Cattle producers in central, north central and north east North Dakota experienced drought conditions over the summer months. Producers are making management and feeding decisions based on drought-stressed forages. Karl Hoppe, a livestock systems specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center, says the factor of compensatory gain does show up. “If calves have been underfed for the last month prior to weaning, feed them longer after weaning,” says Hoppe. “It means more time and effort into feeding the calves. But if they’re in a drought and diet restricted, that’s alright.”
