Having a good summer pasture management plan can save you many headaches later on. It will allow you to put out potential fires, not literally, before they occur.
As the days begin getting longer, now is the time to get that plan figured out and put into place. Early planning not only helps you stay ahead of potential issues but also gives you a sense of control over the unpredictable variations that can occur. Don’t wait till the last minute on this one; start now and feel prepared.
During this time, your pastures will be the base for all of your cattle’s nutritional needs. While they may be able to meet all of their demands now, that may not be the case in a couple of months. As anyone who has been involved in ranching will tell you, the weather can change you on a dime. What was once lush and green can turn brown and nonperforming in a matter of a couple of weeks.
But with some foresight, you can be ahead of the curve when it comes to anything the weather throws at you. I have compiled four steps that you can take to plan out your summer pasture management needs.
Have a fly and pest control plan.
You may have noticed that flies and other pests have started to come out in force now that the weather has warmed. These pests can be a drain on your cow nutritionally, affecting their overall well-being. By implementing a fly and pest control plan, you’re not just managing a problem; you’re showing care and responsibility toward your cattle’s health.
For example, studies have shown that as few as 200 flies can reduce the overall weaning weights of your calves by around 40 lbs. 200 flies may seem like many flies, but that would only be the amount you could cover with just your hand.
In order to get ahead of this potential problem, you will have to have the timing right. Typically, your fly prevention plan should, depending on where you are, run from about March to October. The length can change depending on when the cold weather shows up in your part of the world.
The general rule of thumb is that you need to start putting out an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR), a type of pesticide that disrupts the life cycle of insects, 30 days before the last freeze of winter to be effective. Where I am here in West Texas, that would go along with the beginning of March timeline. Then, you need to keep feeding the IGR until 30 days after the first freeze of fall. It is crucial that you provide this the entire time because the fly’s life cycle is short.
If you are interested in learning more strategies to control flies, then check out my previous article, “How do you control flies in cattle?”.
Always have fresh, clean water in your pasture.
Water intake is very important year-round, but especially during the summer. As the temperature increases, cattle will need to consume more to maintain production.
Research from the highly reputable University of Nebraska at Lincoln shows that cattle need about one gal per 100 lbs of body weight during regular times of the year. That number can double during the summer to around 2-3 gals per 100 lbs. So, having water for your cattle to drink can be very important.
Having the right amount of sources for your cattle to be able to drink from is also essential. It has been shown that cattle tend to graze less than 600-900ft from a water source. So unless you want them to focus on only one pasture area, you will need to have water troughs throughout your place.
Suppose you have to either put in new or replace any damaged ones. The type of trough that you choose also matters. When going with a trough, make sure it is made of a material that lasts at least ten years. Ones made of concrete are good to go with and are a popular choice in many range conditions.
It would be best if you placed the trough on a pad to prevent erosion or the trough from turning into a giant mud hole. The pad should be made of concrete or gravel and 6 to 8 feet in radius.
Develop a flexible pasture supplement plan.
This step is essential because forages alone will only provide some of the nutrients that your cattle will need throughout the summer. As grasses mature into late summer, their protein, energy, and mineral content will all decrease.
When grass values start to drop, adding protein tubs or supplementing cubes is one way to “fill the gaps.” Suppose you are interested in learning more about the value of protein tubs. In that case, check out my previous article, “Are protein tubs good for cattle?”
If you have spring-calving cows, their nutritional demands will increase during this time. Nutrient demand increases because the cow will have a calf nursing at its side, and if you are successful, one will grow inside her at this time.
The reason you will need your supplement plan to be flexible is because of uncertainty. You may not know what the conditions will be over the next few months. Keeping it flexible will allow you to “roll with the punches” as the needs arise.
Give access to the supplement early.
Once you have your supplement program planned out, it will be beneficial to you to start putting it out early. Providing supplements before they are needed will allow you to get ahead of any drop in nutrition intake you may come across.
From a production and economic standpoint, it is only a good idea for them to show signs of deficiency. However, that is not a good idea because by the time they are visibly deficient, they are so behind that it will cost over twice as much to get them back to where they were.
Include providing shade in your summer pasture management plan.
Having a cool spot where your cattle can ‘hang out‘ during hot summer days is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Just like us, they need a break from the heat. By providing shade, you’re not just managing your pasture; you’re showing empathy and consideration for your cattle’s comfort.
Providing shade does not have to be overly complex or expensive. It can be like having a group of trees they can get under. If you want something more elaborate, then having a three-sided building is something that you can look into.
Whichever option you go with, it must have good airflow. Without any airflow, temperatures, even in the shade, can reach 40 degs higher than the outside temperature.
