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County Impact Statements - Scott County
Extension Program Saves Scott County Beef Producers Money
Agriculture in Scott County consist mainly of cattle, poultry, and timber.
Within the cattle industry in the county, cow-calf production is the dominate
cattle enterprise.
The biggest cost to a cow-calf producer is feed. The expenses associated with
feeding usually make up 60% of all expenses incurred on a cow-calf enterprise.
The major component of feed expense for a cow-calf operation is hay. Hay is the
main forage source to feed cattle during the winter months. High quality hay can
be used as a complete feed or must be supplemented with grain or grain
by-products to meet the nutritive needs of beef cows.
Understanding that hay was a major component of cattle production in Scott
County, the Scott County Extension developed a program to help producers:
1) determine quality of hay 2) develop proper feeding programs 3) educate on
cow nutrition and 4) educate how to produce high quality hay. This program
enabled producers to have a sample of their hay analyzed for nutritive content
at a reduced cost. The producer’s normal cost is $15 per sample, but due to
sponsorship secured by the extension office, the cost was reduced to $5 per
sample.
This program has been going for the past two years. It has provided an
incentive for many producers to sample their hay. Cattle producers discover that
their hay is not as good as thought or, in some cases, better. Many producers
never realized the true worth of good hay and were over feeding their cows.
Others discover that they need to supplement more. This program saves producers
a little on the initial cost of the sample, but can save them much more in
reduced feed cost and increased production.
Scott County Extension Agent, Shaun Rhoades, takes a forage
sample from a local producer’s hay.
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Impacts
- In 2001 there were 42 hay samples taken from 20 farms in Scott County
which resulted in a $420 savings to producers.
- Rations were tailored to individual producers hay supplies and cattle
type.
- Winter feeding meeting to show hay quality and ration development was
attended by 75 producers in October of 2000.
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