The drought throughout this year, combined with the heat, has had a terrible effect on the ranches in this area. Many ranchers have already began selling livestock because they know they will be unable to support them throughout the winter. Others are planning on when to sell their cattle or horses. During the drought, both grass quality and water quality has decreased. Also, the lack of hay from the drought is the biggest factor in selling the livestock. Many ranchers are able to support their cattle throughout the summer from grass still left from the previous year, but are unable to buy the expensive hay used to feed cattle during the winters in this region. Hay is no exception to the rule of supply and demand. With a small hay crop throughout the country, the price of hay has skyrocketed!
Many pastures with decent grass are unusable due to no water or boggy water in the dams. Animals often get stuck in boggy watering holes and would die if not pulled out of the dam. Pastures with these type of watering holes are normally checked everyday to avoid losing livestock. Ranchers often fence dams like these out so the animals are made to go to another dam in the pasture, which is not dangerous. Some ranchers may haul tankers full of water to these watering holes if they have no other options. This can be very expensive and is an everyday task, especially on scalding hot days.
How much water to large animals have to consume in the current heat conditions? Do many ranchers have water tankers they can use when needed, or do they have to buy or rent those when the need arises?
ReplyDeleteHow many bales of hay did you get this year compared to last year?
ReplyDeleteThere is also now the problem of high nitrate levels in many feeds for cattle.. How do you think this will effect ranchers, who have to wait for the first freeze to be able to use these hign nitrate feeds? Will the run out of pasture to graze their animals?
ReplyDeleteThis drought it aweful! The hay prices this year have over doubled, compared to last year. For example, last year we bought hay for about 70 dollars a ton. This year, it is at least 150 a ton. It is crazy and very sad that everyone is selling their livestock.
ReplyDeleteThis drought is causing my dad and I to sell all of our cattle because hay is outrageous. Are you going to have to downsize?
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ReplyDeleteit's sad! we need lifestock, honestly i'm nice to all animals. i don't ever want to see animals suffer in anyway, i almost start crying watching the cattle pass me in a semi truck. i hope this drought ends soon!!!
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