Drought conditions create immense stress for ranchers and their herds. When natural forage disappears, you need an alternative feeding program to keep your cows healthy and productive. The main goal is to get cows re-bred and maintain herd performance while managing increased feed costs.
Keeping cows in good body condition (a score of 4 or higher) is essential for reproduction. Dropping below this score leads to more open cows and lighter calves next year. Remember, starving cows through a drought has lasting negative effects on the developing fetus. You must feed them properly to maintain body condition.
Here are some effective Feeding Programs for Drought Stressed Beef Cow Herds:
- Cull Strategically: First, consider culling older or less productive cows. This allows you to focus your resources on the most profitable animals in your herd.
- Wean Calves Early: Weaning calves early is a powerful strategy. It immediately reduces the cow’s nutrient requirements, helps conserve her body condition, and lessens the demand on limited forage. For early-weaned calves, use a high-quality starter feed like Purina’s Accuration Starter LW to ensure they get on feed quickly and grow to their genetic potential.
- Supplement Low-Quality Forage: If you have adequate low-quality forage, use supplements designed to increase its digestibility. Purina products with IM Technology, like Accuration Range 33 or Sup-R-Lix, help cows get more nutrients from the forage they consume.
- Use Alternative Feeds: When forage is extremely limited, you can hand-feed energy supplements or use commodity feeds like cottonseed hulls or soybean hulls. A limit-fed diet can help your herd get through the toughest periods.
Droughts are challenging, but a smart feeding plan can protect your herd and your bottom line. Stop by Steinhauser’s to discuss the best Purina feeding solutions for your operation.