News Releases

Agronomic Crops

Drought Information for Central and South Alabama Row Crops May 24, 2007

2007 Drought Report May 30, 2007

Animal Sciences and Forages

Alternatives to Hay for Horses

Dealing with Drought--A Quick Guide for Beef Cattle Producers

Drought Can Affect Horses' Health

Drought Forces Farmers To Stretch Hay Supplies

Drought Sales of Livestock

Drought-Stricken Forages May Be Target of Insect Pests

Drought Will Force Farmers to Make Tough Selection Decisions

Evaluating Summer Weather Conditions for Horses

Goat Production and Drought

Making Silage from Drought-Stressed Corn

Options For Emergency Forage Production

Preventing Hyperthermia in Horses

The Drought Induced Cattle Dilemma: Keep or Sell Feeder Calves

Reminders for Cattle Producers

Water Needs of Horses

Forestry, Wildlife and Natural Resources

Drought Affects Timber Harvesting And Wood Inventories

Thirsty Wild Animals May Not Be Welcome

Home Grounds, Gardens and Home Pests

Drought Resistant Plants

Gardeners Dealing with Drought

Drought Information for Central and South Alabama Row Crops

May 24, 2007

Dr. Dale Monks

Extension Cotton Agronomist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

We recently have had several questions concerning whether to dust cotton in with the ongoing drought. A statewide row crops report from our REAs, CECs and specialists including state and regional updates will be posted next week at the following ACES Web site: http://www.aces.edu/issues/drought/

Ultimately, the question about what to do this season must be answered by the producers since they are the ones who know their financial situation, soil type, moisture status, seed return policy and production limitations. A few weeks ago, some producers were waiting for rain to finish planting, and it seemed like a toss-up compared to dusting it in. Having received no more rainfall since then makes putting seed into the ground an even more difficult decision. Up-to-date rainfall information for specific sites can be obtained at http://www.awis.com/mesonet/ and at http://www.ag.auburn.edu/xfer/alabamacotton/ddinformation.html. In addition, soil moisture status for the nation can be viewed using the following map:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/soilmst/.

Producers need to check with their seed company and technology provider (i.e., Monsanto) to see what type of drought provisions have been made concerning this planting season. If cotton seed truly is dusted in and does not have enough moisture to swell, it can remain viable for several weeks until rainfall occurs. As we saw last season in southern counties with a high-yielding full season variety, late rains still can result in a reasonable crop given favorable fall conditions. Dr. Steve Brown, University of Georgia cotton agronomist, posted a newsletter article on this at the following site in mid-May

http://commodities.caes.uga.edu/fieldcrops/cotton/ReasonableApproachesWithDryLandCotton.pdf

Some producers will be dusting cotton seed in order to plant before the crop insurance deadlines. Other producers are waiting until they get rainfall since the crop will not emerge until that time anyway. Those who wait also may have an option to plant soybeans since prices have remained strong. Again, this is a difficult decision based on a lot of variables, some of which only are known by the producer. Therefore, broad, sweeping statements about what someone should or should not do are difficult to make at this point in the season. Having said that, producers must know all they can about their crop insurance by contacting their representatives before deciding to delay planting past the deadline dates. Dr. Bob Goodman, Extension agricultural economist, recommended the following site from USDA-RMA:

http://www.rma.usda.gov/FTP/Policies/2005/crops/PDF/05brbasi34.pdf

The fastest way to get to the “prevented planting” information at this site is to do a search using the PDF function. Drought status for the nation can be viewed as it has developed over the past 12 weeks at the following site: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

To quote information from the Web site, “The Southeast and Mid-Atlantic: The cooler temperatures last week helped, but essentially all of these two regions were bone dry (except for the southern tip of FL), again with the only significant rains being confined to the southern tip of Florida. This is simply not enough to stave off, or reverse, the persistent drought that is now taking hold on the region as summer approaches. This has led to the slow but steady expansion of D1, D2 and D3 into more of central Tennessee and D1 pushing into southeastern Kentucky. In North Carolina, D1 has spread east to the coast as recent rains haven’t been enough to overcome the dryness and deficits that now extend back to the start of the year. All of Alabama is now in at least D1 this week, and D2/D3 is spreading over more of the Florida Panhandle. Many locales in northern Florida are running precipitation deficits on the year between 8 to 10 inches or more, which is only 40 to 60 percent of normal. Fire danger remains very high over most of the region. In Georgia, the drought situation continues to worsen quickly as well with all of the state in D2 except for the border counties between Georgia and South Carolina. In addition, D3 has spread across most of the northwestern and southern reaches of the state. Soil moisture reserves are hurting badly at most depths for most areas. According to a drought statement issued by the Georgia State Climate Office this week, all but six counties are in severe or extreme drought, and record to near-record low stream flows are being reported all over the state with groundwater levels already falling to levels normally seen in the dry fall season. USDA this week shows 79 percent of pasture and range land across the state being in poor or very poor condition. The fire danger is very high across the state as well.”

If the Alabama Cooperative Extension System can be of service, do not hesitate to call on us through your local county office, regional office or university contact, which can be found at http://www.aces.edu/counties/

TOP OF PAGE

2007 Drought Report

May 30, 2007

The Crops Team of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System

The end of the month of May marks the end of the planting season and crop insurance deadlines in much of Alabama for cotton and, where applicable, peanuts. In addition, the 2007 corn crop should be well on its way to maturity. Time remains where soybeans planted in good growing conditions can be expected to produce a normal yield; however, 71 percent of the state’s soybeans already have been planted, which is ahead of the long-term average.

http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/Alabama/Publications/Crop_Progress_&_Condition

The Agronomic Crops Team of the Alabama Cooperative Extension System has taken this time to comment on the condition of the 2007 crop and to project possible outcomes for this difficult season.

For the state as a whole, one word applies—drought. Many areas of the state did not receive measurable precipitation in May. Up-to-date rainfall information for specific sites can be obtained at the following sites: http://www.awis.com/mesonet/ and http://www.ag.auburn.edu/xfer/alabamacotton/ddinformation.html. In addition, soil moisture status for the nation can be viewed using the following map:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/soilmst/

The overall condition of Alabama row crops is poor. Corn, the first crop planted in the spring, has suffered from frost and drought. Yield prospects at this point are very poor for dryland corn. While the USDA Crop Condition Report has cotton planting at about 80 percent complete, roughly half of the state’s cotton was “dusted in,” planted in soil without adequate moisture to germinate the seeds. This cotton, representing about half of the state’s acreage, is especially at risk. If these fields receive enough rain to swell the seeds but not enough to allow the cotton to emerge, the plants will die. If the rain packs the soil surface so that a crust forms that the plants cannot penetrate, the plants will die. Both cotton and peanut planting have virtually ceased as of this writing because of dry soil to a depth of 8 to 10 inches across the state.

Alabama is a very diverse state agronomically, and some parts of the state are in much worse shape than other parts. The following summary by regional extension agents, county extension coordinators and crop specialists is the best way to illustrate the impact of this drought.

In the East-Central region, Leonard Kuukendall reports that from Montgomery County northeast to Choccolocco Creek in Talladega County, all the corn, most of the cotton and about 35 percent of the peanuts have been planted. No soybeans have been planted because of lack of soil moisture. About 25 percent of the cotton has emerged and produced a “stand.” Overall, the crop condition is described as very poor due to drought stress.

Rudy Yates reports similar conditions in Alabama’s Black Belt region with the exception that peanut planting is further along. He also reports that water levels in creeks and rivers are very low and that even farmers with irrigation may suffer the effects of drought as the failing water supplies prevent pumping.

Further north, in West-Central Alabama, Warren Griffith reports cotton and soybean planting 80 percent completed, but the corn crop is small for its age and is yellowing with a lot of leaf curl because of lack of water. Warren further reports that cotton emergence has been spotty, that the emerged plants have suffered heavy thrips pressure and that some plants actually have died after emergence, an extremely rare event.

