Managing Through Drought Distress Part 1: Drought Management
Maintain your cow herd and forage through a drought with sound advice from other producers By Lisa Bryant, Communications Specialist You’ve probably heard that adage, “Nothing is certain in life except death and taxes.” However, at this point in late summer, you can bet on one more constant – ranchers somewhere in the United States are experiencing drought conditions. With last year’s ongoing drought in the West and unseasonably hot early summer temperatures in the South, a considerable number of ranchers are currently dealing with drought. As of July 5, nearly half of the United States were experiencing drought conditions, according to drought.gov. Thirty-nine states were experiencing moderate drought, and the number was increasing as summer progressed. Drought can impact your operation for years, or even decades, to come. In this two-part series, we’ll discuss the impact of drought in your operation, and dive into management tips to protect your cow herd’s productivity, carcass value and future forage supplies. Water is Key “Fresh, clean water is No. 1,” said Craig Uden, co-owner of Darr Feedlot in Cozad, Nebraska, and fourth-generation cattle producer who also runs cows throughout the region. “Water is the one element that we all need to survive,” he said. “Cattle can live without feed for longer periods than they can without water.” During drought, low levels in natural water sources can accumulate high concentrations of minerals and bacteria. Uden said the build-up in minerals can tie up your trace minerals, which in turn, creates problems for cattle to take on vaccinations. Red Angus producer Joe Hatch, Stoneham, Colorado, stresses the importance of taking water samples to avoid bigger problems later. “It’s easy to get a water sample tested just so you know what you’re dealing with.”
As grass dries up, early weaning allows cows to hold onto extra body condition since their nutrient requirements significantly decrease when they stop lactating.
24
RED ANGUS Magazine | July/August 2022
In drought-stricken northwestern Colorado, Hatch depends on artesian springs that flow into tanks, and he said they are the driest he has Craig Uden Joe Hatch ever seen. Ranchers should monitor these water supplies and move the herd, if needed. Uden added that dry conditions necessitate extra water. “A cow’s system is a little like a radiator,” he said. “You must have water in that system to cool it down.” He used a marathon runner as an illustration. “If you’re not passing out water or Gatorade to replenish the body, people break down and that’s where you see people die in marathons. It’s the same way with an animal trying to fight off heat in the summer.” Other Factors to Consider During Drought Uden advises producers to maintain cow nutrition during a drought. “When it hasn’t been profitable, people want to cut back on protein and minerals and that’s the worst thing you can do,” he said. “If the cow isn’t in good shape, she won’t deliver passive immunity onto the calf and that calf won’t be able to receive several vaccines.” “If the grass doesn’t have as much punch, you better look at supplementing with trace mineral packages,” he added. Uden uses chelated products to ensure calves can function down the road. Hatch consults with a nutritionist who formulates appropriate minerals for his area that are designed to avoid a mix that ties up other minerals. He also takes grass and water samples to ensure deficiencies are accounted for. He maintains health protocols too. “The last thing you want to slip up on is a healthcare problem when the environment is already throwing enough issues. There’s even more reason to work with a vet to come up with the best vaccine protocols.”
