Unfortunately, drought and abnormally dry conditions are ongoing and have spread across much of the region. Additionally, current forecasts call for these conditions to continue and spread into additional areas.

Banta jason
Associate Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist / Texas A&M University

During these times, it is important to have plans in place to deal with drought conditions and be prepared for reduced forage production this spring due to limited moisture.

Preservation of pasture and range health is critical. Overgrazing will have detrimental effects on both introduced and native forages. When grazing is limited, stocking rates should be reduced or cattle should be moved to a sacrifice pasture and fed there. This will allow other pastures to recover more quickly when conditions improve.

If nitrogen fertilizer is part of the normal forage management plan, it is critical to consider how potential reductions in the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied will impact forage production and protein content. Even though nitrogen prices are higher than they have been in the last few years, nitrogen cannot be eliminated without reducing stocking rates even more. When considering the cost of supplementing low-quality forage, even at current prices, some nitrogen fertilizer this spring and early summer will be cost-effective for many operations.

Precipitation map

Research has demonstrated that it takes less water to produce a ton of forage as nitrogen fertilization increases. A nitrogen source that has little or no volatility concerns (e.g., ammonium nitrate) can be applied and waiting for any unexpected showers. Applying this strategy to some fields will allow for more forage production with limited rainfall.

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Cow body condition is one of the most important factors in achieving high pregnancy rates. To optimize pregnancy rates, 2- and 3-year-old females should be in a body condition score (BCS) of 6 or greater at calving. Cows 4 years old or older should be in a BCS of 5 or greater at calving. If cows are in poor body condition, it may be necessary to early wean calves at 6 to 8 weeks old to ensure cows come back into heat and get bred during the breeding season. This strategy also reduces feed costs in most situations, and when fed a properly formulated ration, these calves will perform well.

In most droughts, early reductions in herd size are best from a financial standpoint. Extension fact sheets on herd reduction strategies and other drought considerations can be found on extension websites.