In the Sand Mountain area, David Derrick reports that the corn is wilted every morning by 9 a.m., and that about 10 more days without rain will “finish this crop.” He reports that farmers have stopped sidedressing fertilizer on the corn to cut their losses. Cotton planting is nearly complete at 90 percent, but the area received between 0.2 and 0.4 inches of rain, which has been enough to sprout the seeds but not enough to produce a viable plant. Also, cotton less than 2 inches tall is wilting in the daytime heat. Farmers stopped planting soybeans still an important crop in this area about 2 weeks ago with only 60 percent of the crop planted.

In Northwest Alabama, Heath Potter and Tim Reed report that most corn is about waist high and is twisting up on weaker and marginal land. Farmers in the area who can irrigate have been irrigating for 3 weeks. In fact, some farmers had to irrigate corn for 10 days before the Easter freeze event just to get corn up. He also reports that the cotton that has been planted is small with very few true leaves. Heavy insect pressure from false chinch bugs and thrips has caused farmers to spray more than usual, but the cotton has not shown severe drought symptoms to this point. Soybean planting has begun, but one farmer with 300 acres planted reported that he wished they were still in the bag. The farmer is quoted as saying, “We have ragged stands on what has been planted and severe drought symptoms are beginning to show up. At this time we will not consider planting soybeans behind our wheat without rain.” Another farmer reported he was unable to plant soybeans following wheat cut for hay because the ground was too hard for the planter to penetrate the surface. The 2006 drought cut yields to very near 50 percent of normal on dry land crops in this area, so farmers already are strapped financially.

In the central Tennessee Valley, Charles Burmester reports that the NOAA Weather Service records indicate that the area has received 10 inches of rain so far this year, which is 15 inches less than normal. Cotton acreage in the region is estimated to be 45 percent below average, with much cotton having been replaced by corn because of the current price differential between the two crops. Most of the cotton that has been planted is at the 1 to 4 leaf stage, but growth has slowed greatly this week. Thrips pressure has increased making the drought problem worse. Rains have been few and far between. About 75 percent of the corn in the area had to be replanted due to the Easter freeze. That corn is now at the 5 to 7 leaf stage and is showing daily drought stress in the afternoon heat. Soybean planting has stopped in most areas, at about 30 to 40 percent planted, and what has emerged looks about like the cotton—small, with thrips damage.

In the Wiregrass, Jimmy Jones reports very dry conditions. He reports that much of the cotton was “dusted in” and has not had any rainfall since planting but that, in general, the early plantings have emerged. However, no moisture exists in the soil, and the small plants are being attacked by insects, weeds and dry weather. In a nutshell, “We are some 40 inches of rainfall behind at this point for June 2007, and it is showing in everything from fruits to peanuts to pastures. This may be the coming of the worst drought disaster we have seen in 100 years.”

Finally, in the Gulf counties, Richard Petcher, Buck Farrior and Jim Todd report that the drought there is serious but that it does not seem to be as severe, in general, as in other areas of Alabama. Peanuts and cotton are 75 to 80 percent planted and mostly emerged, but “dusting in” is still an issue. Wheat and oats are being harvested with most growers reporting excellent yields. The corn crop is suffering from the drought and heat, but if rains come soon growers still have a chance for normal yields. Some of the remaining cotton and peanut acres likely will be planted with soybeans. Only 10 percent of the 9,000 acre soybean crop is already planted, and most soybeans were to be planted following wheat harvest. Further north in the region, however, the drought is as severe as anywhere in the state. In Butler County, while the corn has been planted and is doing amazingly well, no cotton and peanuts have been planted. There still is some hope of getting the peanuts planted, if rain comes in time, but no cotton likely will be planted this year.

TOP OF PAGE

Alternatives To Hay For Horses

Dr. Cynthia McCall

Extension Horse Specialist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Problems associated with the ongoing drought may tempt horse owners to feed their horses an all-concentrate diet. However, horse owners should remember that a diet without roughage can be detrimental to the horse. A constant fiber source is needed to maintain the “good” bacteria in the horse’s hindgut that break down plant fibers to provide energy for the horse.

The bulk provided by fiber keeps the horse’s digestive tract functioning smoothly decreasing incidence of colic. Horses with adequate fiber exhibit less behavioral problems, such as wood chewing and stall walking, than horses without enough fiber in the diet. The minimum amount of long roughage (hay or pasture) a horse needs is 1 pound of roughage per 100 pounds of body weight each day.

There are feeds other than hay or pasture that can provide roughage for the horse. These feeds are not always more cost-effective than hays, but they usually can be purchased when hay is not readily available. Although many of these feeds can substitute for hay, it is more beneficial to maintain the minimum roughage requirement with hay or pasture and use these feeds to boost the amount of roughage in the horse’s diet.

1)Complete feeds – These are pelleted feeds that have ground hay (usually alfalfa) combined in the pellet. They increase the fiber content of the diet but do not provide the bulk necessary to keep the horse’s digestive tract functioning smoothly.

2)Alfalfa cubes or pellets – Alfalfa pellets are similar to complete feeds. They provide fiber but do not provide the needed bulk. However, alfalfa cubes are long fiber hay pressed into cubes. Cubes will give the horse needed bulk in its intestines. There have been infrequent reports of horses choking on the large cubes, but there is probably no danger for the normal horse.

3)Silage and haylage – Corn silage and haylage can be fed to horses, and they provide fiber and bulk. However, these feeds can result in digestive problems because of the possible presence of molds and other toxic substances. Only high quality silage or haylage should be fed to horses. It may take horses some time to become accustomed to the taste of silage or haylage. Up to one half of the horse’s hay ration can be replaced with silage. Usually 1 pound of hay is equivalent to 3 pounds of silage on a dry matter basis.

4)“HorseHage” – Horsehage is a patented procedure for vacuum packaging high moisture hay. The produce was developed in England and is popular with horse owners there. It is being marketed in the United States and provides bulk to the diet. It can be directly substituted for hay in the diet.

5)Shredded sugar beet pulp – Beet pulp is a by-product of the sugar beet industry and is a popular horse feed in some areas of the United States. It is palatable, relatively high in digestible energy and a good source of fiber and bulk. Beet pulp comes in a dry flake form. When wet, it absorbs a tremendous amount of water, swelling to three to four times its original bulk. Therefore, to prevent serious colic, it must be soaked in water for 8 to 12 hours before feeding it to horses. Beet pulp should be limited to 25 percent of the ration.

6)Citrus pulp – Citrus pulp is the residue of fruit processed for juice. The palatability and feeding value varies with processing conditions, but it can provide bulk to the diet. It is recommended that citrus pulp be limited to 25 percent of the ration.

7)Grain hulls – Cottonseed hulls, peanut hulls, oat hulls and rice mill feed can increase bulk in the horse’s diet. Generally, these feed by-products are not extremely palatable to horses and are low in nutritive value. Peanut hulls are especially susceptible to aflatoxins, which may be poisonous to horses. Hulls should be limited to 10 percent of the total ration.

8)Soybean hulls are the filmy skins covering the beans. Unlike the true grain hulls mentioned above, soyhulls are slightly lower than oats in terms of nutritional value. However, because of their small size, they may not provide the bulk needed by the horse’s digestive tract. Soyhulls often are pelleted, and the unpelleted, loose soyhulls are not recommended because they are hard for most horse owners to handle and tend to blow around in the feeder. Soyhulls are not very palatable to horses, but most horses will eat them mixed with a sweet feed. Limit them to about 50 percent of the diet, and remember that mixing them into a balanced sweet feed destroys the nutritional balance of the sweet feed. This should not be a serious problem for a mature horse at maintenance if you are just feeding it for a short time, such as to meet its energy needs during winter.

9)Ground corn cobs – Corncobs are low in nutritive value but provide a good source of bulk in the horse’s diet when fed coarsely ground.

10)Straw – Straw from cereal grains are lower in nutritive value than hays, but they can be used in horse diets to provide bulk. Straw should be limited to 10 percent of the total ration.

