Despite the time and equipment costs, growing your own feed can be a powerful strategy. It allows you to maintain an inventory, reducing the risk of short supplies and protecting you from seasonal price fluctuations. Moreover, it empowers you to tailor energy and protein production to match your herd’s feed requirements, giving you a strong sense of control and confidence in your operations.
However, despite all of this, there is still the risk of the weather turning against you. Weather events in the weeks, days, and even hours leading up to the harvest can ruin your best efforts. They can transform a carefully raised feed source into a nutritional time bomb. If you are not careful, they can reduce your production and endanger your animals’ lives.
Times of extreme stress, like during a drought, can cause a build-up of nitrates. While consuming some of them is not bad for your animals, if they eat too much, it can become deadly. Here are some things to look for to prevent this from happening.
Drought can be devastating. Forages stop producing, making it difficult for ranchers to make food. Drought can make things seem bleak.
Destocking is a prevalent practice during a drought. It is rarely easy and will still cost you most of the time. However, drought is a common consequence of ranching, so it will still need to be done. It is important to include plans for when droughts occur so producers are always prepared.
