Real Info About Feeding Cows During a Drought

by James I. Sprague, Livestock Nutritionist

No Rain, No Grass, Cheap Corn
Some cow and calf operators elected to feed cows during the drought of the summer, fall and winter of 2002 and 2003 on the U.S. Plains. The reasons were simple. The price of cows was depressed and corn was cheap during the summer of 2002. An offset factor, purchased roughages were expensive. The rationalization was also simple. For example, Dean Rusher at Olney Springs, Colorado, explained, "We have worked a life-time to put our herd of Hereford cows together and elected to early wean the calves and feed the cows. And then hope it would rain and bring on the grass."

Locked 'em Up in the Feedlot
Rusher further explained, "Since we had plenty of space at the feedlot, we decided to wean the calves in July. They weighed 260 pounds. We put them on our high energy grow ration with whole corn, alfalfa hay and supplement. Then in the fall we increased the energy to nearly a finish ration."

He continued to explain that they locked up the cows in the feedlot and fed them a 50 percent whole corn ration and limited the intake to 16 pounds as fed. They pregnancy checked the cows and sold off the open cows. This winter the cows are still being fed on a limited ration until spring. "We hope we will get some moisture this spring, so we can hang on to these valuable animals," added Rusher.

Maddux Program in Nebraska
Jack and John Maddux of the Maddux Cattle Company at Wauneta, Nebraska, also weaned early and fed their cows. The Maddux Cattle Company is in the western end of the Frenchman River valley with sand hill pastures, irrigated pastures, and irrigated corn. Jack Maddux explained they weaned the calves in June of 2002 at 240 pounds and put the calves in their feedlot on a hot grow ration. Later on they stepped up the grain level as the calves became older.

Rule #1: Lock 'em Up Tight in a Field
The cows were handled in the following manner according to Jack Maddux. "We developed four rules that worked. First rule--Lock-em up tight in a pasture. We would have 750 head on 35 acres with a single hot wire around the field." He further explained, "We continued building more wire pens as the summer progressed." After the fall corn harvest, we returned to our regular program of using aftermath feed of corn stalks for fall and winter pasture for the cow herd."

Rule #2: Have Two Feet of Space Under a Hot Wire
In order to control the cows, they found from previous experience that two feet of space under the electric wire worked well to keep the cows confined. The ration was placed under the wire rapidly and scattered so the cattle did not crowd together. They fed 12 pounds of corn plus a limited about of silages, wet corn steep and the three to four pounds of wheat straw.

Rule #3: Feed the Same Time Each Morning

Rule #4: Make Sure the Cows Have Critical Nutrients
The Maddux's work with a nutritionist to help design the program and make suggestions. Feeding the critical nutrients for the health and longevity of the cows is important, he emphasized.

Future Concerns
Jack Maddux stressed their program was based on the summer of 2002 when grain cost were low. He said they were able to keep the cost at 67 cents per cow per day for feed costs. However he added that yardage cost were not included, and would need to be considered in the future. He stressed that with high grain and feed cost it probably would not be feasible to "lock-up" a cow herd. ©

Comments and questions can be directed to Dr. Jim Sprague, 625 Grandview Ave., Newton, Kansas, 67114 or call him at (316) 283-8692.