By James Rogers
Several years ago, I was working with a producer in north Texas during a particularly hot and dry summer. He called me up one morning, and when I asked him how he was doing, he said, “Well, we’re one day closer to a rain.”
That’s a great reminder that things will get better – we just need to keep making the best decisions we can until the weather turns in our favor.
The weather continues to be baffling. Isolated and large storms have been popping up, bringing some relief to some areas while others continue to bake. There are many management considerations during dry periods, so here are some major ones to keep an eye on.
Livestock water quality and quantity
As temperatures increase, livestock water consumption increases. For the beef cow, this will also be influenced by milk production and physical size. A 1,300-pound nonlactating cow at 65 degrees Fahrenheit will consume an estimated 12 gallons of water daily. If a cow is lactating and temperatures are in the 90s, water consumption increases to 17-20 gallons. Cattle do get moisture from grazing, but as forages mature, moisture content and forage intake will decline. Dry weather will accelerate this decline. Ensure livestock have an adequate supply of water.
Water quality can be an issue during dry weather. Total dissolved solids, sulfates, nitrates and microbiological contaminants can reach toxic levels with elevated temperatures and drought. Nitrate levels in forages can be compounded by nitrate levels in livestock water. Testing is available to assess water quality. Additional information can be found in an up-to-date NDSU publication.
Source : ndsu.edu