This year’s drought is forcing ranchers to make difficult decisions, but NDSU Extension Forage Crop Production Specialist James Rogers says it can also provide an opportunity to identify weaknesses in a cow herd. Rogers recommends producers review individual animal performance and consider culling cows with problems involving udders, eyes, feet, reproduction, or calving dates. Rogers says drought management also requires matching the herd size with available forage. “It’s really the key to long-term sustainability is making sure that our stocking rate matches up with our forage, pasture, and range production that we have on our operation. It’s always a balance.”
