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Ag Notes: Managing cattle under drought conditions

September 26, 2007|JERRY LITTLE

The unusual weather conditions of 2007 are creating management problems for Kentucky beef producers. The late spring freeze severely damaged the first cutting of hay, reducing yields by as much as 50 percent. The hot, dry weather that has occurred since has limited pasture growth and has many producers very short of hay and out of pasture. Producers are wondering how they are going to cope with both issues at the same time. While good management decisions can not make it rain, they can help producers hang on in the most economical manner possible.

The first step in good management is deciding if some cows should be culled.

Generally, we would say that the lower productivity cows and open cows should be sold when pasture and hay is limited. Most spring calving herds will only have had the bull turned in for about 60 days at this point and this is not sufficient time to make culling decisions based on reproduction. If a cow's history indicates her calves to be below average weight at weaning, certainly she should be considered for culling. Any cow with a physical defect such as bad feet, arthritic joints, bottle teats or a broken down udder should also be considered for culling during short feed times. The fewer cattle that graze dry pasture or consume a short supply of hay, the better off the producer will be.

When alternative feeds are not available on the farm, purchasing feeds must be considered. Hay may not be available for purchase and even if it is, producers must consider if it is the best purchase. Generally speaking, as the nutrient content of a feed increases, the cost per unit of that nutrient decreases. In other words, it may be cheaper to purchase nutrients from grains, commodity feeds or silages than from hays.

When using them, most commodities will not require protein supplementation as they generally contain adequate crude protein levels. Special attention must be paid to mineral nutrition as most commodities and grains are higher in their phosphorus content than calcium. Soybean hulls would be the exception to this. Many of the commodities are also high in their sulfur content. Excessive sulfur will decrease the availability of copper and selenium for cattle.

Early weaning of calves

Producers should also give consideration to early weaning of calves. This allows the cow to be turned dry, which will greatly reduce her nutrient requirements and thus, the amount of feed needed. Most spring born calves will currently range from 90 to 150 days of age. Calves involved in most early weaning research fall within this age range. Some research has been successfully conducted with calves as young as 49 days of age. When properly fed, gain and pounds of calf to sell with early weaned calves will be equal to or greater than calves weaned at conventional times or ages. Feed conversion will be highly efficient in these young, light weight calves, generally between 4 and 5 pounds of feed required per pound of gain.

Special management of early weaned calves will be necessary. Hot weather, youth, lighter weight and the probability of dusty conditions make early weaned calves good candidates for health problems. If at all possible, calves should be vaccinated for factors involved in the BRD complex as well as clostridia, treated for internal and external parasites, and turned back on the cow for two weeks. After the two week time period, separate calves from the cows, booster the vaccines previously given and the internal parasite control if needed. Feed bunks and water troughs must be low enough to the ground so that the youngest calf can reach them for feed and water.

Several good commercial rations for light weight calves are available or a homemade one can be used.

Jerry Little is Boyle County extension agent for agriculture/natural resources.

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