11)Chaff is a mixture of chopped straw and molasses. Like straw, it is a good source of bulk and should be limited to about 10 percent of the total ration.

Many of these feeds are low in nutritive value. Horse owners should realize that they may have to increase the amount of concentrate feed to maintain the horse’s body weight when these feeds are substituted for hay. Because of the generally low nutritive value, these feeds should be fed as a small proportion of the total diet. High levels may prevent the horse from eating enough of the ration to meet its nutrient needs. Before using a new feedstuff, horse owners should consult with an Alabama Cooperative Extension System county agent or a horseman experienced with using the feed. As always, new feeds should be gradually introduced to horse diets to reduce the possibility of colic or laminitis (founder).

TOP OF PAGE

Dealing with Drought

A Quick Guide for Beef Cattle Producers

PDF Version

Drought Facts

• Droughts are normal climate features
• They can happen anywhere and at almost any time
• Drought creates management challenges for both cow-calf and stocker operations
• Widespread drought can affect markets

Develop a Strategy

• Focus on operational long-run sustainability and survival

• Evaluate pastures as well as hay supply and quality
• Determine herd’s nutrient needs
• Estimate supplemental feed requirements
• Evaluate water supplies
• Determine if additional water sources will be needed
• Consider early weaning of calves
• Determine which cattle to cull
• Cull early enough to conserve grass and hay supplies
• Consider custom grazing and retained ownership options

Determine Which Animals to Cull

• Cull all open cattle
• Cull any that are structurally unsound
• Cull based on age
• Cull based on performance

Wean Now

• Put calves on a high-energy, high-protein diet specifically designed for early weaning
• Hand-feed starter diet for 10 to 14 days until feeding up to 4 to 5 pounds per head per day
• Gradually increase to self-feeder as total intake increases
• Manage scours and other diseases
• Use a single diet for best performance through normal weaning age

Advantages of Early Weaning

• Promotes more efficient feed utilization
• Allows more cows to be carried on a limited feed supply
• Results in cheaper gains from excellent feed conversion of early weaned calves
• Reduces herd energy requirements
• Helps cows to cycle earlier and improves rebreeding rates

Disadvantages of Early Weaning

• Calf management and nutrition must be excellent
• Labor, facilities and feed must be available for feeding small calves
• Seedstock cattle must wean within defined age windows for breeds to accept data

Creep Feeding Considerations

• Will improve calf weaning weights
• Is a good option when calf nutritional needs are not being met (poor forage quality)
• Will not greatly reduce pressure on pastures or lactating dams
• Early weaning may be a better alternative when forage supply is limiting
• May or may not be economically feasible depending on feed prices and animal sale prices

Develop Efficient Herd Nutritional Programs

• Divide cattle into feeding groups based on nutrient needs
• Allocate forage/ feed supplies to each group to closely match animal requirements
• Plan nutrition programs considering that feed intake levels may be reduced during hot weather
• Plan use of existing grass and hay to match feeding groups’ needs
• Consider the use of alternative feeds

Bulls

• Younger bulls need less quantity but higher quality diets
• Bulls should begin breeding season in a body condition score 6
• Breeding season activity can reduce body condition
• Target 75 percent of expected mature weight for two-year-old bulls

Females in thin body condition

• Rebreed slower
• Produce less colostrum
• May not have sufficient nutrient reserves for maximum milk production
• Are less likely to wean a live calf

Effectively Use Alternative Feeds for Beef Cattle

• Consider commodity feed price trends and availability
• Compare nutritional values of feedstuffs and economic replacement values
• Understand alternative feed storage, shipping and handling challenges
• Consult a nutritionist on diet formulations and feeding limitations
• Use ionophores and growth promoting implants as appropriate

Manage Your Forages

• Use rotational, limit and strip grazing practices to stretch forage

• Minimize hay storage and feeding losses
• Forage test to accurately match hay supplies to supplementation programs
• Consider designating a sacrifice area for feeding alternative materials to avoid long-term, abusive overgrazing in some fields
• Consider stockpiling bermudagrass and tall fescue to delay hay feeding
• Use annual ryegrass in combination with small grains
• Do not overlook alternative forage crops such as brassicas

Ensure Herd Health

• Hot, dry weather can increase the incidence and severity of common diseases
• Control both internal and external parasites
• Nutritional stress negatively affects immune function
• BQA guidelines are even more important for cattle stressed by drought
• Work with your veterinarian to ensure health

Manage the Heat

• Ensure that water sources are clean and easily accessible
• Provide shade
• Work cattle early in the morning

Nitrate Poisoning Concerns

• Nitrogen fertilization during drought increases risk
• Have forage samples tested for excess nitrate levels
• Corn, bermudagrass, sorghum-sudangrass and pearl millet are susceptible
• Haying or ensiling does not eliminate nitrate problems
• Watch for signs of nitrate poisoning in cattle and treat immediately

Other Cattle Poisoning Concerns

• Scout pastures and hayfields for poisonous plants
• Cattle are more likely to consume poisonous plants when forage is limited
• Quickly recognize and treat signs of poisoning in livestock

Common Poisonous Plants

• Perilla mint (purple mint)
• Oak buds and acorns
• Nightshades
• Bracken fern
• Lantana
• Mountain laurel
• Pokeweed
• Pigweed
• Buckeye (horse chestnut)
• Wild cherry (black cherry)

Adapted from “Mississippi Beef Cattle Producer Quick Reference for Dealing with Drought” and used with permission from Mississippi State University Extension Service

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Can Affect Horses' Health

Dr. Cynthia McCall

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Summer droughts can be rough on horses because of high temperatures, limited water and scarce forages. There are ways to help horses maintain good health despite severe weather.

Evaluate your pastures for grazing potential. If grazing is limited or poor quality, replace it with a good quality roughage such as hay, hay cubes or sugar beet pulp. Horses need a minimum of 1 pound of roughage per 100 pounds of body weight every day to keep their digestive tracts healthy.

Concentrated feeds can be used to provide protein and energy to horses deprived of pasture because of the drought; however, they are not the best replacement for pasture grazing. Concentrated feeds should not comprise more than half of a mature horse's daily diet unless the horse is exercised intensely (e.g. race training, endurance training).

Consider the horses' ages and uses when making decisions about feeding. Young, growing horses, lactating broodmares and geriatric horses should be pastured in those areas with the best grazing or they should be given the highest quality hay. Older horses may have more trouble dealing with drought conditions and may have trouble digesting poor quality forage. Fillies and colts need more nutrients to grow and mature into healthy adult horses. For both younger and older horses, you may want toselect concentrated feeds with higher fat and protein levels to meet their nutritional requirements.

Adequate water is another vital element of horse health during a drought. Ensure your animals have ready access to clean, fresh water. During hot weather, horses may consume 3 to 4 quarts of water for every pound of feed it consumes daily or around 25 gallons of water daily for a 1,200-pound horse. As grazing becomes limited, horses will be more tempted to eat anything that is green. Check your pastures as well as areas around your pastures and barn for poisonous plants. Many of these will survive in dry weather when forage grasses die off. Mow or destroy the weeds or isolate horses from areas where poisonous plants are growing.

If you need more information about poisonous plants, call an Alabama Cooperative Extension System county office. We have an excellent Extension publication on the topic, ANR-975, "Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States.”

Provide plenty of shade for horses to escape the heat of the day. The shade can be natural in the form of stands of trees or man-made run-in sheds.

Avoid riding or working your horses in the heat of the day. Instead, choose early morning or late evenings when temperatures may be more moderate. Watch your horse closely for overheating. Signs of heat stress in horses are depression; off-feed; persistently high temperature, pulse and respiration; increased capillary refill time; dehydration without thirst; an irregular heartbeat; lack of sweating; and hot, dry skin. If you suspect overheating, immediately move the horse to a shady area and hose it off with cool water. Keep the horse moving slowly or stand it in front of a fan to increase evaporative cooling. Then, get veterinary help for the horse.

