By John Jaeger
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.
Source : sdstate.edu