Feeding Livestock in Drought Years

Jul 18, 2023

Drought conditions are a major concern for livestock producers because it impacts forage growth for feed for livestock. Producers may turn to grain for feed for their livestock which may impact the amount that producers pay for feed.

According to an article written by Gould and Cassida (2021), Forage alternatives for livestock in drought years - Forages (msu.edu), managing forage can impact livestock nutritional requirements from grazing especially in drought years. It is important in all climates that producers manage their forage efficiently to give plants a break from livestock to regrow.

Gould and Cassida (2021) also suggest that annual forages are a good alternative to perennial forages because they can withstand growing within eight weeks from planting in a minimal amount of water.

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Video: Trailer Biosecurity at Harvest Plants - Dr. Lucas Ferreira

In this episode of The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, Dr. Lucas Ferreira, a Research Assistant at the University of Minnesota, discusses trailer contamination risks at packing plants. He shares research on pathogen prevalence, seasonal trends, driver biosecurity practices, and factors contributing to contamination during transport. He highlights opportunities to strengthen biosecurity and reduce disease transmission across swine operations. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Trailer washing gaps allow harvest plant contamination to increase pathogen risk before equipment returns to farms or wash facilities."

Meet the guest: Dr. Lucas Ferreira https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-fer... is a veterinarian from Brazil currently pursuing a master's degree at the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on swine pathogen epidemiology, detection, control, and prevalence, with an emphasis on science-driven solutions that improve herd health and biosecurity. Learn more from Dr. Lucas Ferreira on The Swine Health Blackbelt Podcast, available on all major platforms.