The objective of this experiment is to continue the evaluation of the use of soybean meal in extensive backgrounding systems by examining the interaction of protein source, either soybean meal (SBM) or dried distillers grains (DDGS), with supplementation frequency, either daily or thrice weekly, with calves bale grazing over winter. This experiment will measure animal gain, forage production, and soil health to develop a partial budget to determine the potential benefits of utilizing SBM in extensive winter backgrounding systems. This experiment will determine if SBM can reduce labor and fuel costs with infrequent (thrice weekly) supplementation to calves' bale grazing over winter. The impact of protein supplementation frequency and bale grazing on nutrient exchanges between the livestock and environment will be evaluated in three ways: 1) protein supplementation daily with bale grazing, 2) protein supplementation thrice weekly with bale grazing, and 3) no supplementation or bale grazing. The animal performance will be collected to evaluate average daily gain and estimated dry-matter intake. Subsequent forage production and quality will be measured to determine the impact of protein type, supplementation frequency, and bale grazing on the hay field where grazing took place. Soil physical (bulk density) and chemical properties will be evaluated. A partial budget will evaluate trade-offs between protein type, supplementation frequency, and bale grazing. The information collected from this experiment will help North Dakota soybean producers understand the potential value of soybean meal for cattle producers implementing extensive backgrounding systems and promoting the utilization of soybean meal locally.

The objective of this experiment is to evaluate the use of soybean meal in an infrequent supplementation strategy in weaned calves' bale grazing over winter. This objective will be evaluated by
1) Measuring animal gain and estimated dry-matter intake.
2) Subsequent impact of bale grazing and protein supplementation frequency on forage production and forage quality.
3) Soil physical (bulk density) and chemical (nutrients, pH, organic matter) properties to determine potential soil health benefits.
4) partial budget to determine potential returns and costs for each system.

Data collected and summarized from year 1 and 2 will be incorporated into NDSU Extension programs focused on extensive beef cattle wintering systems and soil health. The results will be published in ‘NDSU Livestock Research Report’ and showcased in the Beef Field Day held on campus. Extension material (i.e., videos, podcasts, social media posts) will be collected and distributed from this research. The research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal at its completion (years 1 and 2).

Information attained through this experiment will better our understanding of including soybean meal in beef cattle diets and promote sustainable beef cattle production using extended grazing practices, such as bale grazing. Extensive winter grazing systems are gaining popularity as a method to reduce input costs and livestock's environmental impact. Infrequent supplementation of soybean meal with bale grazing practices may reduce fertilizer, labor, and fuel inputs without impacting animal performance. Reducing the days to haul protein supplements will reduce labor and fuel costs. Additionally, bale grazing eliminates the need to haul manure in the spring, saving fuel and labor costs. The combination of soybean meal infrequently supplemented in a bale grazing scenario could increase the profit potential of an extensive backgrounding system. Currently, North Dakota has approximately 805,000 steers and heifers. If half of those steers and heifers were supplemented with soybean meal at 5 pounds, daily, and grown in an extensive winter grazing system for 100 days, that would utilize over 4.2 million bushels of soybeans. Information from this research will contribute to the use of soybean meal in other extensive winter grazing scenarios, such as cow-calf operations.