Today on Casual Cattle Conversations, Shaye interviews Devlon Ford, a regenerative ranching advisor at the Noble Research Institute, about managing drought in cattle operations. Ford explains drought-stress indicators producers should watch for, including forage color and condition, lack of rainfall, and cattle manure consistency as a signal of declining forage protein.  

Reactive options discussed include early weaning, strategic destocking (culling old, open, ornery, and poor performers while considering market profitability), and carefully analyzing the costs of purchasing hay or supplements. He also suggests subdividing pastures to increase stock density, improve grazing uniformity, and extend recovery time. Proactively, Ford emphasizes calculating carrying capacity and setting stocking rate below it, using rainfall trigger dates for destocking decisions, avoiding overgrazing to protect soil cover and biology, and using flexible enterprises like stockers/custom grazing during high-forage years. 

Learn about carrying capacity and stocking rate with Devlon: https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/casual-cattle-conversations-podcast-shownotes/devlon-ford  

Catch more conversations like this one and learn more at https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/  

  • 00:00 Drought Reality Check 
  • 01:54 Meet Devlon Ford 
  • 02:36 Spotting Drought Stress 
  • 04:24 Early Weaning and Selling 
  • 05:24 Destocking for Profit 
  • 06:09 Feeding and Hay Economics 
  • 10:11 Grazing Tactics in Drought 
  • 13:10 Plan Ahead for Drought 
  • 13:37 Carrying Capacity Basics 
  • 17:43 Overgrazing Costs 
  • 20:21 Flexible Enterprises and Emotions 
  • 24:40 Cull Lists and Records 
  • 27:26 Final Field Reminders 

 

 

 

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