Page 14 - MWC 02-04-2021s

REGIONAL HAY ISSUES DUE TO WESTERN DROUGHT The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P14

By Derrell Peel - Oklahoma State University

Recent USDA reports provide percent increase in other hay and supplies and the challenges tion was down 21.8 percent in
a picture of the hay situation production. Texas had a 4.9 per- for cattle producers in those re- 2020 compared to the previous
across the U.S. December 1 hay cent year over year increase in gions. year. While overall U.S. hay sup-
stocks were down a scant 0.6 both all hay and other hay pro- Colorado had December 1 hay plies appear to be adequate, it is
percent year over year for the duction. Nebraska had a 4.7 stocks down 15.0 percent year clear that some drought regions
entire U.S. Table 1 shows the percent increase in all hay year over year, with 2020 alfalfa hay are experiencing severe chal-
top ten states for hay stocks as over year, the result of a 9.5 per- production down 11.9 percent lenges to get through the winter.
well as 2020 all hay, alfalfa hay cent decrease in alfalfa produc- and other hay production down The 16 western and plains
and other production. tion and a 25.3 percent increase 32.1 percent. New Mexico had states (not including Texas) had
Among the top ten states for in other hay production. December 1 hay stocks down December 1 hay stocks down 5.8
hay stocks, Texas was up 14.3 Drought persisted across 36.4 percent year over year and percent year over year. Texas
percent year over year along much of the west in 2020 and the lowest end-of year-hay stocks has some drought regions but
with Kentucky, up 27.5 percent has extended into much of the in the state in data back to 1973. overall hay stocks in the state
and Tennessee up 1.0 percent Great Plains at the current time. New Mexico alfalfa hay produc- are up.
compared to the previous year. Several states reveal the impact tion was down 12.1 percent year
Nebraska had an equal level of of the drought on hay production over year and other hay produc-
hay stocks on December 1. The
other six states had year over
year reductions in end-of-year
hay stocks led by Missouri, down
13.0 percent; North Dakota,
down 11.9 percent; South Dako-
ta, down 7.2; Montana, down 5.9
percent; Kansas, down 5.7 per-
cent and Oklahoma, down 2.4
percent.
Total 2020 hay production
was down 1.6 percent nation-
wide with alfalfa hay produc-
tion down 3.3 percent year over
year and other hay production
down just 0.3 percent compared
to 2019. All hay production in
Kentucky was up 22.7 percent
year over year, led by a 24.2

LIFE up the south side of my corral. MINERAL
continued from page 5 I’ve owned the place for almost continued from page 11 geted consumption. A starting
for being the summer home, to a twenty years and had never tion continues for more than a point would be to add 1 part
large flock of turkey vultures. opened that door. I didn’t even week, other factors are likely feed to 5 parts mineral. This
As I entered the gate, on my know it could be opened, but the involved. Depending on forage would be approximately 10 lbs
way to unroll hay for the cows, bull had licked the latch open and water quality, the mineral per 50 lb bag of mineral. If cattle
I then saw my bull, contentedly and proceeded through a three- supplement may not be meeting over-consume the mineral due
grazing, on the lawn of my rental foot wide hallway, that connects nutritional needs or cattle could to the addition of feed, cut the
house. At least I thought it was to several old feed rooms, corn be consuming it for the carrier, added feed in half the next time
my red bull, but his entire front cribs, and a milking parlor. I typically a protein-type prod- you deliver mineral. Continue
end was covered in some white had used the south end of the uct – over-consumption can also this process until the desired
substance. I turned around and hallway, to store stuff, includ- occur if forage protein is defi- consumption is reached. Don’t
proceeded to the corral, expect- ing screen doors, wood trim, roof cient. This has been observed forget to account for that added
ing to find an open gate. All the shingles, boxes of fruit jars, old in tame grass pastures in late feed when calculating mineral
gates were closed, so I inspected wooden gates, and a 50 lb. bag summer in western South Da- consumption. For example, if
it further to see if the top rails of Ag lime, which explained the kota. Other management prac- the recommended intake is 4
were bent anywhere (the corral white substance on the bull’s tices for over-consumption in- oz per head per day of mineral,
is steel and six feet tall)…noth- head and front end. Everything clude moving mineral feeders but 10 lbs of feed is added, the
ing. How did he get out? was completely demolished, to further away from water sourc- intake needs to increase to 4.8
Confused, I stood inside the the point that it wouldn’t even es, adding salt to reduce intake, oz per head per day. If consump-
corral long enough to eventu- make good kindling. changing mineral supplement tion does not reach the desired
ally see an old wooden door, Where there’s a bull, there’s a products, or moving cattle to a level, consider changing miner-
slightly ajar, there on the north way…….out. fresh pasture. als.
side of the old barn that makes Management Strategies for Taking time to monitor min-
Under-Consumption eral consumption is an easy
HIGH GRAIN the ruminant flexibility of cattle If consumption is less than task that can help guide man-
continued from page 6 in response to changing feed pric- desired and the supplement agement decisions. Ensuring
es. Relative to a given fed cattle complements forage and water; cattle are consuming mineral
$0.97/lb. when corn price increas- price level, higher feed prices dried molasses, dry distiller’s at the appropriate level is key
es to $5.35/bu. imply lower feeder cattle prices grain or soybean meal can in- to proper mineral nutrition and
Higher corn prices provide overall cattle health and perfor-
incentives for feedlots to change with prices of lighter weight feed- crease palatability of the min- mance.
er cattle under more pressure
eral. Inclusion rate of the feed
how cattle are finished and those than heavier feeder cattle. may require some trial and
decisions, in turn, will signal the error to find the optimum level SDSU
rest of the cattle industry to make of inclusion that results in tar-
production adjustments utilizing