HERD HEALTH CHECK

MANAGING CATTLE WHEN IT’S WET OUT

by Michael Foster, agriculture and natural resources agent, Georgia State University Extension

Rarely do we think about conditions being too wet in our cattle operations. Sure, most of us are aware of the potential for getting our trucks or tractors stuck in the pasture when feeding hay, but there are other facets to a cattle operation that must be considered when weather conditions become too wet. Pasture condition, nutrition and herd health are three of the biggest concerns that producers should focus on during excessively wet conditions.

Pasture condition is a very important consideration that producers must consider during wet conditions. Ruts created by trucks, tractors and cattle hooves open the pasture up to weed invasion and a decrease in potential forage. Overstocking increases pasture damage and it often occurs in a short period of time; while damage during wet conditions is unavoidable during wet conditions it is crucial to reduce stocking rates, rotationally graze and use feeding pads to reduce damage. Since beef cattle nutrition programs generally rely on forages as their basis, damage and changes to the forage system greatly impact feeding systems. How much hay a beef manager produces and stores is often based on the expectation of winter grazing availability. Delays in winter forage establishment (winter wheat or rye grass) or damage to cool season perennials (fescue) can create hay supply short-falls, increasing the need for supplemental feeds and possibly even an emergency herd reduction. Furthermore, lack of winter grazing can lead to a nutritional deficit in the herd.

Nutrition and herd health are likely to be the most impacted production areas that cattlemen have to take into consideration during excessively wet fall and winter seasons. High moisture levels in plants results in less dry matter consumed for a given quantity of forage. Maintenance energy requirements also increase during this time of year and cattle may not be able to consume enough dry matter to meet their nutrient demands. Cattlemen may have to start feeding hay sooner than expected due to the high moisture content in the forage. Hay will improve dry matter intake and decrease the rate of gut passage, allowing cattle to perform better on the high moisture content in pasture forage. Producers may 22 California Cattleman February 2021 be hesitant about feeding hay so soon due to inventory concerns; however, by not meeting nutritional needs of the herd producers will face greater challenges later – like poor body condition, delayed rebreeding and low birth weights. Additionally, muddy conditions can affect feeding behavior. Mud makes it difficult for cattle to feed around feeders, so cattle had rather stand still instead of feeding. Muddy areas are also of concern for general herd health.

Where wet conditions are common during calving season, it is critical for producers to be mindful of calves being born in mud holes or near the pools of water; calves born in these areas are at an increased risk for hypothermia. To help mitigate this risk cattlemen should provide calving areas that are relatively dry, free of mud and manure buildup, and with protection from the wind. Heavy mud can also cause calf scours, naval ill and root rot. Furthermore, heavily mudded areas can often be the source of heavy bacteria loads, which can lead to increased disease in the herd due to cattle drinking from muddy pools and feeding in areas with manure build up. Cattle producers should be mindful of feeding areas that can quickly become muddy and avoid using these areas during wet years.

To protect cattle health and ensure adequate performance, cattlemen need to regularly observe cattle closely and take the necessary steps to improve the production environment during excessively wet conditions. This means addressing the farm infrastructure, equipment, and changing management practices to allow the overall operation to deal with wet conditions in the future.