Drought conditions across the High Plains Region are challenging producers to find feed. The following are things to consider when planning and making decisions about purchasing feed.
What do you have and what do you need?
Inventory grazable forage and harvested feed on hand, along with what is expected to be available between now and next year’s growing season. Build a feed budget and compare it with expected cattle nutrient needs.
Consider the class of cattle being fed
The protein and energy requirements of growing cattle or bred heifers are different than those of mature, running age cows. Growing cattle, and those producing milk, benefit from feed resources that are protein and energy dense. Co-products like distillers grains, corn gluten feed, and soy hulls are fiber-based energy sources that complement forage-based diets. Consider using these, especially when feeding growing cattle or young cows. Because of their nutrient profile, these feeds are often cost competitive with hay, even when hauled a distance.
Quality and safety of hay
Purchase hay from a reputable source and request a feed test analysis before buying hay. When in doubt, check it out. Taking the time to see the hay is worth the effort. In addition to quality, annual forages should be tested for nitrates. For annual forages of the sorghum and sorghum x sudan cross species, recent research has shown these forages, when harvested as hay under stress, can retain dhurrin, a cyanogenic glucoside compound which, when mixed with dhurrin beta-glucosidase enzymes, causes prussic acid to be released, which is lethal for cattle. Cattle naturally contain beta-glucosidase enzymes in the rumen microbiome, so if a forage is high in dhurrin, when cattle eat the feed, the beta-glucosidase enzymes will interact with it and cause prussic acid poisoning. For more information on this topic, see the article “Drought Increases Risk of Prussic Acid and Nitrate Poisoning,” and for more information on testing hay, see the NebGuides “Sampling Feeds for Analysis” and “Understanding and Using a Feed Analysis Report.”
Watch for noxious weeds in hay
When drought conditions occur, areas often get harvested for hay that wouldn’t be. Also, when hay is brought in from outside the area, there is the potential that noxious weeds and the seeds that they produce are part of the package. Ask about potential noxious weeds in hay prior to purchasing, and feed hay that poses any potential risk in a dry lot or area that can be monitored for subsequent years after feeding occurs.
Evaluate feeds on a price per unit of energy and protein consumed by cattle
When comparing feed options to one another, all the costs of getting the feed, storing it, delivering it to the cattle, and waste loss need to be considered. The Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator spreadsheet tool, is an Excel® based spreadsheet that allows for comparison of feeds to one another. When comparing feeds, the cost of transportation, storage, feeding, and waste loss should be included. When all of these are calculated, what initially looked like a better buy may prove not to be. The Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator NebGuide explains how to use this spreadsheet and compare feeds.
Emergency Assistance for Livestock Program (ELAP)
The Farm Service Agency ELAP program can help provide cost share for hauling livestock to other areas or bringing in feed due to drought conditions. Visit with the personnel at your local Farm Service Agency office for more information on the program.
