WOODWORTH, N.D. — While the relatively snow-free weather has increased concerns about drought conditions in the region, it has helped reduce calving stress.
"This year's calving season has been pretty nice," said Monica Fitterer, NDSU Extension ag and natural resources agent for Kidder County. "We didn't have a lot of storms, which was nice."
Calving is just past its peak in North Dakota. The North Dakota Crop Progress and Condition Report, reflecting conditions April 20, said calving in the state was 63% complete, same as average for the date. Cattle and calf death loss was 60% average and 39% light, and 73% of cattle were reported to be in good to excellent condition. Hay and roughage supplies in the state were rated 7% very short, 14% short, 74% adequate and 5% surplus. Stock water supplies were rated 11% very short, 24% short, 63% adequate, and 2% surplus.
South Dakota's report does not list calving progress or condition information. Minnesota's report also did not list progress but just said, "Livestock were doing well with calving and lambing continuing."
While dry conditions remain a concern for much of the region, Fitterer said recent moisture has been difficult for cattle health.
"There was some cold weather early on in February and March, which is hard on some of those baby calves. And then a lot of areas had that freezing rain, which was really hard on those calves. Even if they were a week old, they just got really cold," she said.
Ranchers in those conditions had to bring calves into barns. But that's a small thing compared to some recent winters with heavy snow into the spring. Fitterer hasn't heard much about widespread cattle disease, but she does advise ranchers to do their best to keep calves out of mud.
"Anytime they get cold and wet, it's really hard on them. They can't maintain their body temperature, and that opens up a pathway for any type of disease, whether it's pneumonia or scours," she said.
Kidder County, where Fitterer works, and nearby Stutsman County, where she ranches, are relatively drought-free compared to the rest of the region, while large portions of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota are abnormally dry at best and in extreme drought at worst. But she acknowledged that drought is never far away from the minds of people in agriculture in the region. Timely rains are still needed, she said, and she advises ranchers be diligent in watching their pastures.
"We were fortunate enough last year we had plenty of rain, plenty of hay, but really just watching those pastures, not turning out too early. I know everyone wants to turn out early, but just making sure we're not overgrazing, not turning out too early, so we're wrecking some of those native grasses, and just watching our hay supply carefully in case we do run into a drought this summer," she said.
With the cattle market near record levels, cutting herds down a little may not hurt as much as in some years if conditions do turn dry.
"I always like to cull pretty heavy, but with the prices this year, there's no reason to keep cows that are either not producing up to your standards, maybe are lame, don't have quite a good bag that you're looking for, or are a little mean, but you should be doing that on any regular year," she said. "But if you are worried about hayland or pasture, you know, especially really, take a deep look at your cows to make sure you're culling what needs to be culled."