An impending drought caused by lower-than-average rainfall in the spring and summer seasons could result in inadequate forage yield for cattle in parts of Indiana.
A timely publication from Purdue University Extension, Agronomy and Animal Sciences titled “When Forages Are in Short Supply Because of Drought” outlines key management and feeding practices available for producers to reduce the negative consequences of low forage supplies. The publication is free and can be downloaded from the Purdue Extension website.
The authors – Keith Johnson, professor of agronomy and Extension forage specialist; Ron Lemenager, professor of animal sciences and Extension beef specialist; and Nick Minton, Extension beef systems specialist – offer a methodical analysis of the factors driving drought and a checklist to navigate the various impacts on herd health, including nitrate poisoning.
By discussing 18 vital producer tools in the article – such as providing supplemental feeding, known as creep feeding, to calves to obtain near normal weaning weights – the authors seek to help ensure cow production.
Lemenager says, “We had a warm spell in February across much of the state and forages broke dormancy, and then it turned cool again, which set the growth curve back until early May.”
He details his experiences speaking with producers across the state, saying: “Many have experienced drier than normal weather. Coupled with usual or above average summertime temperatures, many are concerned about the possibility of lingering drought like conditions. I’m hearing stories of first-cutting hay yields being anywhere from 30% to 90% of normal.”
The Extension specialists highly recommend that producers scout their pastures to see what forage is truly available for grazing. They share that the cool-season grasses have set seed heads, and from the road there appears to be adequate growth, but the leaf material available for grazing may be inadequate to support normal animal performance.
Source: drovers.com
Photo Credit: istock-laughingmango
Categories: Indiana, Weather