By Sharah Truett
Howdy farmers! Let’s talk about how dry years, like last year, can affect your cattle. If you are pasturing cattle on your own grass during a drought or buying local feed that is also affected by drought conditions, you may need to provide your cows with extra vitamins and food to keep them healthy. Here are some ideas on how to help them through these challenging times:
- You can provide the same amount of salt and minerals as you would during normal conditions, but you might need to increase their amount of phosphorus.
- The cattle may need supplemental vitamin A and D booster shots after the dry summer but before calving.
- You might need to give them an extra protein source, like oil meal or alfalfa, to improve reproduction.
- The cattle may also need extra grains to satisfy their energy needs.
See our WSU publication “Supplementing Cattle on Drought Affected Pastures and Ranges” to get more detailed recommendations.
Keep in mind that different cows will be affected differently by the conditions. Mature cows can get by with less energy than first calf heifers and yearlings. First calf females will need extra help, as they are still growing, as well as experiencing the stress of lactation. To feed the cow herd economically, divide the cattle by production class and feed accordingly.
Because of the expense, some cattle owners will decide not to supply any extra supplement during a drought. Do what you gotta do. However, note that this may influence the conception or calving rate later on. Other cattle owners may choose to reduce their inventory to match their feed.