Sheep Producers: A Checklist for Dry Conditions

Consider these points as you decide on a maintenance plan for your flock:

1.	Maintain a year’s supply of feed for all livestock. Storing forage can be a challenge due to storage area limits and declining quality in forage stored outside. Feed grains store well but require bin checks for insect infestations and other damage. Monitor feed prices carefully. Cost and location need to be carefully assessed if purchasing feed.
2.	Inventory and monitor all water supplies. A water plan is a valuable investment. Know how much water is available and monitor quality. Algae growth in dugouts can be deadly. Lack of rainfall or spring run off can increase salinity. Sample and test water if you have concerns. Fencing livestock away from water sources is critical in maintaining water quality. Grazing plans need to include water supplies and watering systems for temporary pastures.
3.	A good grazing management plan really shines when moisture conditions are poor. Grazing management means managing the forage to be grazed. It means rotating and resting pastures. It means always maintaining a litter or residue in all pastures.
4.	Assess all grazing and feed options at the first sign of dry conditions.
5.	Develop a plan to preserve perennial pastures. Rest pastures or delay grazing pastures. Maintain livestock in a feedlot to reduce stress on pastures.
6.	Have emergency pastures. Include annual seeded pastures in your grazing plan if possible. Unused annuals can be harvested or used for extended season grazing.
7.	Pastures are extremely sensitive to stocking rates. Reduce animal numbers early.
8.	Wean lambs before pasture quality declines and weight is lost. Dry lot lambs to finish or sell early to be finished. Sell market animals as soon as market weight and finish is achieved. Poor, thin lambs are not what any market is looking for.
9.	Maintain an orderly marketing system rather than trying to “out guess” the market. Contact your markets early and regularly.
10.	Evaluate your livestock inventory. Plan to maintain healthy, younger to middle aged productive ewes. Cull older animals, non-producers and those with lower production. Good records are essential in identifying animals producing below the flock average.
11.	Graze or clip hay land when a hay crop is looking unlikely. Subsequent moisture may encourage re-growth. Manage alfalfa grazing to reduce losses to bloat.
12.	Assess grazing cereals when crop insurance allows. Cereal crops provide limited quantities of forage and grazing can compact and pulverize the soil leading to permanent soil damage.
13.	To encourage pasture recovery, increase stocking rates gradually over a 1 to 3 year period.