Oklahoma Forage and Water Supplies Limited This Winter

Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

 

Although some recent moisture has reduced drought in Oklahoma, over 80 percent of the state remains in some stage of drought. Drought has been removed from several counties in southeast Oklahoma. Cattle producers face considerable challenges to maintain herds through winter.

 

Limited forage supplies in Oklahoma developed over the last year. May 1, 2022 hay stocks were down nearly 48 percent from the previous year. Other hay production was down 21 percent in 2022. Other hay averages nearly 88 percent of total hay production in Oklahoma and is the primary hay used for beef cows. Total hay production in Oklahoma was also down 21 percent year over year in 2022. The 2022 total hay supply in Oklahoma was down just over 26 percent compared to the previous year, the lowest since 2012.

 

The final crop progress report for the season in late October 2022 showed 80 percent of Oklahoma pasture and ranges in poor to very condition. This indicates that many producers did not carry much standing dry forage into the winter. December 1 Oklahoma hay stocks were down 30 percent year over year to the lowest level since 2012. Unusually cold weather in December no doubt took a big bite out of available hay supplies for many producers. Some producers are scrambling for additional hay with limited success and finding it very expensive. Other hay prices in Oklahoma were reported at $141/ton in December, up 40 percent year over year.

 

Livestock water in ponds is very low in much of the state. For many producers, water availability may be the most limiting factor for the remainder of the winter. In most parts of the state, recent rains have not replenished pond levels at all. Water quality is deteriorating as pond levels drop and may be a hazard to animals (see following article).

Although Oklahoma cattle inventories dropped sharply in 2022, limited forage and water supplies may mean additional liquidation this winter. Oklahoma's total cattle inventory decreased by 11.5 percent in 2022, including a 6.6 percent decline in the beef cow herd and an 18.5 percent decrease in estimated feeder supplies in the state on January 1, 2023. Herd liquidation appears to be continuing so far this year. The Oklahoma auction volume of cull cows and bulls is up 46 percent year over year in the first seven weeks of the year.

 

 

 

Deteriorating Water Quality Can Impact Cattle

David Lalman, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Specialist

Marty New, Oklahoma State University Extension Area Livestock Specialist

 

As of late February, 2023 most of the Southern Great Plains region was considered to be in long-term moderate to exceptional drought according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. In fact, except for "normal" precipitation in June 2022, over 70% of the region has been rated in the moderate to exceptional drought categories each month since the dry period began (September 2021). While feed availability and cost remain the primary factors driving herd liquidation, water availability and water quality are of increasing concern. In general, minerals and other contaminants concentrate in both surface and ground water sources during long-term drought. Water quality is a function of the concentration of elements or substances that may compromise livestock health and performance or result in toxicity. It is not uncommon to drill a new water well in Oklahoma only to discover "brackish" water. Brackish water generally contains high concentrations of salt, and other potentially dangerous minerals or other compounds, such as sulfur and nitrate. Total dissolved solids concentration is a good place to begin in monitoring water quality and to consider the use of brackish water as a drinking water source for cattle. Most recommendations suggest cattle drinking water contain less than 5,000 ppm TDS. Water containing 5,000 to 7,000 ppm TDS should not be consumed by pregnant or lactating cattle and consumption of water containing greater than 7,000 ppm TDS should be avoided altogether. We have had several reports of water sulfur concentration increasing in Western Oklahoma ground water sources. While maximum tolerable sulfur concentration in drinking water for cattle are not well defined, the National Academy of Sciences, Medicine and Engineering (NASEM, 2016) recommends less than 500 ppm (or mg/L) for calves and less than 1,000 ppm for adult cattle. Consideration must also be given to forage and concentrate feed sulfur content in combination with water sulfur content.

 

The good news is that water quality is not difficult nor expensive to test. Our laboratory at OSU (Soil, Water, and Forage Analytical Laboratory) charges $15 per livestock water sample. For that, you get Na, Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Zn, electrical conductivity, pH, nitrate-nitrogen, Cl--, sulfate, total dissolved solids (TDS), and hardness. Here is how you can obtain and ship a quality water sample to a testing laboratory:

• Most County Extension offices can assist with this process. Obtain a clean 4 oz plastic water bottle (our laboratory does not recommend glass bottles). A wide mouth bottle with a screw-on lid works well. Go to the water source that you want to test.
• Fill the water bottle halfway, shake and rinse the bottle and pour out. * Repeat the previous step three more times.
• Finally fill the bottle as full as possible. Cap, leaving as little air space as possible. * Be sure the bottle is well labeled, and the laboratory's submission form is completed and included in the shipping container. Just because a water quality test comes back from the laboratory as "brackish", does not mean it cannot be used for livestock. Once the chemical composition is determined, it may be possible to blend the brackish water source with a more purified source, such as rural water, to dilute the minerals down to a safe level. Be sure to consult your veterinarian and a nutrition expert to investigate and monitor water quality in concert with your supplementation program.

 

Feeding Monensin to Developing Heifers

Paul Beck, OSU State Extension Beef Nutrition Specialist

 

In an earlier article we looked at the benefits of feeding monensin to beef cows. In this article we will dive into the use of monensin for developing replacement heifers.