With some simple management changes and common sense, you can keep your horse healthy and happy during the drought.

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Forces Farmers To Stretch Hay Supplies

Dr. Darrell Rankins

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

First of all, it is important to remember that cattle are ruminants and thus need some forage (fiber) in their daily diet. In general, the minimal amount required is about 0.5% of body weight which would equate to 5 to 6 pounds for 1,000- to 1,200-pound cows. Because most beef producers use hay in the form of a large round bale, it is difficult to limit hay consumption to 5 to 6 pounds per day. There are only two realistic ways to limit hay consumption with round bales. The hay can be unrolled and offered at a predetermined amount. Another way would be to put an adequate number of rolls in a small area so that the cows can be put into the area for about 2 hours per day in order to control the amount of hay that they consume. With this program it is important that all cows have access to the hay, approximately 1 roll for every 10 cows. If small, square bales of hay are available, then it becomes much easier to offer 5 to 6 pounds of hay per day. Other sources of roughage for cows include peanut hulls, cottonseed hulls, gin trash, cotton motes or any other by-product roughages that may be available in our area. Kudzu is also a roughage option. When using peanut hulls as a roughage source, make sure that they are loose hulls and not pelleted or ground hulls. Using ground or pelleted peanut hulls can cause rumen compaction problems.

Now that the hay has been conserved by some sort of limit feeding system, what is needed to meet the nutrient needs of the cow? For a 1,000-pound cow that has not yet calved, we would need to provide her with about 12 pounds of a grain mix that contains approximately 12% crude protein. One such mix would be to blend 575 pounds of corn with 50 pounds of soybean or cottonseed meal. Another possibility would be to feed soybean hulls, corn gluten feed, whole cottonseed or distiller’s grains. Also, check with your local livestock feed dealer to see if they have a blend suitable for your needs.

Once the cows calve and begin lactating, their daily nutrient requirements will increase, and they will require approximately 18 pounds of the grain mix, soybean hulls or corn gluten feed per day plus their hay allowance. With this system, the cows would be fed 12 to 18 pounds of the concentrate per day (depending on stage of production) and given 5 to 6 pounds of forage per day. For this system it is important to have adequate bunk space for feeding the cows to make sure that the boss cows do not consume the majority of the feed. In general, if the cows can access both sides of the bunk, then a 10-foot trough will accommodate 10 to 12 mature cows. It is very important to note that good feeding management is a must when feeding cows in this manner. It would be very easy to founder some cows when feeding this amount of a corn-based supplement per day. Obviously, this system is quite labor-intensive and requires a large amount of daily feeding; however, if hay supplies are severely limited, it may be the only alternative available.

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Sales of Livestock

Hal Pepper & Jerry Pierce

Extension Economists

Many farmers in Alabama are considering reducing herd size or selling out altogether because of drought conditions. Several farmers have called about the tax consequences of selling. In general, if you sell more livestock than usual because of the drought, you may be able to postpone some of the income into a later tax year. If this is the case, take this article to your tax preparer so he (she) may be aware of the options that are available.

Federal Designation as a Disaster Area (July 2, 2007)

On July 2, 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture designated the entire state of Alabama a primary natural disaster area due to losses caused by severe drought that occurred during the period of January 1, 2007, and continuing. Also eligible under the disaster declaration as contiguous counties in other states are:

• Florida – Escambia, Holmes, Jackson, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Walton
• Georgia – Carroll, Chattahoochee, Chattooga, Clay, Early, Floyd, Haralson, Harris, Heard, Muscogee, Polk, Quitman, Seminole, Stewart, Troup, Walker,
• Mississippi – Clarke, George, Greene, Itawamba, Jackson, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Monroe, Noxubee, Tishomingo, Wayne
• Tennessee – Franklin, Giles, Hardin, Lawrence, Lincoln, Marion, Wayne

Options Under a Federal Disaster Declaration

There are some options for the reporting of livestock sales in excess of normal sales. You may report the income of all the sales on your 2007 tax return. A special one year deferral of excess sales into the following tax year is available because of the federal disaster declaration. If your principal business is farming, you use the cash method of accounting, your sales would normally have been in 2008, and the drought caused the excess sales, you may make this deferral election. This applies to market, breeding, dairy, and draft sales. Determine the average number of head sold in the three past years. The number of head sold above this average number may be deferred until the following tax year.

For example, if you are a calendar year taxpayer who normally sells 100 head of beef cattle each year, and in 2007 you sell 135 head for $81,000 because of drought, you can postpone $21,000 until 2008. [($81,000 ÷ 135 head = $600 per head) ($600 x 35 head = $21,000)]

If you choose to defer these sales until 2008, attach a statement to your 2007 tax return that includes your name and address and gives the following information for each class of livestock for which you are postponing gain:

• A statement that you are postponing gain under Internal Revenue Code Section 451 (e)
• Evidence of the drought which forced the early sale of livestock and the date the area was designated as eligible for federal assistance as a result of the drought (see attached USDA declaration)
• A statement explaining the relationship of the area to the taxpayer’s early sale of livestock
• The number of animals sold in 2004, 2005, and 2006
• The number of animals that would have been sold in 2007 had you followed your normal business practice
• The total number of animals sold and the number sold as a result of a drought in 2007
• A computation of the amount of deferred income

Remember to report the postponed gain on the 2008 tax return.

All farmers also have the option of treating the excess sales of breeding, dairy, and draft animals (not market animals) as an involuntary conversion, and these sales may be deferred by purchasing appropriate replacement property within the required time period (normally two years). Since the entire state was designated a federal disaster, the replacement period is extended to four years for excess breeding, dairy, and draft sales, if you replace the livestock with similar property. If your tax year ends December 31, your deadline for replacing these 2007 sales with similar property is December 31, 2011. If the 100 head in the previous example are brood cows, you have the option of deferring the gain on 35 head and purchasing 35 replacement cows by December 31, 2011. Note that to defer all of the gain in the previous example, you must purchase at least 35 brood cows and spend an average of $600 per head. If you do not purchase the replacement property within the required time period, you must amend the tax return of the sale year and report the gain from the sale of the animals not replaced.

If you choose to postpone reporting the gain on involuntary conversions, you must provide the appropriate information in a statement attached to your tax return for the tax year in which you have a gain. The information must include evidence of the drought that forced the sale, the gain realized on the sale, the number and kind of livestock sold, and the number of livestock of each kind you would have sold or exchanged under your usual business practice. In the years you purchase replacement property, show the preceding information along with the dates you buy the replacement property and the cost, number, and kind of the replacement property.

You may call one of the following Extension Economists if you have questions on drought sales of livestock:

Steve Brown(251) 867-7760

Holt Hardin(256) 574-2143

Bob Lisec(334) 693-2010

Hal Pepper(334) 361-7273

Jerry Pierce(256) 574-2143

Jamie Yeager(334) 624-4016

TOP OF PAGE

Drought-Stricken Forages May Be Target of Insect Pests

Dr. Kathy Flanders

Extension Entomologist

The current dry weather provides a window of opportunity for some insect pests to strike pastures and hayfields. In particular, farmers should be on the lookout for fall armyworms and chinch bugs on their forage grasses. Hot, dry summers seem to encourage these insect pests.

Fall armyworm caterpillars will feed on almost all forage grasses, as well as sorghum, corn and approximately 100 additional plant species. The caterpillars develop into moths that lay eggs, and the cycle begins again. In Alabama, there may be as many as five to six generations of this pest every summer.

The first clue of an infestation of these pests is the appearance of brown circular areas about 10 to 20 feet in diameter in an otherwise healthy field. These areas will enlarge quickly as the caterpillars eat the available food and spread outward in search of more food. From a distance, these patches can look like drought stress.

Fall armyworms prefer lush, well-fertilized bermudagrass. Check your bermudagrass fields regularly for caterpillars or the appearance of those brown circular patches.

