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Much of the U.S. has suffered from drought for several months.  Lack of rain obviously limits the amount of available grass. Under normal conditions, grass is the majority source the daily amounts of energy and protein required by the cow for her maintenance and production needs. Supplemental proteins, minerals, trace minerals and vitamins are fed to make up for nutritional deficiencies, which occur as grass matures.

Drought changes the normal growth curve of grass.  Not only is the quantity of grass less, the grass matures faster. If we normally start supplementing protein in September or October; we might have to start 30-45 days sooner during drought due to lower than expected grass protein levels. The following table is an example of what occurred during the 2002 drought in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

2011 Range Beef Cow Symposium, Volesky and Adams, page 206

The plants have reached maturity much earlier in the season. Their July protein analysis is more typical of a mid-September analysis. A plant tries to produce seed in order for the species to survive long term. During a drought, there is less leaf growth (quantity and percent of plant) as the plant uses the available moisture in an attempt to produce seed. So there is not only less grass to eat, the available grass is lower in quality.

2011 Range Beef Cow Symposium, Volesky and Adams, page 206

As less and less grass is available, producers start to supplement. It is important to remember a protein supplement makes up for the lower protein available when sufficient quantities of the forage are being grazed or hay being fed. It does not replace the lack of forage due to drought. Lowering the protein level in a protein supplement and increasing the fat level will increase the energy in the supplement. However, increasing the fat percentage in a one pound per head per day protein supplement from five to ten percent may sound like a significant increase in energy but the increased fat intake will not replace the energy from one pound of hay. In fact that increase in fat is less than the energy in 0.20 pounds of corn. We need to keep in mind quantities as well as quality.

CRYSTALYX® low moisture blocks are nationally known for predictable controlled consumption. Many producers use this predictability in conjunction with the web-based CRYSTALYX® Supplement Scheduler to manage their supplement delivery schedule. If available forage is severely limited, cows may spend more time consuming self-fed supplements resulting in increased daily intakes. Low moisture blocks like CRYSTALYX,® due to their physical characteristics, are more resistant to over consumption. 

Very hot, persistent temperatures where forage availability is limited are conditions that should prompt you to be monitoring intakes closely. Customer satisfaction is greatest when your cattle consume within normal intake expectations. If consumption is not at normal expected levels, you may need to evaluate the location of where blocks are placed relative to water, shade and standing forage; how much forage is available to graze; how many cattle you have stocked per barrel; etc. As environmental conditions become more stressed, management demands of your supplement program will increase dramatically over more normal conditions.

Water and hay are hot topics this fall in much of the U.S. this year.  We have had historic drought conditions along with record number of days with temperatures above 100 degrees.  Water is the most important daily requirement when temperatures are this hot.  Several herds have been moved across state lines just because the ranch was out of water.  So it was great last night to visit with a west central Missouri rancher who was not worried about his water supply.  He not only had water, it was a spring-fed water supply.  He had made the investment in a storage tank so he could pipe clean cool spring water to watering tanks for his cows.  He also had quite a bit of timber in his pastures for shade.  He was having an average year for the performance for his herd.

However, his performance is much better than the average for this year.  His “better” water supply and “better” shade was and is worth quite a bit this year (and every year).  He has a normal calf crop to market at much “better” prices and will have a normal calf crop next year to market at “better” yet prices.  What else is he doing better?

He has several acres of alfalfa and improved grass for hay production.  He has culled a few head but will have enough hay to get to next spring.  He will not buy hay because his “poor” hay is “better” than the high-priced hay that is locally available.  He didn’t think his spoiled cows would eat “purchased” hay.  He will have to reseed some alfalfa next spring but is looking at this as an opportunity to improve his fescue pastures.  He is considering a New Zealand fescue variety with finer leaves that is better than his current fescue.

We didn’t talk about his genetics or his marketing plan.  But, I imagine it is better than an average plan.  We did, however, visit about fetal programing and which CRYSTALYX^® product would be best for his feed program and calving season.  He has a choice of several different feed suppliers but feels a CRYSTALYX^® low moisture block is the best product available.

He feels the choices in the CRYSTALYX^® product line are better than any other feed company’s.  He feels he can closely match his feed resources with a CRYSTALYX^® product to better match his cattle’s requirements. 

