Al6—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 2,1981 Feeding livestock wood pulp cuts costs, saves gram UNIVERSITY PARK - Studies a few years ago at Penn State showed that wood pulp fines, by products of making tissue paper, could partially replace forage and grains m feeding livestock. Now economists at University Park have determined that savings in feed costs can be as high as 35 per cent by using these wood pulp fines. The latest studies were reported during meetings of the American Agricultural Economics Association at the University of Illinois. Donald J. Epp, Penn State economist, described costs and savings m feeding wood pulp fines to calves weighing up to 450 pounds, to stacker steers from 450 to 630 pounds, and to feeder steers of 630 to 1050 pounds. Epp said the 35 per cent savings are possible with wood pulp fines fed to Stocker steers when the hauling distance from pulp mills is no greater than 20 miles. The potential feed cost savings for feeder steers can be 28 per cent when the distance from paper mills is no greater than 225 miles. And cow-calf operations can save 31 per cent over standard feed costs when the hauling distance is not greater than 100 miles. Wood pulp fines are readily available in Northeastern Penn sylvania and other areas of the nation where tissue paper is produced, it was noted. Such fines are a waste product from sulfite based paper mills. Due to the sulfite treatment, the fines are predigested for livestock and make a high energy feed source. Earlier experiments by Lowell L. Wilson find animal science associates at Penn State revealed that wood fines in steer rations could save as much as 2.1 pounds of gram for each pound of carcass weight gam. Epp said the net profit of a cow calf operation can increase by $16.06 per animal where fmes partially replace corn. As for feeder steers, fmes can mcrease net profits by $40.14 per head. For Grain intentions up for Pa. UNIVERSITY PARK - Penn sylvania grain producers indicate they will plant approximately, 1,830,000 acres of com m 1981, up two percent from last year. However, U.S. com producers indicated in March planting in tentions reports they will plant the same acreage as a year ago. Last year’s figure was 84 million acres. States which are reducing their com acreage are those tut hardest by the 1980 drought. One state, Missouri, expects com acreage to be only 83 percent as large as last year’s harvest. Drought reduced the 1980 com harvest by 18 percent according to H. Louis Moore, Penn State Ex tension agricultural economist. In an effort to overcome the loss of income as a result of the drought, producers increased wheat acreage sharply last full. The wheat harvested in late June and July will provide income sooner than corn, which would not be harvested until October- December. Other producers may decide to a total livestock program, feeding fmes can mcrease net profits by $79.24 per animal, it was pomted out. “Savings are reduced as the distance needed to haul the fmes increases and as the price charged for fmes goes up,” Epp stated. “Savings mcrease as the price rises for com and other con ventional feeds,” he added. He said the paper mill m the study has sold fmes to farmers for 2.00 per ton. The study adjusted costs of fmes from $4 per ton potentially paid to farmers for removing waste fmes, to $4 per ton charged for fmes. Costs of hauling were figured at 5,10, and 15 cents per ton-mile. “Even the highest price and transportation costs, there is an area of considerable size around a paper mill where farmers would find it economical to feed fine based rations to cattle,” Epp commented. Penn