Originally written by Adele Harty, former SDSU Extension Cow/Calf Field Specialist.
As drought persists, beef cattle producers face a series of difficult management decisions. While these decisions are influenced by many factors, emotions can often be among the most challenging to navigate. For many ranching families, the operation is more than a business—it is a way of life and often represents generations of hard work and tradition. As a result, separating emotion from business decisions can be difficult. However, making timely, objective decisions based on the long-term sustainability of the operation is essential for successfully managing through drought and positioning the ranch for recovery.
When facing difficult drought-management decisions, rely on trusted resources to help ensure those decisions are informed and well-supported. A variety of professionals can provide valuable guidance, including fellow producers, agricultural lenders, veterinarians, nutritionists, and Extension specialists. SDSU Extension offers numerous decision-making tools and educational resources designed to help beef cattle producers evaluate their options and develop management strategies. The resources highlighted below are just a few of the tools available to support sound drought-management decisions for your operation.
Available Resources
Drought Management Tips for Beef Cattle Producers
Managing Beef Cattle During Drought: Tips for Producers is a comprehensive publication that brings together practical management strategies into four key areas: The Big Picture, Supply Management, Demand Management, and Marketing and Finances. The Supply Management section covers topics such as alternative feed resources, grazing management, and water quantity and quality. The Demand Management section focuses on strategies to reduce forage demand, including early weaning, shortening the breeding season to retain only the most fertile females, strategic culling and other herd management practices. While every operation is different, producers should be willing to evaluate all available options and think creatively about what best fits their operation. Developing a drought management plan before the next drought occurs will make it easier to implement timely, objective decisions when conditions become challenging.
Drought Page
SDSU Extension maintains a dedicated drought resources page that provides timely, research-based information for beef cattle producers. New information, decision-making tools, and management updates are added regularly, so check the page frequently for the latest recommendations and drought-related resources.
Decision Aid Tools
SDSU Extension Ag Business page offers several downloadable decision-support spreadsheets to help producers evaluate management and financial options during drought. These tools include the Move the Cows or Move the Feed calculator, which compares the cow of hauling cattle to available feed versus hauling feed to the cattle. The Feed Nutrient Calculator allows producers you to compare feed options by incorporating feed prices, transportation costs and feed analysis results to identify the most economical choice for their operation. In addition, Beef Cattle Enterprise Budgets help producers estimate production costs, evaluate break-even prices, and determine what they can afford to pay for variable input costs when making management decisions.
Feed & Water Testing Laboratories
Forage testing is especially important during drought when forage quality and nutrient content can vary widely, and producers may rely on unfamiliar feedstuffs. Forage nitrate quick tests are available at each of the SDSU Extension Offices. For more information about nitrate testing, visit the Testing Forages for Nitrates page. Laboratory analysis provides the information needed to accurately balance rations, identify nutrient deficiencies, and determine the most cost-effective supplementation program to meet cattle nutrient requirements. The SDSU Extension publication Feed and Water Testing Laboratories provides information on laboratories that analyze forage, feed, and water supplies, helping producers make informed feeding decisions during drought.
SDSU Extension Experts
As you evaluate drought management options, don’t hesitate to contact your local SDSU Extension field specialists for assistance. They are available to discuss your operation, answer questions, and help you evaluate management strategies based on your specific circumstances. For more information contact any of our SDSU Extension beef cattle, range management, forage and crop-livestock, and ag buisness experts.
