Supplementation During Drought

Breeding failure is the most important adverse consequence to the cow herd during drought. This is due to reduced forage quality and availability, resulting in nutritional stress. As forage quality decreases, lignin and other more slowly digestible components of forage increase. This lower quality forage remains longer in the rumen before exiting, reducing forage intake. Thus, the cow may be unable to eat enough forage to maintain body weigh.