It's been hot and dry for a prolonged time in many parts of Texas. Our place is not considered overstocked with 42 cows, 3 bulls, and 12 yearling heifers on about 95 acres of well-fertilized hay and pasture land for a normal rainfall year, but this year is not normal. Spring rainfall was adequate to produce 1.5 cuttings of round bale grass hay and 4 cuttings of alfalfa to almost refill the 50 x 100 ft hay barn with what was fed last winter, but then the spotty showers began missing here. Today we made the difficult decision to sell all our calves except 8 of the best looking Brangus heifers three months earlier than normal because the grass, although it is staying green, is not growing. There will be no vac-45 weaning for a special calf sale this year. I put out rb grass hay Friday, at least two months earlier than normal, and the cows are eating it. If it doesn't rain soon, we will have to cull more of the cows.
Plans are to plant about 50 acres of cereal rye and oats in October and 8 acres of ryegrass in the alfalfa (taking it out after 5 seasons) in September as soon as we receive adequate moisture for germination and growth, but that will be a while before it is ready for grazing. Since I'm relatively new at cattle management going into a drought, how do you well-experienced guys handle this kind of situation?
Managing Cow Herd Going into Drought
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