Cattle dry season management

• Monitoring cattle condition is critical for calculating the correct amount of supplementary feeding and the formulation of rations.  
• Energy requirements for breeders are highest during the latter stages of pregnancy and in early lactation. Fat reserves are critical for growth, reproduction, and lactation. 
• Cattle, particularly pregnant stock, should be maintained at condition score 3 (out of a 5-point scoring system) to avoid any complications at calving. 
• It is advised to condition score stock, and manage accordingly. Check out the demonstration of this process from Angus Australia. 

An animal's nutritional requirement will vary according to their growth stage and physiological state. Feed budgets will be different for yearling cattle, heifers or adult, late pregnant cows, cows with calves and bulls.  

• Feed supplies, particularly hay, grain and pellets are in short supply, with the wait for pellets exceeding 4 weeks at some distributors. It is critical to feed budget and organise a supply of supplementary feeding. 
• A feed analysis is the only accurate way to determine the value of the feed being offered to your cattle. 
• Key figures to know are energy, protein, fibre, and dry matter of the feed. With this information, feed budgets can be made simply utilising online feed budget tools. 
• Compare the feed costs based on the component you are buying the feed for – energy, protein, or fibre. Plan for feed costs to rise as availability declines. 
• Segregate cows according to calving time and differentially feed. 
• Maximum daily dry matter intake will limit the amount of roughage an animal can consume. A balanced ration will need to include pellets to ensure energy demands are met. 
• To avoid any mineral deficiencies and related disease, ensure minerals are supplied through lick blocks or provided in feed. 

Feeding grains

• Feeding grains such as oats or barley may be an alternative option if hay supply is limited.  
• Managing the transition is important and the introduction of any new feed option needs to be gradual. A sudden introduction of feed will disrupt the microbes in the rumen, and may result in grain overload, acidosis or grain poisoning. Ensure a good quality source of hay or silage is always available and that it makes up at least 20% of the ration (unless feeding a complete ration where the roughage and grain are mixed). 
• Introduce oats/barley to cattle by starting with 500 g per head per day, followed by increases of 500 g per head every 4th day until the required ration is reached.  
• To transition to wheat or barley from oats, increase the wheat or barley portion by 25% of the oat ration every 5 days over 16 days. For example, if the current oat ration is 500 g, start by adding 125 g of wheat or barley to every 375 g of oats.  
• Lupin seed is another option but should be cracked to increase digestibility when fed to cattle. 

Below are some examples of the quantities required to provide a full ration to different classes of cattle. Consider how much feed is required per day for your herd, and the length of time feeding may be required. Scenario plan for different breaks to the season and source extra feed early where you determine there is a shortfall between feed stocks on hand and cattle requirements. View Agriculture Victoria’s Drought feeding and management of beef cattle – A guide for farmers and land managers – see table 6.5 Quantities for full hand feeding (kg/hd/day) for common classes of stock. 

Alternative feed

• In dry times, when normal feed sources are scarce and feed prices increased, producers may look at alternative feeds for cattle.
• Unusual feedstuffs can pose a higher risk due to chemical residues, toxicity and contaminants, and producers should have feed analysed as quality and nutritional value can vary greatly.
• Read more on alternative energy and protein feed sources for sheep and cattle. Agriculture Victoria's Drought Feeding and Management of Cattle publication also covers a range of these unusual feeds, including nutritional content and considerations for feeding. 

Feeding sites

• When pasture availability is low and ground cover reduces exposing the bare ground and soil, sand ingestion can become a lot more prevalent.  
• While not always avoidable, feeding livestock in sandy areas can lead to ingestion, which disrupts the normal rumen function and in severe cases can result in death. To limit the amount of sand ingested, it is recommended to utilise lick feeders, troughs and hay racks.   
• Elevating feed results in greater feed efficiency as the feed is not lost in sand and dirt. This also limits spoilage caused from animal compaction and defecation. 

• Budget your water early, this may become your most limited resource. Based on experience, consider how much water is available, how much water stock will require and keep evaporation in mind. 

• Have a water plan that considers the worst-case scenarios. 

• Small dams are inefficient water stores, especially with high rates of evaporation. Water quality may decline quickly with high levels of salt and animal manure.  

• Continue monitoring water quantity and quality.