State feeding experiments revealed that steers can be fed up to 40 per cent of the dry matter as fmes with satisfactory gams and no adverse effects on carcass traits. Lambs can be fed up to 66 per cent of the ration dry matter as fmes with no detrimental effects on weight gams or carcass traits. Fmes have a high moisture content averaging 75 to 77 per cent moisture. They have a granular appearance similar to soybean meal. Fmes store well uncovered outdoors, provided they are not mixed with other feed in ingredients or nitrogen. Fmes, and rations containing over 40 per cent fmes, will freeze during wmter unless protected or stored inside. Consisting primarily of deligmfied cellulose, fmes are well digested by cud-chewing animals. Despite a high fiber value, they have little or no value as roughage. Thus, some standard roughage such as hay, 10 to 12 per cent, should be included m rations containing fmes, especially where lambs are fed. growers produce more soybeans in 1981, feeling soybeans are less susceptible to drought because of their short growing season. Early intentions reports indicate that soybean acreage will probably decline about one percent from a year ago. Substantial acreage mcreases for soybeans are expected in Georgia and Nebraska. Penn sylvania producers indicate they will plant ten percent more soybeans in 1981. Demand from domestic users and ovrseas markets have raised prices almost 30 percent higher than last year’s level. Despite the tight supply situation, com pnces have not been as strong as expected. The carryover of com on October 1, 1981 is only expected to be about 620 million bushels, compared to 1.6 billion bushels on year ago. At the current rate of use, this carryover amounts to only a four week supply. If com prices strengthen in the next month, producers could easily become Livestock iriaiket and auction ndws Indiana Auction Thursday, April 30 Report supplied by PDA CATTLE: 176. Compared with last week’s market: SI. steers, few Choice 61.25-65.00; couple Good 57.75-60.75; few Standard 53.00- 56.50; SI. heifers: few Choice 61.00- 64.50; few Good 57.70-58.25; few Standard 50.00-52.75. SI. cows; Utility & Commercial 44.50-48.75; Cutters 42.0046.00; Canner & L. Cutter 38.7543.00; Shells down to 30.00. SI. bulls: few Yield Grade No. 1-21200-1575 lbs. 49.00-55.25. FEEDER CATTLE: Steers, few Medium & Large Frame No. 2,300- 650 lbs. 50.00-62.00; Heifers, few Medium & Large Frame No. 1 & 2 300-650 lbs. 49.00-53.00; Bulls Medium & Large Frame No. 2,400- 700 lbs. 45.00-59.00. CALVES: 84. Few Choice 96-105 lbs. 78.00-94.00; 80-110 lbs. 65.00- 70.00. FARM CALVES: Hoi. Bulls 85- 120 lbs. 71.00-85.00; Hoi. Heifers SO HO lbs. 85.00-92.50. Beef Cross Bulls & Heifers 75-115 lbs. 74.00- 107.50. HOGS: 102. Barrows and gilts .50-1.00 higher. US 1-2 200-235 lbs. 41.5043.00; No. 1-3 200-250 lbs. 40.0041.50; few No. 2-3 250-300 lbs. 36.00- few No. 1-3140-180 lbs. 36.00- Sows US No. 1-3 300-500 lbs. 34.50-38.75; few No. 2-3 250-275 lbs. 31.00-33.00. Boars 29.00-29.75. FEEDER PIGS 19. Weekly Summary Friday, May 1 Report supplied by PDA CATTLE: 7541. Compared with 6709 head last week, and 7583 head a year ago. Slaughter steers 1.00- 1.50 higher; SI. heifers steady-1.00 higher; SI. cows uneven, mostly .50-1.00 lower; SI. bullocks steady to weak; SI. bulls uneven. SI. steers: High Choice & Prime No, 3- 4,65.75-68.00; Choice No. 2-4,63.50- 68.50; Good 56.50-63.50; Standard 53.00-56.50. SI. heifers: Choice 58.50-63.75; Good 55.0061.00; few Engineering bacteria may cut nitrogen needs BELTSVILLE, Md., - Genetically engineered bacteria may be one solution to the in creasing demand for food