As pastures continue to recover from drought, some producers who traditionally pasture their cattle are considering feeding cow-calf pairs in confinement. Drylotting can be a feasible way to allow pasture recovery while feeding grain, forage and crop stover pairs.
Source: Angus Beef Bulletin Extra, August 23, 2023. Link. Here are a few things to keep in mind if intending to drylot cows:
- Feeding whole corn works better than rolled corn when daily forage intake is at 0.5% of body weight.
- Mineral can be either mixed into the feed or fed free-choice.
- Feeding cattle in a drylot increases the production life of older, broken-mouth cows.
- A smaller, confined area allows for easier health checks of cattle.
INSIGHTS: This article provides veterinary teams in drought-stricken areas a reason to have a proactive conversation with producers. Consider it for newsletters, social media posts or a targeted email campaign followed by a phone call.