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Beef
Cattle Management - Effects
of Fire and Drought on Range Plants and Management
Key
Points
1.
Generally there are two options for meeting the nutrient
requirements of cattle on burnt-over pastures (a)
provide supplemental feed to ensure the herd has adequate
energy, protein, vitamins and minerals, and (b) reduce
the nutrient requirements of the cow to a point where
they can be met with available forage.
2.
Blue-green algae and other cautions can be hazardous
to livestock. Active assessment and management of
these conditions is crucial.
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| By
John Paterson, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, Montana
State University. |
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Drought
or fire is a serious obstacle to successful range livestock
management. Producers must understand how these impacts affect
plants, grazing animals and livestock management and what
options exist.
Fire
is like overuse all at once, and recovery can be rather fast.
Drought, if it is prolonged, can deplete root reserves and
inhibit root growth.
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A
drought or fire may require that livestock numbers be reduced
according to forage supply. Retaining a rotational grazing
system during these impacts is recommended over continuous
grazing because periodic rest helps plants maintain vigor.
Concentrating more animals into a single herd is recommended
over having several smaller herds because by having more animals
in a pasture, the entire pasture will be grazed more uniformly,
and more use will be made of the less-preferred plants. Other
options include grazing crested wheat grass earlier and longer
than normal, because it is one of the plants most tolerant
of grazing.
Keep alert
for opportunities such as leasing land instead of buying feed.
The producers who survive best during drought or after a fire
are those who adopt sound management and financial plans and
review them regularly. They make firm decisions and act quickly
and early. |
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