09/10/2024
There is no standard recipe on how to best manage beef cattle during drought, because no 2 drought periods are the same.
One of the strategies a farmer can use is selling their stock.
Timing is very important when when you sell, as well as the number of animals to be sold.
During these periods, farmers tend to sell their cattle at cheaper prices, if possible sell as early as possible, when animals are still in good condition, otherwise you will sell under pressure with suppressed prices.
The best cattle to keep through a drought are young breeding stock.
The following steps can be followed when deciding to sell animals.
1. Test for pregnancy and sell all non pregnant cows, low producing cows and inferior bulls.
2. Sell non breeding cattle such as weaners, steers and bullocks because it can be costly to meet their protein demands
3. sell aged bulls,aged cows and light weight heifers
4. Reduce the breeding herd. The best animals to retain are those that are aged between 2 to 5 years. (some animals a drought resistant, pay attention to them)
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