Usually if there's one report of fall armyworm damage, there will be more. It's possible you'll hear about armyworms before you find them in your fields

.

The earlier an infestation is detected the better. Young fall armyworms (under ½ inch in length) do not eat much. As the caterpillars get bigger, their food demands increase dramatically and the bigger they are, the harder they are to control.

If you discover more than two fall armyworms (3/4 inch in size or less) per square foot, you need to take steps to control them. You have two basic choices. You can salvage the forage by either intense grazing or harvesting, or you can apply a registered insecticide.

Another pest that seems to enjoy hot, dry weather is the chinch bug. Chinch bugs spend much of their time feeding in protected places on the plant, hiding in cracks in the soil or hiding under crop debris. They tend to be worse in dry weather, perhaps because heavy rains can kill chinch bugs. The rain also closes up many of the cracks and crevices in the soil, leaving fewer places for chinch bugs to hide.

Chinch bugs will feed on small grains, summer annual forage grasses, corn and turf grasses. They puncture plants with their mouthparts and suck out the plant juice. They generally feed at the base of plants.

Feeding causes different symptoms on different crops. Damaged plants may be tinged with purple or yellow, or they may turn completely brown. Plants become obviously stunted. The base of the stem may become brittle, causing the plant to snap off near ground level.

Chinch bugs overwinter as adults and become active when warm weather returns. Adults lay eggs in protected crevices of grass plants. After about two weeks, chinch bug nymphs hatch from the eggs and begin to feed. Young chinch bugs are yellow or reddish brown with a white band running across the back. Older nymphs are black with visible wing buds. Adults are black with white wings.

Populations of chinch bugs build as the summer progresses. This makes summer annual forage grasses particularly vulnerable to damage. There are two to three generations per year in Alabama.

Because chinch bugs feed at the base of the plant in protected locations, they are very difficult to control with insecticides. To increase the chance for success, direct a spray application down to the base of the plants and use a high gallonage of water per acre (25 to 35 gallons per acre).

An insecticide application for chinch bugs is most likely to pay off in young corn or sorghum that has been planted in rows. It is difficult to get insecticides down to the base of a broadcast-seeded crop or a crop with narrow-row spacing.

Keep in mind that most insecticides have some form of a grazing interval. This means that livestock need to be removed before the insecticide application and not allowed back in the field until after the specified grazing interval.

Should you decide to try an insecticide to control either fall armyworms or chinch bugs, call your county Extension office. Extension agents from our Animal Science and Forage team can help you choose an appropriate insecticide for your situation. We have several excellent fact sheets about this, including ANR-1019, "Management of Fall Armyworms in Pastures and Hayfields," and IPM-28, "Forage Crops Insect and Weed Control Recommendations for 2007." There have been a few changes in pesticide registration since these publications were produced. The table below summarizes the options for controlling fall armyworms in pastures and hayfields.

Remember, it's important to read the label of all insecticides and to apply the product only as directed on the label. It's also important to pay careful attention to grazing and harvest restrictions on the product label. It will tell you how long you must wait before returning cattle to the pasture or cutting the forage for hay.

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Will Force Farmers to Make Tough Selection Decisions

Dr. Lisa A. Kriese-Anderson

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

As drought conditions worsen and hay and pasture supplies are depleted, Alabama cattle producers are facing tough selection decisions. Without adequate and economical feed and water sources, cattle producers will need to reduce cattle numbers.

Calves are the place to start. To reduce nutritional requirements of the cow herd, wean your calves. Dry cows require less nutritious feed than lactating cows. If you have a place to wean the calves and a low cost, alternative source of nutritious feed, put weight on the calves and market in the fall. Heavier weights always will pay off if the cost of the alternative feed is reasonable. If you do not have a place to put the calves, market them immediately.

Purebred producers should calculate weaning age before weaning calves. Make sure calves are within the age window for purebred associations to accept weaning data. With the acceptance of the early weaning practice in other parts of the United States, most breed associations have an age range for early weaned calves.

Next have your veterinarian pregnancy check the entire herd. Also evaluate each cow for feet and leg soundness, udder quality, teeth condition and disposition. Cull all open cows and those with any physical defects. Evaluate cows for body condition score. It will be really important to have cows in body condition of 5 to 6 at calving. Those cows that are in very poor condition need to be culled if you are unable to feed them economically to a body condition score of 5 before calving.

If you still need to cull more cows, this is where record keeping pays off. Rank your cows by their production records. Most computerized records report the Most Probable Producing Ability (MPPA) for each cow. MPPA indicates in ratio form how each cow is expected to produce given her past performance history. Cull the lowest producing cows in the herd. If you have non-computerized records and would like to calculate MPPA values on each cow, contact your Alabama Regional Animal Science and Forages REA for assistance.

Another source of cattle to cull is herd bulls. If a herd bull is already on the list to be replaced, go ahead and market him. In extreme situations, market all herd bulls to reduce the number of cattle on pasture. Bulls can be replaced by the breeding season from many quality, highly reputable sources in Alabama.

If a producer sells livestock because of the drought, some of the income may be postponed into a later tax year. For example, cows that have to be sold over and above what is normally culled may be classified as an involuntary conversion. Discuss this with your accountant or with one of Extension’s farm management analysis economists. Your county Extension agent can put you in touch with the one closest to you.

Producers cannot forget, no matter the age of cattle, that a minimum of 0.5 percent of body weight of roughage must be supplied daily to keep the rumen functioning. Producers need to carefully estimate their forage supplies, alternative feed supplies and body weight of their cattle. Keeping the body condition score of cows and profit/loss margins in mind will dictate the amount of culling needed to survive the drought.

TOP OF PAGE

Evaluating Summer Weather Conditions for Horses

Dr. Cynthia McCall

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

A rule of thumb for determining whether a horse should be worked is to add the temperature (in degrees Fahrenheit) and the relative humidity (%). If the total of these numbers is below 150, most moderately fit horses easily can cope with moderate work. A total between 150 and 170 may indicate weather conditions where the horse cannot cool its body easily during work, and the horse should be worked only if needed. A total between 170 and 180 indicates weather conditions that easily can result in an overheated horse. Riders should carefully and frequently monitor their horse’s well-being if they must ride them in these weather conditions. Hot, humid weather conditions with a number over 180 result in a dangerous situation for the horse, and riders definitely should stay off the horse during these conditions.

To help horses stay cool, horse owners should provide shade for their animals, give the horse unlimited access to clean, cool water (unless the horse is hot from exercise or very thirsty), and work the horse only during early morning or late evening hours when temperatures are cooler. Providing a trace mineral salt block will help the horse replace electrolytes lost through sweating. Horse owners also can sponge or hose their horses with cool water to make them more comfortable in the heat. Scraping excess water off the horse after hosing or sponging allows evaporative cooling to occur, which is effective at removing body heat. Horse owners should be cautious when trailering horses and confining horses to stalls because poor ventilation can result in dangerously hot conditions in both trailers and stalls.

TOP OF PAGE

Goat Production and Drought

Robert Spencer

Area Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Most goat farmers rely on pastures as a primary nutritional resource for their goats. During times of drought, forage availability may become limited, requiring attention to certain issues such as pasture management, access to browse, supplemental feeding and herd reduction. Depending upon available resources, every situation will vary, requiring thorough evaluation and appropriate implementation of measures suitable for each farm operation.

Pasture Management

Management of forages (grasses and legumes) should be practiced at all times, especially during times of drought. There are two areas relevant to goat production: (1) Conversion of larger pastures into smaller grazing paddocks. Paddocks can be developed by utilizing permanent woven wire or electrical fencing, portable electric fencing, and gates, or any suitable combination. Stocking rates and paddock size will be based upon available land, pasture growth rates and herd size, as well as stages of animal development and nutritional requirements of animals. (2) Rotational grazing is another component of pasture management. It involves moving animals as deemed necessary from an area of limited forages to another pasture where forages are abundant. Appropriate actions are based on land availability, the ability to establish additional fencing and other available resources.

