Many cow calf producers in the Southern Plains are short of standing forage, hay supplies and even water. Strategic management is necessary to keep some of these cow herds intact until weather patterns change and spring and summer grasses start to provide adequate nutrition. The Beef Cattle Extension group at OklahomaStateUniversity has some suggestions. A several page document is available on the OSU Cow Calf Corner homepage under a heading called “Drought Management for Cows”. Producers can access this document by going to: http://cowcalfcorner.okstate.edu This paper contains culling order suggestions plus ration options to stretch or replace forage in the diet of beef cows.
The “feeding options” contain complete diets and suggestions on limited concentrate feeding to beef cows. Also included are discussions of by-product feeds as alternatives. “Limit feeding” of hay is another strategy that some producers may find useful. Research from other universities has suggested that this can be helpful in stretching short hay supplies. Consider each of these options carefully as you journey through the winter/early spring of 2006.
Source: Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist