June 21, 2002
Drought, Inadequate Pasture Growth Requires Proficient Cattle Management
LINCOLN, Neb. — Drought conditions in western and portions of central Nebraska have left many livestock producers short on feed for their cattle.
Many pastures are dry with little grass for cattle to graze on, forcing cattle producers to search for other feed resources and change normal management routines, said Ivan Rush, NU beef specialist at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center in Scottsbluff.
With only a handful of irrigated pastures in the drought-stricken areas, some producers won't even be able to use pasture unless it starts raining, Rush said.
Cattle producers also are selling cattle early or culling more heavily than usual in southwestern and western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming because they can't afford to buy needed feed because pastures have dried up, Rush said.
"This is the worst I've ever seen in western Nebraska," he said. "Between low market prices and the drought situation, I've never seen the morale as low as it's been."
From the management standpoint, producers should be culling heavily, Rush said.
"Normally (producers) wouldn't be culling very hard now," he said.
Open (non-pregnant), dry, unsound, old and low-producing cows are the most logical targets for culling.
Early weaning also will work well in some situations.
"Even though that is difficult to consider, it will take pressure off the cow and help her regain body condition," he said. This way the cows can be maintained on lower quality feeds less cost and calves can grow faster than if left to nurse on their mothers, he said.
Early weaning can be stressful on calves, but pasture or fence-line weaning – putting the cows across from their calves with a strong fence or electric wire between them – can reduce stress because calves can still have nose-to-nose contact with their mothers plus consume some grass that they are already accustomed to.
Other options include: sending calves early to a feedlot to reduce some pressure on pastures, delaying replacement heifer production for a year or dry lotting cows and hauling feed to them.
Supplementation for cows will depend on how much forage is available and the quality of the forage. It also depends on the cows nutrient requirements.
"Watch cow conditions. Don't let cows get extremely thin," Rush said.
Crops also are potential feed sources. Cattle producers are considering grazing wheat crops or Conservation Reserve Program acres, although the quality of these forages may be relatively low, Rush said.
Forage sorghum or Sudan grass may help some producers get through grazing shortages and hay from roadsides and field waterways may provide some acceptable quality grass hay if it rains.
When road haying, watch for any foreign materials such as aluminum cans and glass bottles that could cause health problems if cattle eat them. Also, be alert to any patches of poisonous plants and the potential of nitrate poisoning from drought-stricken forages, Rush said.
For more information on managing and feeding cattle during drought, consult NU Cooperative Extension NebGuide G83-655-A, Management of Early Weaned Calves, available at local extension offices and on the Web or visit UNL's Beef Cattle Production Web site.
6/21/02-SA
Ivan Rush - Ph.D.
Animal Science
Professor
(308) 632-1245
Sandi Alswager Karstens IANR News and Photography (402) 472-3030
Department: Animal Science
|
