University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension
Drought: Commodities
Beef Cattle — Feeding drought damaged cotton and peanut crops to beef cattle
Cotton and peanut crops that may be abandoned can be utilized by beef cattle producers in several ways. By utilizing these abandoned crops, cattlemen can reduce feed costs and/or extend the grazing period and perhaps allow pastures to regenerate if adequate rainfall is received.
The key to effectively utilizing these crops is to match feed quality with animal nutritional requirements. Standing cotton will be less nutritious than un-harvested peanut. So, dry beef cows can utilize standing cotton, lactating beef cows can make use of baled peanut vines, and stockers could graze or be preconditioned on un-harvested peanut vines.
Abandoned Cotton
Research conducted at the Southwest Georgia Experiment Station in Plains indicates that one acre of standing cotton can provide about 35-45 grazing for one mature dry cow. Therefore, if a producer has a 40 acre field of cotton to abandon, this could provide about 1.0 to1.5 months of grazing for 40 dry beef cows. Refer to bulletin #1311 for detailed information on feeding cotton crop residues to beef cattle.
Abandoned Peanuts
Un-harvested peanuts can be grazed or harvested for hay and can be similar to alfalfa hay in nutritional value. Cattlemen who are weaning calves may consider grazing un-harvested peanut vines. As a general rule, peanut vine yields are approximately 1.5 times the actual peanut yield (1.2 for GA Green and 1.7 for Georgia-02C or C- 99R). For instance, an estimated peanut yield of 500 pounds would provide about 750 pound of vines per acre.
When grazing peanut vines, an idea supplement would be soybean hulls fed at 1% of body weight per day. Stocking rate should not exceed 500 pounds of calves per acre. At a stocking rate of one 500 pound steer per acre receiving 1% body weight of soybean hulls per day, ADG of 2.5 pounds per day are possible for about 30 days (about 75 pounds per calf).
Peanut vines can also be harvested for hay and fed to lactating cows or growing animals. Since the vines should be very similar to alfalfa hay, the value of the hay should be about $200 per ton. Peanut vines for hay should be cut with a mower-conditioner. At $3/gallon for diesel, cash costs to mow-condition and bale will be around $34 per acre. Using the vine estimate above of 750 pounds of vine per acre this amounts to $90 per ton cost to put up hay. However, with a value of $200 per ton, this is still an economical decision. Even so, cattlemen should closely consider the economics of this decision and compare the economics of adding weight and value to calves by grazing versus $34 per acre for hay cost plus transportation from the field and storage.
In some instances, the peanuts may be dug and the peanut and vine can be baled together. Peanuts are very high in energy due to the high fat content (48%) and are also high in protein (28%). If the peanuts would yield 500 lbs per acre then the resulting peanut plus vine hay would be approximately 15 to 18% crude protein and 65 to 68% TDN. This hay could be used for either dry or lactating cows. Dry cows require approximately 8% protein and 52 to 55% TDN.
Lactating cows require approximately 60% TDN and 11.5% protein. Due to high levels of fat in the peanuts, the hay must be limited to avoid depressed fiber digestion and potential scouring. If the peanuts would yield 500 lbs per acre then intake per day should be limited to approximately 1% of body weight. In addition, approximately 1.5% of body weight per day of grass hay would be needed for a lactating cow and 1% of body weight for a dry pregnant cow. Additional hay should be at least 10% crude protein and 58% TDN. The only way to know if cows are receiving adequate amounts of protein and energy is to have the hay analyzed for nutrient content. Contact the local extension agent for help in getting the hay analyzed for nutrient content.