Replacement heifer development is an expensive endeavor with lifelong implications on productivity of the cowherd. In order to optimize production and lifetime profitability, heifers should be bred at 15 months of age in order to calve as a 2-year-old. Furthermore, heifers that calve early in the calving season tend to calve early in subsequent calving seasons throughout their productive life.

 

Ionophores have been used for years to effectively increase BW gain of growing cattle on pasture or fed hay. The use of monensin has been studied extensively in feedlot finishing and dairy systems. There is an overall improvement in feed efficiency in growing and finishing cattle of 6.4% and a 2.5% increase in average daily gain. In dairy systems there is a 2.5% increase in feed efficiency for milk production. In stocker production systems there is a 10% increase in weight gains.

 

There are data available that indicate that supplying monensin to developing replacement heifers improves fertility and decreases age at puberty. To determine the benefits of feeding monensin to developing replacement heifers, a team of researchers led by Dr. David Lalman from Oklahoma State University compiled the results of 26 experiments from 18 publications evaluating the effects of monensin supplementation on performance and reproduction of replacement heifers. This was published in the journal Translational Animal Science last summer and is freely available at Meta-analysis of the effects of monensin on performance of beef replacement heifers and beef cows

 

Key findings for replacement heifer were:

• Average daily gains were increased by 5% when feeding monensin to developing heifers with no effect on body condition. Similar to the analysis for mature beef cows, feed intake was decreased by 4.3%. Feed efficiency was improved by 14%.
• The age at puberty was 8.9 days less and the number of heifers cycling before the breeding season was increased by 16% with no effect on overall pregnancy rates. Increases in gains and feed efficiency are powerful economic drivers in heifer development enterprises. Furthermore, there are potential long-term implications of feeding ionophores to developing replacement heifers, if earlier cycling activity can lead to earlier calving dates, which impacts the ability of getting a first calf cow to rebreed with their second calf within a short subsequent breeding season.

 

Freeze Branding at The OSU Purebred Beef Center

Mark Z. Johnson, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist

 

To improve efficiency of cow-calf operations, it is imperative to identify individual cattle and maintain accurate production records. One type of permanent identification is branding. A fire brand can be used but many producers prefer freeze branding. Freeze branding is performed using a coolant and copper or copper-alloy branding irons. Two common freeze branding methods include using either liquid nitrogen or a combination of dry ice and alcohol as a coolant. Most producers get better results with dry ice and alcohol, but locating dry ice can be a challenge. Liquid nitrogen can be purchased from welding supply stores and artificial insemination companies.

 

Freeze branding is relatively stress-free for the animal and causes little or no damage to the hide. Unlike fire brands, freeze brands result in reduced incidences of blotching. On the down-side, freeze branding takes more time, can be more costly and over time brands may fade. Until you are satisfied your procedure is working, ear tags and tattoos are recommended as additional forms of identification. It is best to freeze brand during the spring or fall months while the hair is growing. As the brand is applied, melanocytes (pigment-producing cells in the skin) are destroyed, and subsequent hair growth is white. The effectiveness of freeze branding is usually better for black and red cattle than for white cattle. Do not freeze brand when it is rainy, windy or humid. In these bad weather conditions the irons change temperature rapidly, hindering the branding effects.

 

At OSU, the Purebred Beef Cattle Center Uses the Following Tools and Procedure to Freeze Brand: Materials Needed:

• Methanol (found at any Oil Supply Company). At least 15 gallons for a full day.
• Dry ice (typically found at Homeland grocery stores). At least 50 pounds for a full day.
• Plastic or Styrofoam cooler (large enough for coolant mix and all irons)
• Pair of clippers with fine blade or 22 comb premiers (and source of electricity for clippers)
• Spray bottle or empty dish wash bottle
• Rice root brush
• For best results 3-3 ½ inch brands, others are too small or get too large as cattle mature.
• Squeeze chute to properly contain the animal for safety.
• Stop watch (or some means of timing)

 

Procedure:

1. First, break the dry ice into smaller cubes, then with the dry ice in a plastic or Styrofoam cooler dump the methanol onto the dry ice covering the numbers or letters on the brand and ice. For the best results let the irons activate for 1.5 to 2 hours.
2. Put the animal in a tightly confined squeeze chute for everyone's safety.
3. Shave a patch where you intend to brand the animal. Typically, brands are on the shoulder, mid-rib, or hip area. At OSU we utilize the shoulder and hip. The area shaved is usually 12 inches long and 4 inches tall for a 4 number Identification.
4. Spray the shaved area with methanol and wipe off excess with a rice root brush.
5. Place the brands on the skin for 1 minute. It is vital to keep the irons pressed evenly against the skin for the best results.
6. Brands will need to spend at least 1 - 2 minutes in the coolant between each use.
7. Dependent on labor available to assist, you can typically do 2 numbers at a time. More than that can become cumbersome to keep even or level.
8. Once finished, you will notice the skin will start to peel off within 3-4 weeks and white hair will grow back 6-8 weeks after branding.

Benefits Observed: Primarily permanent identification means we don't need to worry about lost ear tags. Hip brands used are easier to read and identify in larger pastures or during heat detection. If desired, brands can replace tattoos as permanent identification.

 

Reference: Oklahoma State University Extension Fact Sheet AFS-3250.