed Requirement and Cost -------------------------------------------- Feed AGHaylageCorn Sil Shell CorPro 16% Pro 40% lbs/Head 717 2656 2382 112 118 Cost/Head $14.34 $26.56 $113.14 $9.76 $15.55 Tons/group 21.5 79.7 71.5 3.3 3.5 Cost/group $860 $1,593 $6,789 $586 $933 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This screen summarizes all inputs and the resulting calculations for the described feeding situation. It provides a check for input values and codes and the resulting estimates of cost and returns. Print a copy of the summary by turning on your printer, aligning the paper, and then entering the following key sequence: "/","P","P","A","G". When printing this summary, the "RATION DESCRIPTION OVER WEIGHT PERIODS" is printed as a header to give the ration being fed. References: Fox, D.G. 1987. Predicting Dry Matter Intake of Beef Cattle. In Predicting Feed Intake of Food- Producing Animals. National Research Council, National Academy Press p. 56-74. Fox, D.G., C.J. Sniffen, and J.D. O'Connor. 1988. Adjusting Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cattle for Animal and Environmental Variations. J. Anim. Sci. 66:1475-1495. Rayburn, E.B., and D.G. Fox. 1990. Predicting Growth Performance of Holstein Steers. J. Anim. Sci. 68:788-798. Appendix tables containing animal, environment, and feed codes and the adjustment factors used for calculating DMI, ADG, and FPG. A complete description of equations used to calculate requirements and feed intake are presented by Fox et al (1988). The following tables were developed from that publication for use in this spreadsheet to adjust for various animal, feed, and environmental conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADJUSTMENT FACTORS FOR CATTLE GROWTH CALCULATIONS ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "HEAT INCREMENT" TABLE Dietary Heat Increment MCal/kg DM LRHI NEM ME NEG 0.34 1.2 -0.18 0.56 1.4 0.03 0.76 1.6 0.23 0.96 1.8 0.41 1.15 2.0 0.59 1.34 2.2 0.76 1.52 2.4 0.92 1.69 2.6 1.08 1.86 2.8 1.23 2.03 3.0 1.37 2.19 3.2 1.51 2.36 3.4 1.65 2.51 3.6 1.78 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "CONDITION" TABLE LTCONDITION Estimated effect of previous feeding level on current ration nutritive value. Previous gain FS 5 Flesh Multiplier Condition g/day lbs/day Code NEM NEG Very Thin 360 0.79 1 0.955 1.100 440 0.97 2 0.968 1.075 520 1.14 3 0.980 1.050 600 1.32 4 0.990 1.025 Average Flesh 680 1.50 5 1.000 1.000 760 1.67 6 1.010 0.975 840 1.85 7 1.020 0.950 920 2.02 8 1.033 0.925 Very Fleshy 1000 2.20 9 1.045 0.900 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "ADDITIVE" TABLE LTADDITIVE Adjustment for use of feed additives NEM NEG DMI code - - - multiplier - - - No anabolic stimul 0 1.00 1.00 0.92 Implant only 1 1.00 1.00 1.00 Rumensin 22g/1000k 2 1.15 1.15 0.94 Rumensin 33g/1000k 3 1.28 1.28 0.90 Bovatec 33g/1000k 4 1.12 1.12 0.98 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "FINELY PROCESSED DIET" TABLE LTPROCESSED NEM DMIPROCSS 1.00 1.47 1.18 1.34 1.35 1.20 1.53 1.10 1.70 1.00 1.88 0.92 2.05 0.83 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "AGE" TABLE LTAGE Age effects on tissue insulation and DMI Multiplier Flesh code Tissue insulation Code DMI 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Newborn 1 1.00 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.5 Calf 2 1.00 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 6.5 Yearling 3 1.10 5.5 5.8 6.2 6.5 6.8 7.1 7.4 7.8 8.0 Adult 4 1.10 6.0 6.8 7.5 8.2 9.0 9.8 10.5 11.2 12.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "BREED" TABLE LTBREED Breed effect on maintenance energy requirement Multiplier Code NEMr NEGa RDMI 0 NA NA NA Beef 1 1.00 1.00 1.00 Holstein Cross 2 1.06 0.94 1.04 Holstein 3 1.12 0.88 1.08 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "TEMP" TABLE LTTEMP Temperature effect on DMI Temperature Deg C Deg F Multiplier -35 -31 1.16 -25 -13 1.16 -15 5 1.07 -5 23 1.05 5 41 1.03 15 59 1.00 25 77 0.90 35 95 0.90 multiplier dependent on night cooling ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "MUD" TABLE LTMUD Mud Conditions Lot Mud Mud depth RDMI Condition cm in None 0 0.0 1.00 Mild 10 3.9 0.85 Mild 20 7.9 0.78 Severe 30 11.8 0.70 Severe 60 23.6 0.70 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "HAIR" TABLE LTHAIR Hair condition Body Mud Factor No mud, hair dry 1 1.0 Some mud on lower body 2 0.8 Mud on sides, hair wet&cold 3 0.5 Covered w/ mud or wet snow 4 0.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "HIDE" TABLE LTHIDE Hide thickness Hide code Thin 1 0.8 Avg 2 1.0 Thick 3 1.