Drought Effects on Cattle: Manage the Herd Proactively

Mon 08 Oct, 2012

When pastures and native ranges are in poor condition due to drought effects, extra steps are required to address the situation.

It essentially comes down to two options: 1) reduce the herd requirements so that existing forage can meet nutritional needs, or 2) provide supplemental feed to make sure the proper nutrients are available.

Reducing nutritional demands of the herd on the land can include strategies such as opening up or renting additional pastures that might be in better condition. Or it can mean reducing stock numbers by selling part, or all, of the herd. Alternatively, yearlings can be taken off pasture and put directly into feedlots to lower the demands on rangeland.

Taking action to reduce the stocking rate may be a good first step, as it benefits range plants and can provide more forage for the remaining cattle. If balanced effectively, it should have little impact on weaning weight. But if reduced stocking rates aren't enough to manage the situation, supplemental feeding may be necessary to maintain herd productivity. In addition, rangelands can go dormant during drought, so even if there is forage available, it may not be as nutritious as it would be under more normal conditions.

One option for providing supplemental feed can be to use crop residues to stretch tight feed supplies. Another option might be grain-processing co-products, which can be a good source of protein as well as highly digestible fiber that can provide energy and offset some of the negative affects that grain supplementation can have on digestibility.

As always, it's a balancing act between weather, land, and herd conditions. The situation can change rapidly and go either way. Monitoring the herd on a continual basis is the best way to respond to circumstances as they arise, but planning ahead for all possibilities enables you to adapt to the changing conditions.