production, L. David Kuykendall, told science writers at a seminar here recently. Kuykendall, a microbiologist with USDA’s Science and Education Administration was referring to the Rhizobium bac teria which change nitrogen into a form that can be used by plants. In this process, called “nitrogen fixation,” Rhizobium form a symbiotic relationship with legumes such as soybeans, lima beans, clover and alfalfa. The Rhizobium live in nodules on the roots of these plants and “fix” inert nitrogen from the air. Kuykendall told his audience that he is developmg techniques for selectively breeding Rhizobium bacteria that will have the traits needed to nx large quantities of optimistic about planting more com this season. It is known that a crop of ap proximately 7.7 billion bushels must be produced during the 1981 season to prevent prices from rising to a prohibitive use level by livestock producers. The U.S. has produced corn exceeding 7.7 billion bushels only once, in 1979 when production reached 7.9 billion bushels. Although mere are hundreds ot islands in the Caribbean, only about 50 are inhabited. Standard 50.00-56.00. SI. cows: Utility & Commercial 44.5048.00, few 49.00; Cutters 41.5047.00; Canner & L. Cutter 38.5043.50; Shells down to 30.00. SI. bullocks: few Choice 56.00-61.00; Good 54.00- 60.00; few Standard 51.00-56.00. SI. bulls: Yield Grade No. 1, 1000-2400 lbs. 54.00-58.50, few 61.00; Yield Grade No. 2, 1000-1400 lbs. 51.00- 55.50. FEEDER CATTLE: Steers, Medium Frame No. 1, 300-600 lbs. 56.00-74.00. Heifers, Medium Frame No. 1, 300-625 lbs. 51.00- 59.00; Bulls, Medium Frame No. 1, 300-650 lbs. 52.00-60.00; Large Frame No. 2, 400-900 lbs. 45.00- 53.00. CALVES: 2705. Compared with 3137 head last week and 2883 head a year ago. Vealers grading Good & Choice steady to 5.00 lower. Standard & Good grades steady to 10.00 higher. Few Prime 111.00- 120.00; Choice 95.00-105.00, few 115.00; Good 75.00-90.00; 90-120 lbs. 65.00-78.00; 70-90 lbs. 55.00-71.00; Utility 50-110 lbs. 50.00-65.00. FARM CALVES: Hoi. Bulls 80- 125 lbs. 70.00-105.00, few 115.00; Hoi. Heifers 80-140 lbs. 90.00-197.00, few 100.00-170.00; Beef Cross Bulls & Heifers 70-100 lbs. 74.00-107.00. HOGS: 7803. Compared with 6655 head last week and 8990 head a year ago. Barrows and gilts steady to 1.00 lower. US No. 1-2 200-240 lbs. 40.5042.50, few to 43.00; No. 1-3 200- 250 lbs. 39.0041.50; No. 26 200-275 lbs. 37.0040.60; No. 16 140-190 lbs. 36.5069.50; Sows steady to 1.00 higher. US No. 1-3 300-575 lbs. 33.00- 38.00; No. 2-3 300-650 lbs. 32.00- 36.00. Boars 24.0062.50. FEEDER PIGS 1108. Compared with 827 head last week and 1947 a year ago. Feeder pigs 1.00-2.00 higher. US No. 1-3 2065 lbs. 17.50- 27.00 per head; No. 1-3 35-50 lbs. 25.00-34.00; No. 16 50-75 lbs. 32.00- 41.50. GRADED FEEDER PIGS: 2279. Compared with 2629 head last wee£ and2o7s head a year ago. All, sales by CWT. 1.00-5.00 lower, spots to 12.00 lower on 2-3. US No. 1- nitrogen. Next to water, nitrogen is the nutrient most needed by plants. Fanners annually apply millions of dollars worth of mtrogen fer tilizer to their crops. Kuykendall is also m the process of developing strains of Rhizobium japomcum (the strain of bacteria associated with soybeans) that he expects will be preferred by soybeans grown infields containing indigenous strains of this bacteria. Indigenous Rhizobium occur in most soils and are readily available to legumes. However, these indigenous bacteria vary widely in their ability to fix nitrogen and thus may influence, to a greater or lesser extent, the production of crops. Large increases in soybean production coujd result from the development ot highly efficient