Dual-purpose Winter Wheat and Stocker Production
Findings and conclusions. The first study found that returns are greater when stocker cattle are fed a monensin containing supplement compared to high-calcium mineral. The value of grazing one or two additional weeks increased stocker returns at a decreasing rate, indicating that grazing a second additional week is less valuable that the first additional week, and was less for steers than heifers. The second study found that the optimal time to terminate grazing is at or before first hollow stem (FHS). However, the costs per acre of grazing past FHS may be minimal depending on cattle and wheat prices, forage availability, cattle gains, wheat yields, and the weight of cattle. The third study is an online decision aid.