The current weather pattern has left beef producers with a shortage of grass and hay, plus quickly declining surface water.  Rain is surely coming our way, but the following are several management ideas to consider.

 

Drought Strategies: Management

• Water troughs should be added now to offset future water shortages.  Cattle need to get familiar with trough location before their source of surface water dries up completely.

• Consider early weaning calves to greatly reduce the nutrient requirements of cows.  This will reduce protein and energy requirements of cows by almost 50%.  Using one of Purina’s starter rations, we can feed the weaned calf very efficiently.  This is beneficial for the cow, the calf, and your forage supply!

• Cull old cows and open (not bred) cows.  You only want to invest drought money on productive cows.

• Treat cows for internal and external parasites.  De-worming (internal parasites) cows during a drought can be very effective.  Feed money will go to the cow, not parasites. 

 

Drought Strategies: Nutrition

• Maintain cow condition now to avoid “feeding to play catch up” this winter.    Cattlemen can use range cubes or AR Range Liquid to help cows utilize the dry standing grass in a pasture situation. The AR Liquid will do a better job than cubes.  Cattle will digest forage more efficiently with the AR Liquid.

• Again, weaning calves off of your cows will enable ranchers to lower feed inputs to cows.  It is more efficient to invest feed in a growing calf than to try to supplement a lactating cow.

• Consider creep feeding calves if not early weaning.  Purina offers a creep program that is the most efficient and effective in the industry.  Providing creep feed to nursing calves can be very profitable!

 

Winter Cow Nutrition Options

Winter forage for cows can come from cool season grass (oats, wheat, or ryegrass) or from a combination of hay and supplements.  Each has certain risks and different fixed costs involved.  Sometimes a combination of programs is the best answer.  Following is a list of common feedstuffs that could be considered.

 

Feedstuff	Protein %	TDN (Energy) %
Medium Grass Hay	8	45
Poor Grass Hay	6	38
Corn Stalks	3	20
Alfalfa Hay	15	55
20 % Range Cubes	20	65
AR Forage Extender	14	60
AR Range Liquid	32	78

 

We are always available to help put a winter plan together.  Beef producers have options and our job is to assist you with those nutritional options and costs.  The key:  Begin the planning process now!

 

 

2018 TPWD Hunting and Fishing Licenses will be available starting August 15th.  Call us ahead and we will have your new license ready when you come by the store!

 

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