Wildfire recovery - Emergency cattle nutrition strategies
USAgNet - 03/05/2024
Wildfires can devastate grazing lands, leaving ranchers scrambling to provide for their livestock. Experts from Oklahoma State University offer vital stop-gap strategies to support cattle nutrition in the absence of natural forage. Emphasizing resilience, these approaches focus on limit feeding to prevent digestive issues and make the most of scarce hay resources.
Creep Feed Strategy - Initially, low-protein, low-starch commercial feeds can bridge the gap. Feeding about 0.6% of body weight daily helps minimize weight loss without risking digestive upset. This method is a temporary fix, recommended for four to five days until hay becomes available.
Limited Hay with Creep Feed - When some hay is accessible, pairing very limited hay with about 1% body weight in concentrate feed like creep feed can stretch resources. This balanced approach ensures nutritional needs are met while conserving hay.
Both strategies require careful daily feeding to prevent stress and maintain health. Additionally, mineral supplements are crucial for balancing the diet, especially calcium to counteract high phosphorus levels in concentrates. Clean, freshwater availability is also paramount.
Adopting these emergency feeding practices can help ranchers navigate the challenging period following a wildfire, ensuring their cattle remain healthy until pasturelands recover. Collaboration with feed professionals and extension educators is advised to tailor these strategies to specific herd needs.
- US ethanol production dips to seasonal low
- USDA boosts clean energy with $238 million investment
- Optimizing needle practices for healthier cattle
- New USDA school meal standards boost child nutrition
- Bioinformatics revolutionizes animal science
- Bayer partners with AlphaBio to launch innovative bioinsecticide by 2028
- Bird flu crisis hits US farms - Urgent biosecurity measures needed