A good rule of thumb is to retain goats on pastures where browse is a minimum of six inches tall. Allowing goats to remain on pastures where browse becomes too short presents several problems. (1) Vegetation grazed short and to the ground has limited leafy surface area for absorption of sunlight. Adequate surface area and the ability to absorb sunlight are important for regeneraton of new vegetation. Overgrazing pastures limits availability of existing forages and affects survival and availability of forages in the future. (2) Goats are vulnerable to parasites (gastrointestinal worms and coccidian), and parasites thrive at ground level. If goats are allowed to graze forages at ground level, they are more likely to pick up excessive amounts of parasites in areas where forages are short, and such conditions could lead to problems with the health of each animal. Maintaining goats on pastures that exceed six inches in height decreases the likelihood of direct contact with parasites. Proper pasture management plays a role in herd health.

Browse

Goats are best suited to ingest browse (tree leaves, shrubs, vines and bramble). If goat producers have easy access to areas with browse, they should allow their animals to graze in these areas. Browse, rather than forages, are better suited for goats for several reasons: (1) they provide adequate nutrition; (2) they are high in tannins, which may be helpful in minimizing internal parasite infestation among goats; and (3) when goats graze on browse rather than forages, they are grazing in areas high enough where parasites are nonexistent. While not all farm situations offer access to browse, the combination of all these factors makes feeding on browse a much better situation than forages, as far as nutrition and health. The only drawback to utilizing browse is their limited ability to regenerate new vegetation as quickly as forages.

Supplemental Feeding (Hay and Grains)

Drought conditions tend to result in limited availability of forage and browse, forcing goat farmers to utilize supplemental feeds such as hay and grain feed. When it comes to hay, there are traditional grasses and legumes utilized for hay, and there is nontraditional vegetation that can be cut and bailed for hay. Traditional hays include grasses such as Orchard, Bermuda and Fescue and legumes such as clovers. Nontraditional grasses could include crabgrass, wheat, oats and rye; and legumes such as soybeans and lespedeza. This brief discussion on alternative hays should not limit one’s imagination; as long as nutritional factors are suitable, many other alternatives are viable.

Grain feeds, although rather costly, serve as an excellent source of supplemental nutrition. Options may vary, so it is best for producers to thoroughly evaluate all possibilities. Preformulated rations are most desirable as they generally contain balanced rations of protein, fiber, minerals and other essential nutrients. They are specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of goats. Other options include grains such as soybean hull pellets, corn (cracked and whole) and corn gluten. The issue with use of grains and feeds not formulated for goat is that they may be lacking in nutrients necessary for goats.

Herd Reduction

During times of drought, drastic measures may become necessary. Reducing grazing burden on pastures requires tough measures known as culling inferior animals. It is not the word most goat producers want to hear, but it may become necessary when attempting to salvage existing pastures. Goats can be replaced fairly readily when normal rainfall returns, but pasture restoration might take several years. Evaluate all options when reducing herd numbers. Direct sales from the farm are probably your best option, but livestock sale barns can be convenient.

Conclusion

Drought conditions impact goat production, and the consequences are significant. Each farmer must determine what works best for his farm. Effective and efficient management requires thorough evaluation and implementation of effective and efficient management practices that utilize available pastures, forages, browse and supplemental feeds. Individual producers must determine which aforementioned initiatives are practical for their situations; resources and technical assistance are available to enhance the decision making process.

Point to Remember: During times of drought goats are likely to consume extra water, so make sure to frequently check water resources to ensure goats have sufficient availability.

TOP OF PAGE

Making Silage from Drought-Stressed Corn

Dr. Don Ball

Extension Agronomist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Dr. Darrell Rankins

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

In Alabama, dry weather sometimes severely stunts the growth of corn. Some producers who recognize that they are not likely to produce any significant amount of corn grain often consider the possibility of harvesting corn as silage. This information sheet provides some discussion of key points that relate to this decision.

The forage quality of corn is good, whether drought-stressed or not. The crude protein content and sugar content of drought-stressed corn is likely to be higher than nonstressed corn, but the crude fiber and digestible fiber may also be higher than normal corn silage. The result is that on a dry matter basis, animal performance may be somewhat lower with drought-stressed than it would have been on nonstressed corn, but the main impact on forage production by drought is reduced dry matter yield.

The idea of using what was intended to be a grain crop for forage can make sense in many situations. It actually is a better option to make silage from such corn than to use it for green chop or grazing. The primary reason for this is that the nitrate levels in drought-stressed corn are often dangerously high. However, when corn is ensiled, the nitrate level will usually be reduced by at least 20 percent. This makes nitrate poisoning somewhat less likely. In addition, the highest concentration of nitrates is in the base of the cornstalks. Thus, when corn is harvested for silage, some of the plant part containing the highest concentrations of nitrates is not included in the chopped material harvested for silage.

One of the challenges associated with harvesting drought-stressed corn for silage is determining when the plants are at the proper moisture content. The correct moisture content to harvest corn for silage is the same for drought-stressed and normal corn. Normally good preservation and storage will occur when corn chopped for silage is at 65 to 70 percent in horizontal (trench or bunker) silos, 60 to 70 percent in bags, 60 to 65 percent in upright silos and 50 to 60 percent in upright oxygen limiting structures.

For drought-stressed corn that has no ears or very poor ear development, the normal approaches to determine the proper harvest stage usually do not apply. Therefore, chopping some material and determining moisture content in a microwave oven or with a moisture tester is advisable. Simply looking at plants and trying to assess the moisture content does not work well because even though some leaves are beginning to brown, there may be enough moisture in the stalks to cause the silage moisture to be too high. This results in poor fermentation and/or excessive seepage. On the other hand, if corn is too dry, packing and excessive oxygen may result in poor fermentation.

In some cases, it may be advisable to raise the cutter bar on the silage chopper when harvesting drought stressed corn, as this may result in more desirable moisture content for ensiling the forage. In addition, because stems contain higher levels of nitrates than leaves, a higher cutting height may reduce the likelihood of nitrate poisoning danger.

Dangers of nitrous oxide poisoning to humans is increased on drought-stressed corn because of the higher nitrate levels in corn plants. Thus, it is advisable to use extreme caution when filling silos, especially with drought-stressed plant material. Running the blower for 15 minutes or so is always a good idea before entering a silo, but especially when drought-stressed material is ensiled.

In some cases, the decision as to whether to harvest corn for silage may be influenced by the expected grain yield versus the expected silage yield. A rule of thumb is that for drought-stressed corn usually about one ton of silage per acre can be produced for each 5 bushels of corn grain that might have otherwise been produced. If there is no grain present, a rule of thumb is that about one ton of silage can be produced for each foot of plant height (excluding the tassel).

Making hay from corn usually does not work well. Corn plants are difficult to bale and are especially difficult to dry enough for storage as hay. Furthermore, curing corn plants for hay does not reduce nitrate levels, while the nitrate levels of corn silage are often reduced by as much as 35 to 50 percent. If any forage is suspected of having potentially dangerous levels of nitrate, it makes sense to have the forage tested before feeding it to livestock.

TOP OF PAGE

Options For Emergency Forage Production

Dr. Don Ball

Extension Agronomist

Dr. Darrell Rankins

Extension Animal Scientist

Dr. Tim Reed

Franklin County Extension Coordinator

The severe drought has created a pasture and hay shortage on many Alabama farms. Cattle are ruminants and thus need some forage (fiber) in their daily diet. In general, the minimal amount required is about 0.5% of body weight which would equate to 5 to 6 pounds for 1,000- to 1,200-pound cows. Cattle producers are considering their options for producing emergency grass for their cattle.

When there is adequate soil moisture available for seed germination, planting a summer annual grass can be a strategy used to obtain quick forage growth. Pearl millet or a sorghum-sudangrass hybrid can be planted as late as early July. Browntop millet, while a much lower yielding forage, can be planted as last as early August and still provide a single cutting if moisture is available.