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "EQVWT" TABLE LTEQWT Equivalent weight affects on Dry Matter Intake Equivalent weight Empty bod RDMI kg lb fat 0 0 0.0% 1.00 350 770 21.3% 1.00 375 825 22.6% 0.99 400 880 23.8% 0.97 425 935 25.2% 0.94 450 990 26.5% 0.90 475 1045 27.8% 0.86 500 1100 29.0% 0.82 525 1155 30.3% 0.78 550 1210 31.5% 0.73 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "FRAME" TABLE LTFRAME Adjustment for Frame Size and Sex FS steers heifers bulls 0 NA NA NA 1 1.25 1.56 1.04 2 1.19 1.47 0.98 3 1.13 1.39 0.93 4 1.06 1.32 0.88 5 1.00 1.25 0.83 6 0.95 1.19 0.79 7 0.91 1.14 0.76 8 0.87 1.09 0.73 9 0.83 1.04 0.69 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- "SHRINK" TABLE LTSHRINK hours on %shrink days to truck recover pay weight 0 0 0 1 2 0 2 4 4 5 5 6 8 6 8 16 8 16 24 10 24 32 12 30 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Predicting Animal Gains on Pasture Using Cornell Cattle System II Ed Rayburn1 Cornell Cattle System II was written primarily for use in feedlot situations. The feedlot version can be used with caution for predicting gains of growing beef cattle and dairy heifers. However, two other slightly modified versions are available which are better adapted to prediction animal gains from pasture. These are the Lotus 123 files CCSII-IG.WK1 and CCSII-EG.WK1. The file CCSII-IG is for intensive rotationally grazed pastures while CCSII-EG is for extensive or continuously grazed pastures. These programs have the same screen displays and under lying equations as the feedlot edition of CCSII with a few exceptions. While describing these exceptions, normal feedlot inputs which differ on pasture will be discussed. Market Description When describing the market conditions evaluate your in-processing costs to include vaccines and fly control used on pasture. Yardage charges will normally be lower on a pasture system then under feedlot conditions. Change the animal weight, market price table to reflect the weight range of cattle with which you will be working. Management Description A code for grazing activity is to be entered to indicate the increase maintenance requirement of animals on pasture. The value entered should range from 0 to 2 with decimal portions allowable. Under intensive rotational grazing a value of 0 to 1 is normal while under continuous grazing a value of 1 to 2 would be more likely. Where adequate internal and external parasite control is maintained the lower values are appropriate. Where management is not provided for these factors the higher value should be used. Pasture description in CCSII-IG Average pregrazing forage mass (FM) is the forage standing crop available (lb DM/a) for grazing at the time livestock are turned into a fresh paddock. This can be estimated from clippings or calibrated measuring devises such as height and/or density estimates, plexiglass weight plates, or electronic pasture probes. Under cool humid conditions, good management will keep a FM value between 1000 and 3000 lb/a. Values over 2000 lb/a provide little improvement in animal production. When FM is less than 1000 lb/a animal gains are reduced rapidly. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - 1. Extension Specialist, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6108 Morgantown WV, 26506-6108. Daily forage allowance (DFA) is how much forage is provided per day for the grazing herd. This is expressed as multiples of the potential dry matter intake (PDMI) of the herd. If you have 50, 600 lb steers you would expect a PDMI of 750 lb DM/day at a DMI of 2.5% of body weight. A DFA of 2 would mean the herd was allowed 1500 lb DM/day. If the pasture FM is 1500 lb/acre, a 3 acre paddock would provide an average of this DFA over a 3 day grazing period. Values of DFA greater than 1.6 do not improve per head production greatly but do reduce production per acre. Values less than 1.0 reduce production per head. The values for FM and DFA are used to calculate over 12 periods an estimate of the relative dry matter intake (RDMI) from pasture. This calculation is based on data presented in "Pasture management Facts and Figures for New York", Figure 33. The results from this method are in agreement with intensive rotation grazing studies reported in Figure 34 of "Pasture management Facts and Figures for New York" and other pasture research. Pasture description in CCSII-EG Instead of using FM and DFA as under intensive rotational grazing only average forage standing crop (FSC) is used in this version and is entered on the Ration Description page. This estimation should be for the areas being grazed by livestock. If extensive areas of pasture have gone to head or are populated by unpalatable plant species and are not being grazed these areas should not be considered when estimating FSC or forage quality. Feed additive implant combinations are different on pasture than available under grazing conditions. Under the technology of the 80's this will primarily be only the use of implants. Feed additives currently available give reliable improvement in gains when used in conjunction with grain feeding on pasture. The FSC value is used to calculate a RDMI for pasture availability based on data presented in "Pasture management Facts and Figures for New York", Figure 33. References: Ed Rayburn. 1987. Pasture Management Facts and Figures for New York. Seneca Trail RC&D, 2 Park Square, Franklinville, NY 14737. 92 pp.