| | Livestock producers have some options if dryness is affecting their pastures. Andrea Hanson, beef extension specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF), outlines what to consider when managing forage.
“Growing conditions are all over the map this year with some Alberta cattle producers dealing with inconsistent or infrequent precipitation,” says Hanson, “For those producers coping with summer pasture that is going backwards quickly, there are ways to manage what forage you have left. For some, it may even be that the forage in the pasture is holding up but the water source has dried up or is questionable and hauling water is too difficult.”
If pastures are affected, it is likely the crops in the area are affected as well. Explains Hanson, “You may want to consider whether some of the crops’ quality and kernel weight will be sufficient to take it as grain or whether cutting it early and using it for livestock feed would make more sense. If your operation doesn’t grow grain crops, speak to your neighbours, as they may be considering alternative measures and could be open to crop sharing. Also, be aware of nitrate issues, as annual crops that are stressed can be high in nitrates.”
Another effective way to manage forage is by managing cattle. “Weaning early reduces the amount of feed, energy, and protein required by the cow,” says Hanson. “Weaning allows her to increase or maintain her body condition which is vitally important for her fertility. However, early weaning does involve planning on your part. The younger the weaning age of the calf, the higher the energy and protein levels will need to be fed. Calves older than 120 days can be backgrounded on pasture and have comparable performance to normally weaned calves - 200 days - as long as there is plenty of high quality forage available.”
Hanson mentions the Alberta Beef Industry Development Fund project that evaluated three stages of weaning to determine the effect on the cow and calf performance and what that meant to the financial bottom line. “What it found was that early weaning is a great tool for stretching pasture resources and reducing the cow’s nutritional requirements, while adding body condition to the cow going into winter. As long as properly planned, there are little to no detrimental effects on the calf.”
“Plan out your feed supply sooner than later so you can start to shop around for what you need,” adds Hanson. “You can stretch your feed supply by using crop residues and straw, but you need to know what you are feeding. Test your feed types to know what you are working with so you aren’t guessing the feed’s nutrients. While there is a cost to testing, there is a much greater cost to over or underfeeding your cattle.”
Hanson adds that is important to be tough when it comes to culling and to get those cows pregnancy checked. “Feed costs are the number one expense in cattle operations, and those cows that aren’t pregnant only eat into your profits. Having a more diligent culling program will free up that extra feed for those cows who are pulling their weight and will add to your future profitability.”
For more information on managing the cow herd in dry conditions, contact the Alberta Ag-Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).
Contact:
Andrea Hanson
403-948-1528 |
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