However, summer annuals can accumulate excessive levels of nitrate during dry conditions. For any hat that is suspect, it is advisable to send a sample to the Auburn University Soil Testing Lab and have nitrate levels checked before feeding it to animals.

There is still time for warm season perennials such as bermudagrass and bahiagrass to make significant growth if rainfall is adequate in late spring and summer. Bermudagrass can be fertilized with 60 to 100 lbs. of nitrogern per acres up to September 1. Once the days begin to shorten and the temperatures start cooling down, bermudagrass growth usually will stall by the end of October. Farmers can also increase their chances of additional grass production by applying 60 to 80 pounds of N per acre to fescue in early September. If rains come in September additional grass will be available by October. If the fescue is not immediately needed, it can be stockpiled for later feeding. Stockpiling fescue is one of the most cost-effective ways of reducing stored feed needs. We can assume that fescue with 60 to 80 pounds of N per acre and adequate moisture could accumulate approximately 1,800 to 2,000 pounds of useable forage per acre by December 1. With proper fencing, the animals could be given a fraction of an acre every day or every other day so that you are giving them access to about 5 to 6 pounds of forage dry matter per day. This technique works extremely well with the use of electric fencing.

For producers who head into winter with inadequate amounts of hay, another option would be to plant winter annuals such as wheat, rye, ryegrass, oats or triticale. These can be planted in September in a prepared seedbed. Farmers can also drill winter annuals into bermuda or other summer grass pastures in October. If winter annuals are to be grazed in mid- to late-spring, ryegrass should be included in the mixture since ryegrass outproduces the small grains in the spring. Timely rains in September and adequate rains in October should allow farmers to have winter annuals for grazing by November, or you could stockpile the winter annuals for later grazing. Hopefully, one or more of the strategies discussed in this article will be feasible for your farm and will help you provide adequate forage to your cattle.

TOP OF PAGE

Preventing Hyperthermia In Horses

Dr. Cynthia McCall

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

The high heat and dry weather of this summer has many horse owners worrying about the effect of this type of weather on their animals. In general, most horses easily adjust to conditions of high heat and humidity, and hyperthermia (heat exhaustion and heatstroke) is not a common problem in horses.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion in horses are weakness, rapid breathing (the horse’s respiration rate may be higher than its heart rate or the horse may be panting), quivering muscles and collapse. The body temperature may be elevated to 105 to 108 degrees F, and the horse sweats heavily. Heat exhaustion may occur at any time during light or heavy work, a few hours after work or when the horse has not been worked at all. The onset of heat exhaustion often is gradual.

Heatstroke is a more serious problem where the onset of the problem and the eventual collapse of the horse occur more rapidly than in heat exhaustion. Heatstroke also differs from heat exhaustion in that the horse’s body temperature gets much higher (up to 115 degrees F), the horse may get a vacant, staring expression in its eyes, and the horse stops sweating. During heatstroke, a horse that has been sweating rapidly develops a dry coat in which the hairs stand on end. This indicates a severe breakdown of the body’s cooling mechanism and rapidly can lead to death of the horse.

To prevent hyperthermia in the horse, some common-sense horse management guidelines should be followed. The horse should have access to some type of shade. During extremely hot weather, simply being able to get out of the sun allows the horse to stay cooler. The horse should be properly conditioned for work in hot, humid weather. If the horse is exercised regularly throughout the year and is physically fit, it can deal with temperature extremes more easily.

When the weather turns hot and humid, shorten work periods and give the horse frequent walk breaks. These breaks give the horse’s body cooling mechanism a chance to catch up and give the rider time to carefully observe the horse for any signs of distress. If possible, take advantage of cooler temperatures by riding early or late in the day.

Unless the horse is hot from exercise or extremely thirsty, it should always have free choice access to fresh, clean water. During hot weather, a horse easily can consume more than 25 gallons of water daily. Although drinking water does not appreciably lower a horse’s body temperature, adequate water intake is essential for proper functioning of the body’s cooling mechanism. For example, a horse can loose approximately three gallons of sweat during one hour of hard work in hot weather. Along with the water lost in sweat, large quantities of sodium, potassium and chloride leave the body. Balanced horse feeds contain proper amounts of these minerals (electrolytes) to supply the needs of a normal horse. However, if a horse is consistently working in hot weather or is obtaining all its ration from pasture, a free-choice trace mineral salt block will help the horse replace electrolytes lost in sweat.

If the horse does develop hyperthermia, first aid is essential to save the horse’s life. Immediately take steps to lower the horse’s body temperature. Spray the horse with cool water*. Get the horse out of the sun, and keep it moving slowly to increase air circulation over its body. If a fan is available, put the horse in front of the fan. Have someone phone your veterinarian immediately. In true cases of hyperthermia, lower the horse’s body temperature first; the time it takes you to stop and phone the veterinarian could be fatal to your horse. Once you have contacted your veterinarian, follow his advice to help your horse recover completely.

*There is some controversy about the use of cold water versus warm water at this stage.

Extremely cold water may constrict the blood vessels near the surface of the body,

trapping heat in the body. The important point is to get the horse wet so that evaporative

cooling can take place.

TOP OF PAGE

Reminders for Cattle Producers

Dr. Soren Rodning

Extension Veterinarian

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

The recent rains throughout much of Alabama have been a welcome relief for Alabama farmers and livestock producers. Unfortunately, Alabama is still facing drought conditions, and livestock producers continue to struggle with ways to ensure their animals get enough to eat and drink when there is limited grass in the fields and the water table is lower than normal.

Meet Animals' Water Needs

While cattle can survive for days without food, and even weeks to months with limited food, water is an even more critical need for livestock. Cattle can survive a few days without consuming water because of the limited amount of water in their rumen, but this water quickly runs out and needs to be replaced. Therefore, cattle need to have access to fresh, clean water on a daily basis. Adult cattle consume 10 to 25 gallons of water per day, and an animal’s water requirements may increase by 50 percent during hot weather and in lactating animals.

Producers should check the water sources in their pastures on a daily basis to ensure their animals have an ample supply of clean, fresh water. Producers using watering tanks might want to install float levels, allowing them to check water levels from a distance rather than having to walk or drive to the tank to check the water level.

Check Fencing

Cattle in pastures with limited forage and water are much more likely to break through or escape fencing in search of greener pastures. Producers should monitor pastures closely especially if they border roads or highways.

Avoid Accidental Livestock Poisoning

The availability of many preferred forages becomes limited during a drought, and hungry animals may graze on any plants available. The problem is that some plants may be toxic and could cause death. Nitrate toxicosis is particularly likely during droughts. Nitrates are a major component of fertilizer that when processed properly are converted to nutritious proteins. Problems occur when plants absorb nitrate from the soil and then cannot convert the nitrate to protein because of a lack of moisture. Nitrate toxicity is also a problem immediately after a rain when drought-stressed plants absorb soil nitrates too quickly. It is recommended that such plants be tested for nitrate content, remembering that nitrate levels in hay or silage are stable and will not decrease with storage. For more information regarding nitrate toxicosis, contact your regional animal science Extension agent or consult the Extension publication “Nitrate Poisoning of Cattle in Alabama” (ANR-0112).

Most poisonings in dry years are in overgrazed, weedy pastures, so check your pastures for toxic plants. Some common toxic plants include nightshade, crotalaria, sicklepod, horsenettle, perilla mint and many other plants. For more information on poisonous plants, contact your regional animal science Extension agent or consult the Extension publication "Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States" (ANR 975). Animals can be exposed to toxic plants through weedy pastures, hay, along ditches and creek beds, and in wooded areas, corrals or holding lots. Signs of poisoning vary depending on the plants consumed.

