Continued: Beef Cow Management: Keeping Up with the Change

Current (May 2002) Situation for the Alberta Cow/calf Producer

Starting in July of 2001, cow/calf producers recognized that they were facing a full blown drought which caused many ranchers to sell herds early and dramatically alter the price and flow of feed (Reuters, September, 14, 2001). Eight months later, producers in western Canada were still continuing to trim herd size (FWN, May, 15, 2002). The number of cows being slaughtered was up approximately 14% from the same time a year ago.  In addition, because of the cool wet spring of 2002, many cows lost calves and these cows were sent to slaughter. Last fall it was predicted that as much as a 25% herd liquidation in parts of Alberta would occur (Will Irvine, Strathmore, AL). Figure 1 shows the extent of the drought in Alberta as of May 2002. 

Figure 1. Areas of Alberta which have received less than 50% of normal precipitation as of May 19th (Areas represented in white; from:

http://www.agric.gov.ab.ca/images/climate/seasonal/02/02a1may19n.gif

Management of the Cow Herd During Drought and (or) Limited Forage Supplies

Drought develops progressively over time.  Management of the ranch during a drought depends on the balance between stocking density and the availability of feed and water.  In the long run, you can help protect your interests by sound planning to make your ranch decisions less sensitive to drought. Decisions need to be based on what relief measures are potentially available on the ranch.  Among the important factors are guessing the expected duration of the drought, the current water and feed inventories, the body condition of the cowherd and financial resources available. During drought, decisions may be based on emotion rather than logic.  The main goal is to make objective decisions and get skilled help when necessary from your extension agent, beef specialist, range specialist or agricultural consultant (Paterson et al., 2001).

The producers who survive best during drought are those who adopt sound management and financial plans and review them regularly.  They make firm decisions, and act quickly and early.  Keep alert for opportunities such as leasing land instead of buying feed. Four factors which affect risk management during a drought include: 1) the total population of cattle in relation to feed availability, 2) how widespread the drought-area is, 3) the time of year and the likely hood of rain and return to adequate feed supplies in your area and, 4) evaluation of cash flow needs (borrowing your way through a drought to maintain traditional herd size may inhibit long-term profitability).

Questions a Rancher must answer when facing a drought or lack of forage:

• Are my animals losing weight or not performing adequately?

• What is the body condition score of my cows?

• Will I have to start to provide supplements?

• If the drought continues, should I cull the least productive or "at risk" animals?

• What feeds are available to the ranch?

• Assuming that I will have to purchase supplemental feeds, are they available and at what cost?

• Is one option to sell hay and buy back grain for limit feeding?

• Do I have the feed resources to allow for full feeding vs. supplementary feeding only vs. limit feeding of grain?

• Progression of options a Rancher considers during drought:

• Do nothing.

• Selective reduction of the cow herd, especially the least productive cows.

• Early weaning of calves to reduce nutritional demands on cows.

• Leasing of additional grazing ground vs. purchasing of supplemental feeds.

• Purchase supplemental feedstuffs.

• Move the cow herd to a dry lot for full feeding.

• Limit feed grain to meet nutrient requirements.

• Sell all the livestock.

Options a Rancher should keep in mind with regard to cow management:

• Fertility of cows may decline when their body condition score (BSC) drops below a 4; especially at time of calving and when they go into the breeding season in poor   condition. In the absence of sufficient nutrients, particularly energy, cows lose considerable weight. When such weight losses occur, milk production decreases and reproductive activity may cease. The end result is light-weight calves and open cows. To prevent such undesirable effects, cows either must be provided sufficient nutrients to avoid weight losses and maintain production requirements or they must be relieved totally or partially from these stressors.

• Early weaning of calves is one option which allows cows to rebuild body reserves and rebreed the next year.

• Money and diminishing feed reserves are too valuable to waste on cows that are unproductive, not pregnant or are unsound. These animals are candidates for culling at any time and especially during drought conditions.

• Don't forget about development options for the replacement heifers.

Supplementation Concepts During Drought

Producers generally have two options for meeting the nutrient requirements of cattle on drought-affected pastures and ranges. The first is to provide supplemental feed to ensure the cow herd has adequate energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. The second is to reduce the nutrient requirements of the cow to a point where they can be met with available forage.  Table 5 summarizes some of the consequences of inadequate intakes of energy, protein, vitamins and minerals by beef cattle (Bearden and Fuquay, 1992).  The data show that reproduction is impacted the most by these deficiencies.

Table 5. Influence of Inadequate and Excessive Dietary Nutrient Intake on Reproduction in Beef Cattle (Bearden and Fuquay, 1992)

 

Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 08/14/2009