Dealing With Drought

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

 

Drought conditions are advancing rapidly in Oklahoma.  Figure 1 shows that, as of October 8, 70.27 percent of the state had some level of drought, including D1 (24.99 percent), D2 (21.87 percent) and D3 (23.41 percent).  While there is currently no D4, Exceptional Drought, in the state, the amount of D3, Extreme Drought, jumped from 11.5 percent to 23.41 percent in just one week.  As recently as August 20, there was no D3 level drought in Oklahoma.  The Drought Severity and Coverage Index (DSCI) measures the overall level of drought in a single value.  The DSCI for Oklahoma was at a growing season low of 43 in early June and has increased to a current level of 223.  

 

Figure 1.

 

Winter wheat planting in Oklahoma for the week ending October 6 was at 32 percent, compared to the previous five-year average of 46 percent for that date.  The percentage of wheat emerged was at 14 percent, compared to an average of 22 percent in the previous five years.  Wheat that has emerged is growing very slowly or not at all.  The potential for winter wheat grazing is fading fast with the current dry weather pattern.  Water supplies for cattle are rapidly becoming a critical issue. In recent travels around the state, I have consistently observed low pond levels.  Producers have reported ponds that are already dry or nearly dry, forcing decisions about relocating cattle.   

 

It is important for producers to act early to minimize the impacts of developing drought.  Producers should evaluate water resources to determine if action is imminent.  Though little pasture growth is expected this time of year, standing forage should be inventoried for both quantity and quality, including the availability of water needed to utilize specific pastures.  Likewise, hay should be inventoried to determine both quantity and quality.  

 

Finally, the inventory of water and feed resources should be evaluated relative to current cattle inventories and particular production systems to create a plan going forward.  For example, the needs and goals of a spring calving herd in the next few months will be different from a fall calving herd.  The drought plan should address how the operation will get through the winter and, in a worst-case scenario, how will the operation be impacted if spring 2025 arrives and still no moisture.  As always, drought plans should identify a timeline when decisions should be made and priorities for classes of animals that will be liquidated if necessary. One of the keys to drought planning is to think beyond the drought and have a plan to still have a viable operation remaining after the drought.  It is much better to have a plan that, hopefully, will not be needed, than to muddle along until resources are depleted to a level where no flexibility remains. 

 

Derrell Peel, OSU Extension livestock marketing specialist, discusses wheat pasture prospects and explains why calf markets are increasing in the fall months on SunUpTV from October 7, 2024.

 

 

Best Management Practices During Drought

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

 

Drought conditions continue to persist and expand in Oklahoma, following the La Niña forecast that meteorologists have predicted. Drought will likely advance in the central and southern plains regions for the remainder of the year. Warm season forage production is done for this growing season. The potential for winter wheat pasture looks bleak. On the upside, Oklahoma hay inventories are apparently more than adequate going into winter. On the other hand, water, the most significant nutrient, is a primary concern with ponds low or dry across Oklahoma. Water will remain a concern through the fall and winter.

 

Best management practices and opportunities during times of drought:

• Monitoring access to water as well as the quality and quantity of water.
• Pond cleanout. Many ponds are low or dry. If your budget permits, now is a good time to clean out ponds to improve capacity and water quality in the future. Review OSU Cooperative Extension Fact Sheet NREM-9221 covering the planning process of pond clean out and pond building.
• Pregnancy check cows to eliminate open cows (as well as old and unproductive cows) in order reduce inventory
• Weaning calves to reduce nutritional needs of cows and maintain body condition of cows.
• Rotating pastures/Dry lotting cows/Grazing crop residues if available.
• Supplemental feeding, mineral, vitamin and/or protein supplementation to stretch feed resources, maintain health and growth. 

 

 

Feeding Weaned Calves this Winter

Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist

 

With the dry weather we have had for the past few months the prospects of wheat pasture this winter are slim. Calf prices remain fairly strong, but there are indications that feeding calves to heavier weights next spring may have economic advantages. 

 

We had a good hay crop earlier in the summer and the quality of much of the alfalfa hay grown this summer was outstanding.  Feeding free-choice hay with a concentrate supplement has the potential to add gain to growing calves without large investment in additional equipment. The number of nutrition program alternatives is virtually unlimited. 

 

We recommend feeding an ionophore to increase gains and efficiency and help with coccidia control. See our OSU Fact Sheet “Feed Additives for Beef Cattle Production” (AFS-3038) for more information on use of ionphores and other feed additives. The supplement could be designed to provide all minerals and an ionophore or a commercial complete mineral could be provided free-choice.

 

The following Table includes several rations for calves receiving free-choice hay, with target gains of 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 pounds per day. Separate rations are suggested for alfalfa hay (mid-bloom, 17% CP and 58% TDN), and good quality grass hays (> 10% CP and 56% TDN), and low-quality grass hay (containing 7% CP and 52% TDN).

 

 

Notice, as the quality of the hay decreases the supplement requirements increase for each expected level of performance. Also, as performance expectations increase, supplementation rates and quality of the supplements also increase. These are just some suggested diets with commonly available ingredients. There are many ways to get to the same desired level of performance. Be mindful of the costs of feeding and the breakeven value of your calves and use appropriate price protection for your calves to ensure profitability. See your feed company representative or local Cooperative Extension office for more specific assistance in developing supplementation programs for your calves this winter. 

 

A Rancher’s Thursday Lunchtime Webinar Series from November 2021 covered “Growing Calves Without Wheat Pasture”

 

Marty New, SW Oklahoma Livestock Extension Specialist, discussed feeding programs using long-stem hay on youtube.

 

Reference: Beck, P. and D. Lalman. 2021. Beef Cattle Manual 8th ed. Chapter 22 Supplementation and feeding calves and stocker cattle. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service E-913. 

 

The OSU Beef Cattle Manual is available.

 

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