ABSTRACT
Crop residues have become a disposal problem for US cash-grain farmers as crop specialization and farm acreages have increased. While most areas of the world use their crop residues, the trend in the US has been away from farming systems that use crop rotation with livestock and toward intensive cultivation of a single crop. Soil fertility will be enhanced if the manure is returned to the soil. Also, available labor can be better utilized if livestock operations are timed to the best advantage of crop residues. Assuming an average of 50% digestibility, beef cows will need to consume 60 lb per day of crop residues to obtain the energy necessary to raise a calf and rebreed. Beef calves and yearling steers need adequate concentrates or high-quality forages in order to grow and add muscle at an efficient rate. Both sheep and cattle can convert residues to meat, milk, and offspring.
