Stretching Hay Reserves is Critical during this “Flash Drought”

Nicolas DiLorenzo, UF/IFAS Cattle Nutrition Specialist, North Florida Research and Education Center-Marianna

How Bad is It?

A combination of effects including very dry weather, and high temperatures have created what the climate experts call a “flash drought” in the Southeastern U.S. While we have had some of these “flash drought” experiences before, this one seems to be unique in terms of how fast it has developed, and how rapidly it intensified in mid-September. The most recent U.S. Drought Monitor (Figure 1) places several counties in North Florida/South Georgia in the “Severe Drought” category for this week. To further illustrate the point, data from the Florida Automated Weather Network (FAWN) station in Marianna, shows a total of 1.1 inches of rain in the last 50 days. Needless to say, we do not have any forages that can sustain adequate growth to feed livestock with such limited soil moisture.

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Feeding Hay Early

As a result of a drastic shortage of forage, many producers in the region are now tapping into their winter hay reserves much earlier than normal, which means that the chances of running out of forage reserves this winter are quite high. In most cases (for example at the University of Florida-NFREC) those hay reserves were just baled in the last few weeks, and the possibility of a last cutting this fall are rapidly drifting away, further reducing winter hay reserves.  Figure 2 shows a typical non-irrigated bahiagrass pasture at the UF/IFAS NFREC-Marianna Beef Unit on September 25, where despite the lenient stocking rate, little grass is available for the cattle herd, so hay is already being fed.

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What to do to Stretch Hay Reserves?

Now is the time to intervene to stretch hay reserves to avoid paying high commodity and hay prices later this winter, or paying the ultimate price of losing cow body condition later in the season. Cattle prices are still high and not showing signs of drastic reduction in the near future.  Having an open cow because of poor nutrition is not a good strategy in today’s market. Some forecasts show cattle prices peaking in 2026, due to tight cattle supplies, because the national herd that is rebuilding at a slow pace. Thus, now is the time to make those key management decisions that can carry the operation through the winter.  Stretching the current hay supply will be a key management strategy to avoid purchasing expensive hay in low supply later this winter. Hay supplies will get tighter in the Southeast, no question about it.

Here are some simple management strategies that can help stretch the hay supply with relatively low investment:

• While this may sound like a broken record, there is no better time than now, during a drought, to emphasize the need to test your hay. A good hay test can provide the basis for a supplementation program that meets nutrient demand at the lowest possible cost. The UF Hay Balancer is a decision-aid tool developed by the Panhandle Ag Extension Team to help producers to minimize supplemental costs when feeding primarily hay. Starting from a basic hay test (i.e., crude protein and energy) a producer can figure out the cost of the supplemental commodity feed needed to meet the requirements of a cow.
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• Cull cows. The market is still strong and with cull cows bringing at the very least $1,500, it is almost a no-brainer that there is no better time to cull a cow than now.
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• Limit-feed hay by restricting access to it. While this can be labor intensive, it is a strategy that pays off. Limit the time available for cattle to a certain pasture or feed is often used very successfully to make more efficient use of the forage. Studies and anecdotal evidence suggest that when cattle learn that the time of exposure to a certain feed or pasture is limited, they change their behavior to make a more efficient use of their grazing/eating time. Restricting cattle access to hay to between 6 and 8 hours per day can reduce waste. When using this strategy to stretch hay resources, one of the most important aspects is to make sure all cattle have plenty of access to hay or forage at the same time. For the case of hay, making sure there are sufficient hay bales, rings or any other holding structures is paramount to avoid competition and added stress.
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• Consider structures that can help minimize hay waste. Figure 3 shows diverse hay feeding structures that generate different amounts of hay waste. Notice the amount of hay on the ground around the three feeders.  Once cows have tromped on it, it will not be consumed.  Now may be the time to invest in some of those structures that minimize hay feeding waste, which can be as much as 40% in some studies. Anecdotal evidence at NFREC, based on testing different structures, shows that the cone type feeders can help minimize hay waste significantly. However, David Thomas, Beef Unit Manager, has learned that if cone feeders are used to feed hay, you should avoid combining it with other structures, such as hay rings or trailers. Cone feeders reduce hay waste in part because it requires more work from cattle to get the hay out of the ring. If other structures are available in the same pasture, cattle will spend more time eating out of the “easier access” ones, with higher waste. Bottom-line: if using cone feeders in a pasture, make sure no other structures are available to feed hay.

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Take Home Message

Now, in the middle of this sudden and intense drought, is the time to make management decisions to stretch the forage resources intended to be used in the winter. Simple strategies such as culling unproductive cows and investing in hay-feeding structures can make a difference. As said many times before, testing your hay is a cost-effective way to minimize expenditures in commodity feeds intended to balance hay-based feeding programs. Contact your local Extension Agriculture Agent for help on how to use decision-aid tools designed to balance hay-based diets. Finally, feeding structures can go a long way in helping reduce hay feeding waste. Consider some of those structures as a timely investment. Some excellent resources have been developed by the Panhandle Ag Extension Team in terms of minimizing round bale hay waste and those can be of great help in stretching hay resources during this particular drought.