Before beginning our discussion and before any feed is purchased, some semantics must be defined. Specifically, we must understand the difference between supplementing and feeding. Supplementing is providing the animal with what is absent in the forage; whereas feeding means substituting purchased feed for forage.

Supplementing is virtually always economically justifiable, whereas feeding is almost never profitable for breeding cows. That is, the first thing I tell ranch clients is that while a nutritionist can save them big money on feed cost; we cannot make feeding a cow profitable. After explaining the reasons to a Mexican rancher, he summarized it like this, "If you feed a cow, the next day you have the same cow ... and a dollar less!" My standard recommendation during drought is to tell ranchers to reserve all pasture for their cows, and move heifers or stockers to dry lot. Any feed that is purchased is to be fed to the heifers or stockers. These animals have growth potential and therefore we get something back for our investment; i.e. we trade feed for some extra pounds of calf. This is something that can be sold to recoup our costs (should the drought hold).

I also tell ranchers not to be drawn into purchasing what are commonly referred to as "grass stretcher" feeds. To begin with, unless we feed over six pounds of a concentrate feed, we really won't reduce pasture consumption significantly. That is, six pounds or less of concentrate feed will provide a cow with more energy, but will not cause her to eat any less forage. As we exceed six pounds., we begin to change the pH of the rumen which will reduce the cellulolytic bacteria and protozoa population. This will then begin to reduce forage digestibility and consumption. But short of six pounds of concentrate, forage consumption will be the same.

Beyond that, "grass stretcher" feeds are inordinately expensive. For example, if we are 20 percent overstocked and the pasture holds 100 cows, it is more economical to remove the overstock and feed them in dry lot. Unfortunately, however, ranchers commonly feed four to five pounds of a commercial "grass stretcher" that will cost from eight to 10 cents/pound. In this situation we end up feeding 400 to 500 lbs. of feed per day, at a cost of $32 to $50 to support 20 cows! Although we must never forget it is not profitable to feed a cow; there are much less expensive ways to do it. The reality is that while drought often creeps up on us gradually, once we recognize its presence; feed purchases must be carefully considered and planned , with economics rather than expediency the key issue.

Working Manager? One of my feedlot clients once stated, " There is no such thing as a working manager." If you are involved in the day to day work you will not have the time to manage. This is never more true than on ranches. When you must deal with immediate problems, gradual/incremental situations like drought can slip up on you. The result is a strong desire for a quick fix.

The reality is that drought planning requires careful planning and wholesale management changes. But when there are calves to brand, hay to cut, wells to pull, etc., we really don't want to divert our attention long enough to focus on the big issue.

Drought planning requires moving cattle, culling and selling cattle, as well as early weaning -- all difficult in terms of both decision making as well as implementation. Rather than make these major decisions, buying feed as a short term alternative is much easier. The reality is that purchasing feed is never a solution in itself. If the feed is used to grow heifers or other calves in order to reserve pasture for cows; the feed is part of a management plan. If, however, the feed is used to maintain cows, that is not planning, but gambling. We are betting the drought will end soon. Unlike conventional gambling, however, we don't stand to win anything. If the drought breaks soon, we only lose less. ©