STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A Lienemann

 UNL Extension Educator, Webster County

February 15, 2013 Edition

We are on the downhill side of February, which usually means we are not too far from the harbingers of “Spring”, if some of those indicators have not already arrived. Oh I know, we could have a lot of “Winter” yet, but if the groundhog was any indication it will not be long before we start seeing a warm-up, early flowers, and the greening up of wheat and perhaps road ditch grass and probably “cheatgrass”. That means it will not be long and we will be looking at concerns with pasture for our cattle, sheep, goats and horses. We have several concerns that we might want to take a look at this week.

I don’t think anyone doesn’t know that we just came out of one of the worst drought years in recent memory, and many say worse than the early 50’s, and others harken back to the 30’s. I do remember the early 50’s but the 30’s believe it or not is really a stretch, but I do remember my parents and grandparents talking about it, and it does seem very similar in many regards. I think back to the drought conditions we had from 2000 up through about 2006 or 2007, but it didn’t come close to the total concerns we had in 2012. Heat, wind and lack of moisture really showed what it can do to crops, hay and pastures.

Unfortunately the environment, and perhaps even a little overgrazing, took a big toll on our pastures and it may alter what we may choose for management decisions concerning timing, population, longevity of grazing and as a result what those that rent range/pastures may or should have to pay. We also must be cognizant of the fact that most prognosticators are suggesting to expect more of the same as far as drought conditions area concerned. We had an advantage last spring that we started out with some subsoil moisture and had a very heavy, wet snow about this time of year. It is no secret that we are not in the same place with our subsoil - not even close - and so far, we have not had much moisture, including any much needed, heavy snow this year. I think we are really behind the eight-ball again this year. There are a lot of things we might want to consider as we approach a new grazing year. In a year that left us with dilapidated pastures, far short of hay and high grain and hay prices we may be facing more challenges than we have in many, many years.

The unique conditions leading into the spring of 2013 may be leading us into even more potential problems. A dry growing season last summer combined with poor forage growth in the fall has left almost no standing forage in many pastures. In short, as we approach spring there is not much out there, and if forecasts are correct - conditions for spring growth may not be great either. On the cow side of the pasture/ livestock equation, in many cases we are looking at some mighty hungry individuals. Hay is scarce and expensive and concentrates are higher than many of us can remember them ever being. This has led many producers to design a management program to “just get them through the winter” rather than meeting the cattle’s nutritional requirements and that may give us problems leading into my next scenario.

The first thing that I think we may want to look at is perhaps dry-lotting our livestock a little longer this year. I know, that may be difficult with the shortage of forages and the price of hay and grain. But we may not have much choice in this if we don’t see some moisture come our way. Producers who are short of hay in the spring are likely to want to turn livestock out on pasture as soon as they can. The problem with this practice is the cost to production in those pastures during the growing season. Grazing before grass plants reach the third leaf stage causes a reduction in herbage production which can reduce stocking rate and animal performance and have awful consequences for the grass plants. Grazing before that third leaf stage on native range or tame grass pastures can result in a loss of over 60% of the potential forage production and perhaps even worse. This lost potential production will translate into lost pounds of calf production and perhaps the very health and vitality of your pasture. Livestock producers need to consider this loss of calf and pasture production when they decide whether to feed hay a little longer or to turn cattle out on pasture before the grass is ready. Another downside is the fact that you are opening the pasture up for a weed infestation and the costs of control and renovation of the pasture.

It depends heavily on if, and when, we get any moisture, and what the conditions are in March and April. But my gut feeling says we need to wait at least until June 1 and perhaps June 15 to put our cows out into the pastures. That means we need to find and, at the very least, manage our forage resources to stretch them about 4-6 more weeks than normal and if you haven’t already, consider culling cows. Every cowherd has a bottom 20 to 50 percent, and they aren’t that difficult to identify. This group will consist of all open and dry cows, late-calvers, and all cows with small, poor-doing calves. It will also include your older and thinner cows, as well as all cows with bad eyes, bad udders and other structural problems. Other candidates are those that may have an attitude or are hard handling, high headed cows. If you have saved heifers back to breed for next year, you may want to consider liquidating them as well. Don’t wait until your forage resources are depleted and your cows are thin. You will lose both ways if you do that. Our best bet is to do some heavy praying for moisture!

If you don’t have the hay, low quality roughages and/or grain or distillers to mix with it, and down to the bare bones (perhaps a bad analogy) with your herd, then you may want to consider perhaps planting some early spring forages like oats, rye or other fast growing and tonnage making feeds, that you can graze early or utilize for “put-up” hay. We need to really look at some alternative methods of management of supplying nutrients to our cattle. I suggest going to our website - http://beef.unl.edu/ for ideas. Next week we will continue this discussion and center on grazing rates and rental rates!

]The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home