2006 Drought Management Guidelines for CowCalf Operations

1
2006 Drought Management Guidelines for Cow/Calf
Operations

• Use pastures but limit their abuse. It is
  tempting to ignore normal signals of pasture
  management and graze pastures to the point long
  term production is compromised. Rotational
  grazing will supply rest periods for the grasses.
• Limit wastage. Inventory control does not end
  until the cow swallows the feed. Using hay
  feeders that have a barrier (inside cone,
  small/large ring combinations, slanted bars) can
  reduce hay wastage around feeders by 50 or more
  when compared to conventional bale rings.
• Feed controlled amount of forage. Feeding more
  than 1 or 2 days supply of forage will entice
  cattle to waste feed.
• Price feed ingredients by per unit of nutrient.
  Least cost rations will use nutrient dense
  feedstuffs to satisfy animal requirements.
  Examples would be high protein and high energy
  ingredients.
• Consider limit feeding cows high concentrate
  diets in a drylot. Feed at least .5 body weight
  of forage daily, do not over process grains,
  utilize grain byproducts, and fortify the diet
  with proper amounts of trace minerals and
  vitamins.
• Balance Diets. There are a multitude of feed
  ingredients available to feed growing and mature
  cattle. Understand their particular nutrient
  values, complementarily, palatability, and
  storage and handling concerns.
• Split the herd into management groups
  replacement heifers, young vs. old, thin vs.
  fleshy. Feed and manage each group to specific
  target weights or condition scores.
• Consider early weaning. A lactating cow along
  with her large calf will consume 30 to 40 more
  forage per day than a non-lactating cow which is
  in the middle 1/3 of gestation.
• Creep feeding should reduce the calfs forage
  consumption. However, early weaning and calf
  feeding will usually be more feed efficient than
  creep feeding.
• Cull cows by following the 4 0 Rules. First
  candidates to cull are Open, Old, Ornery, and
  Oddballs. Droughts culling can should leave the
  only the most productive matrons in the herd.
  Get rid of the hayburners and freeloaders, keep
  the heart of the herd, cows that are usually 3 to
  8 years old.
• Pregnancy test early. Early detection and
  culling can dramatic reduce cow feeding days.
• Grazing pastures too short will subsequently
  decrease carbohydrate root reserves in the fall
  and delay green up and plant vigor in the spring.
  Consider sacrificing a few acres to protect the
  majority of summer grass.
• Graze crop aftermath as early as safely possible.
  Be cognizant of nitrate levels, prussic acid,
  and poisonous plants.
• Network. Find alternative grazing situations and
  feedstuff availability.
• Consider AI. Bull numbers and days with cows can
  be reduced with proper estrus synchronization and
  artificial breeding techniques.
• Pull bulls after 65 days of breeding. Because of
  the weight advantage bulls can eat as much as 25
  more than a cow.