Managing a cow herd in drought conditions is a challenge. One option when dry weather reduces forage production in pastures is to relocate some or all cattle. Cows could be relocated to a feedlot that is located off-site or a dry lot or sacrifice area to dry lot cows on-site could be developed, according to Rick Rasby, cow-calf specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Drylotting beef cows is not a new concept for beef producers. Data suggests performance of calves and cows is similar whether they were drylotted or managed on pasture. Drylotting beef cows may be an alternative to expensive forages or hauling cattle to another location or state. Rasby recommends inquiring with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality to determine if permits are needed for this type of confined animal feeding operation.
Drylotting Cows is Drought Management Strategy
Pen size and lot space can be variable, depending on soil type and drainage. A general recommendation is 500 to 800 square feet per pair, according to Rasby. Plan on between 28 and 36 inches of bunk space per cow depending on cow weight. If the herd is a mix of young and old cows, it would be ideal to have separate pens for at least two groups. If separate pens are not possible, then hedge toward the higher number in regard to bunk space per cow. Diets for dry lot cows can contain a lot of forage and are bulky so deep feed bunks will help limit waste.
In drought situations, forage may be expensive and used in limited amounts in the diet. A rule of thumb would be to have at least 0.5% of the cow's weight, on a dry matter basis, as forage to keep the rumen healthy. As an example, if the average weight of the cow herd that is being drylotted is 1,200 pounds, then include at least 6 pounds per head per day dry matter basis of forage in the diet. If the forage is 85% dry matter, then feed 7 pounds per head per day.
As the calf gets older it will come to the bunk and eat and diets need to be adjusted to account the feed consumed by the calf, Rasby says. When the calf weighs 200 to 300 pounds, estimate it will consume about 1% of its body weight on a dry matter basis. This assumes that the calves are not being creep fed and cows are fed full-fed and not limit-fed their ration daily.
There are many ways to design diets for cow/calf pairs or non-lactating cows in a dry lot. Cheap or less expensive feeds are needed to make this a profitable enterprise. Baled corn stalk residue, CRP hay, and straw can work to stretch higher quality forages such as alfalfa. If cows are drylotted because of drought, forages are usually expensive. Depending on the price, corn may or may not fit into the diets for drylotted cows. An alternative to corn, especially in the summer, are corn by-products. Distillers grains are usually cheaper in the summer because it is a time when the number of cattle in the feedlot is low. Also, distillers grains, either wet and modified, and gluten feed can be stored in bunkers or ag bags. Distillers grains are good sources of protein, energy, and phosphorus.
Consider adding calcium to the diet because of the high phosphorus content of distillers grains. Mix the diet uniformly, pay attention to sulfur content, and make sure there is plenty of bunk space so all cows get their share.
Because of the high energy and protein content of distillers grains, it may not be necessary to feed cows to their capacity in a drylot situation.
In one experiment, drylotted, nonpregnant cows were fed either a control diet consisting of bromegrass hay, cornstalks, and alfalfa haylage or limit-fed either bunkered wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) and corn stalks or bunkered distillers solubles (DS) and cornstalks. Cows fed the control diet were full-fed. Limit-fed cows were fed 17 pounds per head per day on a dry matter basis of the bunkered material. Of the 17 pounds per head per day of bunkered material fed, about 7 pounds dry matter basis was either WDGS or distillers solubles. All treatment groups gained weight and the cows that were limit-fed either the bunkered WDGS or DS gained as much or more weight than the control group that was full-fed.
Cows exhibited no signs of sulfur toxicity, but sulfur content should be monitored in limit fed diets using WDGS and DS. Although fat level showed no negative effect on animal performance in this experiment, dietary fat should be closely monitored because of its possible negative effect on forage digestion. These data suggest non-lactating, non-pregnant mature beef cows can be maintained on a limit-fed diet of WDGS or DS.
As a management consideration, limit-fed diets should contain some low quality forage to slow down rate of passage of the diet through the digestive tract which will help cows adapt to being drylotted. In another experiment, pregnant cows were drylotted and limit fed without a negative effect on cow performance.
If cows are relocated off-site in a commercial feedlot, work with your veterinarian to develop a biosecurity protocol for when cows are brought back to the operation. This would be important to consider if part of the herd remained on-site and part of the herd was relocated to a commercial feedlot. This should be standard operating procedure when part of the herd is relocated and in close proximity or mixed with other cattle.