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.