nitrogen-fixing strams that are accepted by -ny beans ovei these already present in the soil. In order to test the acceptance of the new bacteria by the soybeans, Kuykendall developed a genetically marked strain of Rhizobium. These bacteria have chromosomes genetically "marked” by their ability to resist antibiotics. The Rhizobium are placed in the held as the soybeans are seeded. The soybeans are dug prior to maturity, the nodules are removed trom the roots, crushed and placed in a growing medium containing antibiotics. It the bacteria grow and multiply, Kuykendall says, this is 2 25-40 lbs. 80.00-95.00, 40-50 lbs. 64.00-88.50,50-60 lbs. 60.0086.00,60- 80 lbs. 52.00-71.50; US No. 2-3 25-40 lbs. 67.5086.00, 40-55 lbs. 64.00- 75.00. SHEEP: 372. Compared with 1419 head last Week and 597 head a year ago. Spring si. lambs uneven. Choice 65-100 lbs. 66.0081.00; Good & Choice 25-70 lbs. 59.0069.00. Good & Choice Wooled Lambs (few) 90- 100 lbs. 44.0051.00. SI. ewes: 11.00 27.00. Chambersburg Auction 3O Report'supplied by PDA CATTLE: 407. Compared with last week’s market: Slaughter steers about steady-; SI. cows .75- 1.25 lower. SI. steers; Choice No. 2- 4, 975-1250 lbs. 60.7584.75, Good 56.7580.00; Standard 51.75-56.25. SI. heifers; Choice 57.0081.00; few Good 51.0084.75. SI. cows: Utility & Commercial 43.25-48.25; Cutters 43.00-47.00; Canner & L. Cutter 40.25-43.75; Shells down to 37.00. SI. bullocks: few Good 53.8585.50; few Standard 51.5082.75. SI. bulls: Yield Grade No. i;-1100-1875 lbs. 52.0089.00. FEEDER CATTLE f‘Steers & Large Frame No. 1 & 2 350-700 lbs. 55.00-62.00. Heifers, Medium Frame No. 1, 275-500 lbs. 53.00- 61.50. CALVES: 309. Vealers grading Choice about steady, with Stan dard St low Good 2.00-4.oo„higher. Choice 87.00-100.00; Good - 75.00- 85.00, 70-95 lbs. 64.00-74.00; Utility 50-85 lbs. 45.00-65.00. FARM CALVES: .10.00-15.00 lower. Hoi. Bulls 85-125 lbs. 75.00-^ 92.00, few 110.00; Hoi. Heifers 90- 140 lbs. 125.00-170.00. HOGS: 117. Barrows and gilts about steady. US No. 1-2 210-225 lbs. 40.50-41.00; US no. 1-3 300-500 lbs. 33.50-36.00. Few Boars 30.00- 32.25. FEEDER PIGS 39. Few US No. 1-3 20-25 lbs. 13.00-19.00 per head; one lot No. 1-3 50 lbs. at 34.00. ' ' SHEEP: 13. Spring si.lambs one lot choice 100 lbs. at 52.50. evidence that the soybeans have accepted the new Rhizobium. If, on the other hand the bacteria die, it is an indication that the soybeans have been nodulated by the less productive indigenous bacteria susceptible to antibiotics. Kuykendall and his colleague Deane Weber are conducting these field trials. Kuykendall, with associates in SEA’s Cell Culture and Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory, has been able to advance the study of Rhizobium genetics through gene transfer. He has introduced gene carrying plasmids from unrelatecl bacteria into Rhizobium japomcum, the Rhizobium thaC nodulates soybeans. These new genes were sucessuflly transferred between Rhizobium _ during reproduction. Kuykendall said the introduction of new genes provides a basis for selective hybridization of the bacteria. New gene combinations are the first step in developing desirable traits for fixing nitrogen. Kuykendell explained to his audience that although the development ot genetically superior Rhizobium requires a lengthy process of identifying and mapping their genes, the final result could mean marked in creases in crop production through the use of superior Rhizobium. Rhizobium that selectively fix large quantities of nitrogen on superior plants would dimmish our dependence on expensive nitrogen fertilizers, he said. i.
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