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Planning ahead can lessen the impacts of drought on the beef herd. | Download this photo.

Cattle Chat: Planning for drought

K-State beef cattle experts offer advice on how to prepare for spring and summer grazing in a drought

Feb. 15, 2022

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Just as the mail carrier delivers the letters in all types of weather, so too must beef producers be able to respond to the climate impacts on the herd. With the low amounts of moisture that Kansas has experienced in the fall and winter, the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute said now is the time to be thinking about management strategies for a drought, on a recent Cattle Chat podcast discussion.

“We’ve had a really dry fall and winter, so some folks are getting concerned about drought and making a plan for how to deal with it,” said Brad White, veterinarian.

Nutritionist Phillip Lancaster advised producers to evaluate their feed resources by looking at what they have on hand as well as the forages they will have access to.

“You might want to consider planting drought-tolerant crops that can be used for grazing or look for alternative pastures before other people try to secure them,” Lancaster said.

Agricultural economist Dustin Pendell said as producers evaluate the pastures, they must also consider the costs associated with water and fencing when grazing cropland or using alternate pastures.

Along with the feed concerns, veterinarian Brian Lubbers advised producers to look at ways to decrease grazing pressure by culling open cows or even managing them in a dry lot.

“Think about making those culling decisions earlier as well as managing the feed differently by putting the cattle in a dry lot as a last option,” Lubbers said. “From a biosecurity standpoint, it is better to maintain those cattle in a dry lot on the same operation rather than outsourcing them to another herd.”

Lubbers also suggested the option of moving from natural service breeding to timed artificial insemination to get the cattle moved to a tighter calving window.

The experts agree that many of these options have short-term and long-term financial implications.

“If everyone is buying more hay or selling off cull cows at the same time, it will have implications for the short-term bottom line,” Pendell said.

He added: “Along with the short-term effects, producers really need to think through how those culling decisions will impact the herd 2-3 years in the future when prices for replacement heifers may be higher because of the increased demand for them.”

The amount of moisture the grasses get in the spring may influence weaning dates, said the experts.

“Early weaning of the calves will reduce the grazing pressure because non-lactating cows consume 20-30% less feed per day than lactating females,” Lancaster said.

Lubbers said there are health implications for the calves with early weaning that producers need to be aware of when making that choice.

“Younger calves require a softer weaning or there could be some extreme health challenges that follow,” Lubbers said.

To hear the full discussion, listen to the Cattle Chat podcast online.

At a glance

Expanding grazing pastures, acquiring feed resources, culling cows, early weaning calves and adjusting the breeding program are just some of the ways that beef cattle producers can respond when pastures are not able to be grazed.

Website

Beef Cattle Institute Cattle Chat podcast

Notable quote

“Early weaning of the calves will reduce the grazing pressure because non-lactating cows consume 20-30% less feed per day than lactating females.”

— Phillip Lancaster, veterinarian, K-State Beef Cattle Institute

Source

Phillip Lancaster
785-532-6323
palancaster@vet-k-state.edu

Written by

Lisa Moser
785-532-2010
lmoser@ksu.edu

 

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K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county extension offices, experiment fields, area extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan. For more information, visit www.ksre.ksu.edu. K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.