There are a number of things producers can do if dryness is affecting their pastures.
“Growing conditions are all over the map this year with some Alberta cattle producers dealing with too much rain and some with too little,” says Andrea Hanson, beef extension specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF). “For those producers coping with summer pasture that is going backwards quickly, there are ways to manage what forage you have left. For some, it may even be that the forage in the pasture is holding up but the water source has dried up or is questionable and hauling water is too difficult.”
If pastures are affected, it’s likely the crops in the area are affected as well. “You may want to consider whether some of the crops’ quality and kernel weight will be sufficient to take it as grain or whether cutting it early and using it for livestock feed would make more sense. If your operation doesn’t grow grain crops, speak to your neighbours, as they may be considering alternative measures and could be open to crop sharing. Also, be aware of nitrate issues, as annual crops that are stressed can be high in nitrates.”
Another effective way to manage forage is by managing cattle. “Weaning early reduces the amount of feed, energy and protein required by the cow and allows her to increase or maintain her body condition which is vitally important for her fertility. However, early weaning does involve planning on your part. The younger the weaning age of the calf, the higher the energy and protein levels will need to be fed. Calves older than 120 days can be backgrounded on pasture and have comparable performance to normally weaned calves (200 days) as long as there is plenty of high quality forage available.”
Source : Agriculture and Forestry