Protect from Heat

Another important consideration is protecting livestock from the extreme heat. Temperatures above 80 degrees F combined with high humidity and exposure to direct sun can cause problems. Livestock need adequate shade or access to wooded areas. If pastures lack wooded areas, you may need to construct open shelters to give animals a shady resting spot. Provide enough shade to allow animals to spread out and cool off. If animals are too crowded in the shade they will not be able to cool themselves sufficiently.

Parasite Control

Control internal and external parasites. By doing so, you will reduce the stress and nutritional needs of the animal. As pastures "brown out" during the summer, the numbers of worm larvae living on the blades of grass will be greatly decreased. However, as cattle graze, they may still ingest some parasite larvae that will then grow to the adult stage in the animal’s gastrointestinal tract. This is particularly true when cattle graze more closely to the ground. Treating now will also reduce parasite loads in the fall.

TOP OF PAGE

The Drought Induced Cattle Dilemma: Keep or Sell Feeder Calves

Dr. Walt Prevatt

Extension Economist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

The current drought has many cattle producers in trouble. Very little grass is in pastures for animals to eat or for cattle producers to cut as hay. Only a few producers have any hay left to feed their cowherds. Last year’s drought reduced cut hay production by about 50 percent. Hay supplies were already tight going into last winter. As a result of lower supplies last year and feeding cattle this past winter, hay is in very limited supply. The drought has worsened as the spring temperatures have increased. Many cattle farmers already are buying hay and other feeds for livestock.

The question many producers are trying to answer is "Do I keep feeding or do I sell my calves now?" Dr. Walt Prevatt, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agricultural economist, says it is a tough question to answer because each operation is different and no one knows how long the drought will last, but he offers the following suggestions.

First, producers with adequate feedstuffs on their farms to feed calves until fall will probably want to do so. Prevatt has several reasons for this. Feeder calf weights will be heavier, and feeder calf prices are expected to hold reasonably well through the fall market period. The combination of heavier weights and good market prices means more gross revenue per head. Additionally, there is an outside chance that domestic and/or export beef demand may improve, which would support higher feeder calf prices.

But how should producers hold feeder calves until fall without busting their budgets? Producers who have to procure feedstuffs off the farm should look for alternative feeds that are readily available and low in cost. Prevatt says producers have got to consider using feedstuffs other than just hay. Alternatives include rice bran, dried distiller’s grain, broiler litter, whole cotton seed, peanut hay and soybean hulls. Contact your local Extension agent for help in identifying these alternatives in particular areas. The key is to locate a nutritious alternative feed available at a reasonable cost. Bulky feedstuffs are not a good choice if they have to be transported long distances (because of handling and freight charges).

Also, consider joining with other producers to buy feeds in bulk quantities. It is usually more affordable for two or more producers to buy a truckload together. Buying in bulk also will allow you to avoid the cost of bagging the feed.

Make sure you have storage facilities for bulk alternative feeds. Open-front sheds protect the feeds while still giving easy access. Storing some bulk feedstuffs on thick grass sod with a tarp or plastic cover is possible, but you must consider the cost and waste of the feedstuff.

Summer creep feeding offers an option to add weight to your feeder calves. A variety of rations can be fed to calves. Grain and a combination of by-products can be fed in most cases. The decision to creep feed calves hinges on whether the cost of the creep feeding is less than the value added to the calf at sale time. Fall 2007 feeder calf prices are expected to hold well this year. However, because of limited supply and higher demand, feedstuff prices are extremely high. Each farmer is encouraged to evaluate his individual situation on this feeding option. For more information on rations for creep feeding calves, contact the county Extension office.

Early weaning of calves is another option. By four months of age, a calf is only getting between 20 and 40 percent of its energy requirement from its mother. If properly fed, early weaned calves fed in a dry lot or supplemented on pasture may achieve comparable and sometimes better gains than non-weaned calves. Proper selection of an adequate feedstuff is important to achieve good weight gains. The early weaning option may be considered as preconditioning or backgrounding feeder calves, which adds value to these animals since they have recovered from the weaning stress and should have received the appropriate vaccinations, enhancing their health status. Order buyers often will pay a premium for these types of feeder calves.

Early weaning reduces the nutritional needs for the nursing cows by one-third to one-half. Producers can then move these animals to low-quality forages. This also allows the producer to cull and sell older or open cows in an earlier market window.

A final option to consider is retained ownership. Retained ownership through the stocker and/or feedlot phases offers you some flexibility. However, because of the high cost of feedstuffs right now, it is preferable to put as much grass gain on feeders as possible before sending them to the feedlot. Contact your county Extension office for more information on how to retain ownership.

TOP OF PAGE

Water Needs of Horses

Dr. Cynthia McCall

Extension Animal Scientist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Adequate water intake is essential to the health of horses. Decreased food consumption, dehydration and impaction colic may occur without adequate water intake. At an ambient temperature of 55 degrees F, an average-sized, inactive horse that is eating a normal diet will drink 10 to 12 gallons of water daily. During hot summer days, an idle horse’s water intake may increase to 30 gallons per day. Lactating mares and exercised horses may require more than twice the amount of water needed by idle horses of a similar size.

Horses should have free access to clean, cool water except when they are hot after exercise or extremely thirsty. Allowing horses to drink large amounts of water in a short time can cause colic and founder. A hot or thirsty horse should be allowed four or five swallows of water. It should then be walked for 10 minutes and allowed to drink a few more swallows. Walking and watering should be alternated until the horse is no longer thirsty.

The horse’s water supply should be checked daily to ensure that adequate amounts of water are available and that the water is clean and safe to drink. Ponds that have a sudden or heavy growth of algae or that develop an off-odor or color should be tested for safety before letting horses drink from them.

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Affects Timber Harvesting And Wood Inventories

Dr. Mathew Smidt

Extension Specialist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

Ordinarily,dry weathermakes logging easier withbetter roads,less soil compaction, and more operating days.Month after month of dry weather produces enough extra operating days thatmorewood is harvested than themills can process. The result is that many loggersare put onquota, which limits the amount of wood they canharvest weekly and reducesoutputto a fraction ofnormal. In addition, the lost work days make it more difficult for logging firm owners to make payroll and equipment payments.

When the wood piles are full, mills can only take as much new wood as they process; plus they need to use the inventory wood in a timely fashion to reduce the amountof degradation. Insituations when mills know they can't use the inventory fast enough, they may develop wet storage where the logs are constantly sprinkled with water. While that reduces the degradation, it ismore expensive, and some wood volume and quality is still lost.

Innormal years, logging activity increases inthe fallas mills try to fill inventory in anticipation of winter rains. If it remains dry, the limited logging activity will continue through the fall. Landowners who have sold timber will need to be patient in waiting for loggers toget to their sites. Landowners who want to sell timber may find less appetite by buyers, especially for sales that are mostly pulpwood. Landowners who have valuable wet weather or winter harvest sites to sell may also be impacteduntil it appears thata normal weather pattern has resumed. For specific advice about selling timber, contact a forestry consultant in your area.

TOP OF PAGE

Drought Reduces Survival Rate of Planted Seedlings

Dr. Ken McNabb

Extension Specialist

Alabama Cooperative Extension System

This year’s drought has been hard on young pine seedlings planted during last winter’s planting season. While the weather was generally good this past winter for pine seedling survival, a dry spring became a very dry summer, and many seedlings simply could not make it. Many landowners, particularly in the middle and southern part of the state, are looking at partial or complete planting failures. What can landowners do, then, if they have a low survival rate in their plantation establishment program?

The first thing a landowner needs to do is assess the extent of seedling mortality. While a quick walk through the area might provide an estimate of seedling survival, a more systematic approach is usually required on large areas (e.g., 40 acres or more). The landowner should establish at least one circular plot of 1/100 acre (radius of 11' 9") for every acre of plantation. Lay the plots out in a grid fashion over the tract. Then record the total number of planted trees and the total number of living trees in each plot. The landowner needs to determine not only the overall plantation survival, but also whether seedling mortality is evenly distributed or certain areas are worse than others. Be careful in the summer months when counting seedlings as green seedlings in green vegetation can be hard to sp