This producer is one of the “better” ones.  His management plan uses better water, shade, feed and feed supplements.  He is “better” than most at asking good questions.  He does not want a cheap product; he wants a “better” product than will allow his animals to perform much “better” than average.  His bottom line is likely much better than average this year and probably every year.

CRYSTALYX^® low-moisture blocks (LMB) are a popular free-choice supplement that provides consistent low daily intakes that generally deliver less than 1 pound per head, per day for grazing beef cattle. These LMB supplements are manufactured by dehydrating molasses and then blending with dry ingredients to arrive at a specific nutrient profile for grazing livestock. Some formulations feature higher protein guarantees, while others feature a mineral/vitamin supplement depending upon what may be required. 

CRYSTALYX^® can be described as a product with “cold-flow” properties where it can physically flow under its own product weight.  What this means for LMB’s is that they are physically hard at ambient temperatures but require a rigid container so that they hold their shape.  This also means that as ambient temperatures dramatically increase and/or persist over a number of days, LMB’s become more pliable and softer. Sunlight has the effect of increasing the surface temperature of the blocks by 20 degrees (Graph 1). This means that surface temperatures of the blocks can exceed 125 degrees on hot days. Cool nights generally help to harden the product back to a hardness that is conducive to typical intakes of less than 1 pound. However, extended periods of extremely high temperatures coupled with nights that do not cool appreciably, contribute greatly to LMB’s that are softer than what is desirable.    

The southern U.S. has been experiencing these conditions this summer in addition to extreme drought over a wide geographic area. Extreme temperatures and sunlight can influence physical properties of LMB supplements and when combined with limited forage availability supplement programs need to be monitored closely to meet intake expectations.

Graph 1

Handling, Storage and Feeding Tips for CRYSTALYX^® in Hot Weather

Handling and Storage:

1)  Make sure barrels, steel, BioBarrel^® or plastic, are stored upright and that nothing is placed directly on the surface of the product.

2)  If hot temperatures persist, be sure barrels other than steel are not stacked more than two high in order to limit the weight on the bottom row of containers.

3)  Persistent heat will cause LMB product to become more malleable and allow for potential shifting in storage for CRYSTALYX^® in plastic barrels and the BioBarrel®. 

4)  Keep containers out of the direct sun light in storage.

5)  Monitor stored product daily to look for changes in product or containers that may cause shifting.

6)  Pay particular attention to the bottom row of barrels that are placed directly on pallets as shifting can occur due to an uneven pallet surface for BioBarrel® or plastic barrels.

7)  Un-stack BioBarrel^® and plastic barrels if they are more than two levels high.  Placing all containers at ground level is advised when storage conditions permit.

Feeding Tips:

1)  Make sure there is plenty of available forage in pastures.  Once forage becomes limiting, supplement intake will most often increase.

2)  Be sure there are 20 to 30 head per barrel for proper surface area exposure.  Fewer animals per container could allow for increased daily intake.

3)  Place barrels further away from water or loafing areas once livestock are familiar with the supplement to decrease intake.

4)  If possible, position barrels in areas that receive shade during the day.

5)  Low-moisture block products will normally soften with high temperatures.  Shade will significantly reduce this softening and night cooling will return product to original hardness.

6)  Check your livestock frequently during extended periods of heat to make sure they have access to fresh water and CRYSTALYX^® supplement programs are delivering expected intakes.  Repositioning barrels in the pasture may be needed to help reach desired intake.

7)  Common livestock management practices that can lead to higher CRYSTALYX^® supplement intake include:

a.  Limited forage availability and/or a significant reduction in quality.

b.  Fewer than 20 to 30 head per container where they have access to more supplement surface area.

c.  Confined situations where cattle are in close proximity to supplement containers for most of the day.

d.  Placement of CRYSTALYX^® barrels in open, un-shaded areas near water.

e.  Allow free-choice supplement access to starved animals that were previously restricted.

CRYSTALYX^® products can be successfully fed under a wide range of grazing conditions including summer pastures.  Long periods of extended heat has the ability to influence the hardness of the product, however, properly manufactured product can safely and predictably be fed.  Drought conditions, modifications in container placement or stocking rates per container are important factors that should be considered when managing a summer LMB supplementation program.