When rain takes a hiatus and there’s no water supply for a period of time (15 days minimum), it’s considered a drought. This is so stressful for cattle and cattlemen. Developing a plan for when droughts occur is essential in maintaining a healthy herd of cattle.

Plan

Droughts can cause a sizable financial burden for cattle ranchers. During a drought, forage (grass that cows eat) is diminished. Ranchers must be able to supplement this lack of forage in other ways. Knowing how to provide enough feed for the herd is vital to the cattle’s survival in such conditions. Droughts can be unpredictable, but a plan can minimize the effects on your cattle and your finances.

Forage

Ample supplements for forage are beneficial during a drought. The nutrition levels that cows need to survive, reproduce and be financially valuable to their managers are of utmost importance. There are numerous ways to ensure the cows receive the necessary nutrients.

Implementing appropriate crop coverage for cattle is the ideal way to maximize their health. Cover crop combinations used in adequate acreage of wheat stubble can supplement the needs of cattle, as long as they are rotated seasonally. One tactic that can be implemented is to plant three mixtures of forage adjacently so cattle can easily access it.

For every 1,500 pounds of livestock, 1 acre of forage mix (3 acres) should be planted. When rainfall is scarce, increase the acreage per cow. Mixtures vary based on environmental factors, like fertilization and soil density. When appropriately mixed and seasonally planted for proper rotation for the area, these crop combinations can save your cattle amid a drought.

Cull

Culling cows is what happens when feeding them is no longer beneficial to production. When eliminated from the herd, limited resources can be distributed more evenly among the remaining cattle.

Pregnancy tests are given to heifers to determine whether they are kept or culled at times after the breeding season (35-45 days after). When resources are limited, calves can be weaned off of their milk supply early and taken to dry lots to be fed normally. This allows the mama cow to regain her strength and nutrient supply. Shortening the breeding season is also an alternative during scarce water situations.

The choice to get rid of livestock is a tough one that cattlemen have to endure. Factors they must consider are production records for heifers, more mature cows and the physical conditions of the cows. Forage is the best alternative when creep feeding and early weaning are not financially viable. This gives the cows better value for producers later in the year at the market.

Evaluate cattle in great detail when considering culling or keeping them. Their freedom from disease conditions, reproductive performance and overall health are factors in the decision. The breeding season must be taken into consideration as well.

Factor

When droughts occur, unprepared ranchers will likely panic and begin selling in mass quantities. Having a plan in place and knowing what can be done to lessen the effects of drought on the cattle can ease their minds. Factors must be taken into consideration when deciding on a course of action.

Seasonal rotation of forage can be planted year-round and easily supplemented with grain to feed livestock. This is something that can prevent a lack of nutrients in preparation for droughts to occur. Allowing grazing on short grass for extended periods will make the grass take longer to recover. Let the grass grow back.

Manage

Decisions concerning cattle, like enabling continuous growth of calves, forage and which cows to cull, are challenging even when adequate rainfall is provided. Droughts can make it difficult to maintain herds, but it can be done if the appropriate methods and knowledge of specific areas and cattle are executed.