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Show Because of statewide drought 'Clouds of danger' hangs over cows LOGAN There are "clouds of danger" hanging over Utah cows as a result of a statewide drought that has pushed forage production below normal, said two Utah State University professors. Extreme dry conditions in many areas of Utah have created a feed stress that came after most cows had conceived, said James A. Bennett, animal science emeritus professor, and Norris J. Stenquist, Extension animal scientist Bennett said many of these pregnant cows are now thin enough to make them highly vulnerable. From now until calving, in order to nourish the developing fetus, he said the nutritional needs of a cow accelerate. "Most of these cows will carry their calves to term, but clouds of danger will be hanging over them," he said. One of the dangers of underweight cows at calving is greater difficulty in delivering the calf. Bennett said under these stressful conditions, the chances of the cow's dying during the birthing process increases. As well, most of the surviving calves will be smaller and less vigorous. "This combined with more difficulty at birth will bring higher death loss in calves and more surviving calves will be poor doers," he said. "More cows, especially first time calvers, will not claim their calves. Stenquist said that while these problems present serious economic repercussions reper-cussions to ranchers, the greatest hazard associated with thin cows is reproduction. re-production. The thin cows, after calving, will go "all out physiologically to adequately ade-quately nourish their calves. Location requirements receive high priority and are next in line after the cow maintains the vital functions associated with keeping herself alive, he said. "In order for the cow not to self-destruct, nature has provided that such cows will not re-breed," he said. "They do not cycle, do not come in heat, while under this nutritional stress." He said many thin cows, particularly heavy milkers, may not cycle until after the calf is weaned. "This, of course, is an economic disaster." Bennett said ranchers should not assume that if a great flush of grass comes in spring following calving, or that if they supplement and increase feeds prior to and during calving, that reproductive problems can be avoided. avoid-ed. "Research has shown that this is too late," he said. "Cows need to be brought up to the desired condition level at least 90 days before calving." Young cows and thin ones cannot compete against strong, mature cows for supplemental concentrates or hay, he said. The herd should be divided by age and condition into two groups and fed accordingly. "Many feeds and feed combinations can be used to provide a suitable diet for thin cows," he said. "Adequacy and economy are the two things that need to be stressed. Your USU Extension livestock specialist can help you with this." Stenquist said another important area that should be considered is vitamin vit-amin and mineral nutrition. Under dry conditions, Vitamin A may not be available in sufficient amounts. This vitamin requirement can be met from the Vitamin A content of the feed, if it is adequate. If it is not, he said a supplement containing Vitamin A should be considered It can also be injected. in-jected. He said minerals are also important Phosphorus is usually the first limiting mineral in beef cattle nutrition. Most roughage feeds fed to beef cattle are high in calcium and low in phosphorus. |