Alternative Feeds for Beef Cattle During Periods

Drought is a frequent challenge to beef producers, and many operations would benefit from developing a better drought management plan. Producers should be constantly aware of their pasture conditions, stored forage supplies, animal feed demand, and long-term weather forecasts. The recent widespread drought across the Southern U.S. has led to large harvested forage shortages, depressed local cattle prices, and along with other factors, has resulted in high supplemental feed prices. As part of a drought management plan, beef producers should consider emergency feeding programs based on underutilized roughage materials or limit-fed high concentrate rations. While these emergency feeding programs will lead to significant management challenges for most producers, securing the necessary feed supply and planning efficient delivery of the feed to the cattle early in the drought can result in a costeffective approach to drought survival.