By Erin DeHaan
Lack of moisture has been a common theme for a majority of beef cattle producers in the Northen Great Plains the last few years. The current drought monitor (Figure 1) indicates most of the Northern Great Plains Region is under moderate to extreme drought conditions. These conditions cause beef producers to stretch grazing resources and feed inventory reserves. These can be viable options to get producers by until spring moisture arrives and triggers new growth in pastures.
The next option has commonly been for producers to cull cows. However, as of January 1, 2025, the U.S. beef cow herd inventory is at its lowest since the 1960’s at 27.9 million head (LMIC, 2025). South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wyoming decreased in beef cow inventory by 45,000, 45,000 and 20,000 head, respectively, since 2024 (USDA-NASS, 2025). This is in part due to limited pasture reserves caused by ongoing drought conditions. For a further analysis of factors impacting the beef cow herd inventory, please see Cattle HQ Live: February Markets and Inventory.
As drought conditions persist, it can be a hard decision for producers, especially those located in the High Plains Region, to cull even deeper into the cow herd. Taking a moment to assess your Winter Pasture Report can help you determine if alternative feeding options are needed for the upcoming grazing season. Considering alternative strategies can be an effective way to conserve cow herd numbers, while also maintaining grazing resources. Listed below are a few strategies that can be used without having to cull more cows.
Strategy 1: Alternative feed resources
This strategy should be used when pasture resources are slightly to moderately limited. Alternative feed resources can include a variety of feedstuffs ranging from crop residue to crop co-products to cover crops. Alternative feed resources that can be grazed would offer the most ideal scenario for beef producers. These would limit the need for producers to purchase additional supplements to help stretch hay and forage resources. However, this is not always the case, especially if there is limited moisture for growing cover crops or limited access to additional grazing acres.
Various supplements can help producers stretch grazing resources. Feeding a protein supplement can increase the digestibility of forages, making cattle more efficient when grazing. They can also reduce the amount of forage consumed, allowing grazing resources to be stretched further.
The feasibility of supplements can be dependent upon geographic location, storage ability, nutritional composition, etc. At minimum, alternative supplemental products should be selected based upon their ability to meet cattle nutrient requirements. After that, an analysis for the delivered cost, storage ability, equipment to feed to product, and quantity of product needed are some other factors to consider. If pasture conditions start to become limited, consider securing alternative feed resources, or even additional hay, as they become available before demand increases.
Strategy 2: Wean calves early
This strategy should be used when pasture resources are moderately limited. Early weaning helps reduce the nutrient demands of the cow during drought conditions. Calves that are weaned early have shown to have no severe implications on health or growth parameters of calves when managed properly. Please refer to Managing Earlier Weaned Calves for more information if you need to wean calves earlier than normal. Cows are also able to maintain body condition better as they do not have to nurse a calf. This also saves on rangeland resources as cows that have weaned a calf early reduce grazing requirements by approximately 36%. Therefore, cow body condition can be maintained, and pasture resources can be conserved. To learn more about how early weaning can be a viable option during drought, please reference Combatting Drought Conditions with Early Weaning.
Strategy 3: Feed heifers in dry lot and maintain pairs on pasture
This strategy should be used when pastures are moderately to extremely limited. Feeding heifers in a dry lot or sacrificial area can allow producers to graze cow-calf pairs in pastures that would’ve otherwise been used for the heifers to graze. It is easier to feed the heifers in a dry lot as producers do not need to be concerned about the calf at the cow’s side, as well as can have more control over the heifers’ nutritional needs to meet growth requirements. If this strategy is needed, producers should remember to adjust stocking rates from heifers to cow-calf pairs.
Strategy 4: Feed cow herd in a dry lot
This strategy can be used when grazing supplies are extremely limited. When pasture growth is this limited, producers should consider feeding cattle in a dry lot. This strategy can be favorable to producers that have the facilities and equipment to feed their entire cow herd. If dry lots are not available, producers could consider choosing an area as a sacrificial region where cattle will be maintained and fed. This can be effective if facilities are limited to feed the entire cow herd.
Producers could also choose to haul cattle to another dry lot/ feedlot facility to feed. This can be a viable option depending on the producer’s distance to a yard, the amount of cattle that need to be transported and fed, transport cost, yardage cost, days on feed, cost of feed per day, etc. If this strategy is needed, it would be better accompanied by weaning calves early and then feeding the cows in a dry lot. This would allow producers to better meet nutrient requirements of both the cow and calf. There has been a body of research conducted to analyze both scenarios and the feasibility and logistics of each scenario are dependent on multiple factors. To help understand options when considering to Move the Cows or Move the Feed, please reference the Evaluate Feed Alternatives tool. Although feeding cattle every day may not seem ideal, it could be a better alternative than selling cattle with your genetic base. This then leaves you with purchasing cattle in the future that may or may not match your herd genetics.
Summary
The next drought will inevitably be right around the corner. Having a plan in place and considering different strategies when faced with various extremes in drought will help to maintain cow herd numbers, while conserving grazing resources. Understanding your current situation, calculating which strategy is the most feasible and logical for your operation, and taking the time to check the drought monitor and having trigger dates in place can help keep your herd and pastures more resilient in the long run.
Source : sdstate.edu