From the Barns: Pastures are hurting

I guess I bragged too much in last month’s report about having ample moisture, because the spigot sure turned off. In the past 40 days, we have only received a mere 0.7 inches of rain and that was first part of August. It certainly has dried up in a hurry and pastures are showing the ill effects of that. We have had some hot days, but for the most part temperatures have been moderate, so it could have been worse. Unfortunately, no rain is in the forecast for the upcoming week.

As I stated, these pastures are really hurting. We have been rotationally grazing the sudangrass and it has provided us with a lot of grazing. We have 20 acres of that with some decent forage left that we will turn in on tomorrow, but what we have been grazing off is just not coming back like it was, what with these arid conditions. The sudangrass is somewhat drought tolerant, but nothing is totally unaffected by lack of rain and it, too, is showing some vulnerability.

We may have to start supplementing some of these pasture cattle, either with the total mixed ration, the TMR, or begin feeding hay. We did preweaning vaccinations on 90 head of calves recently and they will be ready to wean next week. That will help somewhat with this short grass situation. The heifers and cows that are just now calving, though, will be the ones to be most concerned with and they will no doubt need some groceries if this problem doesn’t turn around.

Speaking of, fall calving is underway and last report I got says we have close to 30 calves on the ground. Still over 100 to go and hoping that we can maintain a close watch and that all goes well. We also have to keep a close watch out for anaplasmosis this time of year, especially on these younger fall calving cows, which seem to be the most vulnerable. We have been feeding chlortetracycline through the free choice mineral, always hoping that it helps us prevent and head off this annual problem.

We have been and continue to be spending a lot of time and effort working on the numerous Environmental Quality Incentives Program practices we have under contract. Laying water lines, concrete pads and heavy use areas for watering stations, building fences for rotational grazing, a new waterway with a stream crossing and underground water outlets, terraces built in another field and, of course, the seeding and mulching that goes along with those — that is part of the long list of projects that are underway.

Some completed and some not quite done. We have made a commitment to being conservation minded and these works are proof of that — striving to reduce erosion and runoff, improving soil health and improving our grazing capabilities. Hoping that it is all successful and accomplishes the goals we had in mind.

The other day we preg checked 130 heifers. Only had 20 head open, so we were very pleased with those results. David had bought himself an ultrasound machine and with the help of our local vet, Dr. Stuart Anderson, is in training to learn how to call pregnancies. At that time, we vaccinated and dewormed the heifers and for the open ones, tagged and implanted and placed in the feedlot to be fed out. Also got some other cattle that need to be pulled into the feedlot, processed and started on feed, as well. Just have to try and work that into the schedule best we can.

Later this week, we will be hosting the Illinois Grazing Lands Coalition school and hoping for a successful and worthwhile time for all those who will be attending. Until next month, let’s all pray for rain and a safe start to fall.