COLLEGE STATION - Cattle across the state are hot, hungry and thirsty, the Texas Agricultural Extension Service reports.
Extension beef cattle specialist Dr. L.R. Sprott said the limited forage and pond water resulting from the drought is taking a toll on cattle across the state.
"The main concern is the lack of forage and the low quality of existing forage," he said.
Sprott said inadequate grazing leads to declining body conditions in cattle.
"Producers really like (their cattle) to go into winter with at least adequate body condition," he said. "Right now cattle are losing their body condition, and there aren't many options."
Sprott said producers have to start feeding now to prevent further loss.
"Producers have to find alternative sources of feed," he said. "The good thing is that most producers have hay from the early 1999 production."
Extension livestock specialist Dr. Stephen Hammack in Stephenville said there is not much for the cattle to eat right now.
"We've been dry all year for the most part," he said. "We're somewhere less than 50 percent of long-term average rainfall."
Hammack added that his area is on track to have near a record low amount of rainfall.
"The Experiment Station started keeping records in the early 1900s and that tells us the story," he said. "We're very low right now."
Hammack said there is essentially no grazing left for most cattle.
"There was some hay made in the spring with some timely rains," he said. "They were not very large in volume, but they were timely."
He said a lot of that hay has already been fed to the cattle, so producers will either have to reduce numbers of cattle or find some supplemental feed.
"A large percentage of producers are supplemental feeding unless they were understoacked and have some grazing pasture left," Hammack said.
Prices are holding up fairly well, he said. However, there is some question as to how long that will last.
"If more cattle go to market that will put pressure on the prices," Hammack said.
He explained that many weaned calves that would have been grazed have been placed directly into feed lots.
"This is not an area with large feed yards, so many cattle have been shipped to feed yards across the state," Hammack said. "As the feed yards fill up, there won't be anywhere for the calves to go."
If this happens, prices will probably decline, he added.
"There is one saving grace in this situation and that is that the price of grain is relatively low," Hammack said.
He explained that this makes feeding of the calves more feasible than in previous years.
"It could be worse," Hammack said. "If grain prices were high it would be considerably worse. Right now we're just waiting for the next El Nino."
District extension director Charles Neeb of Fort Stockton said many producers in Far West Texas don't have that option and are liquidating their herds.
"We are running out of forage," he said. "It is too late for this year, but we are hoping for moisture in the winter and early spring."
Neeb said producers are managing their stocking rates in relation to the amount of vegetation on their land.
"It is not too practical to bring in hay for feeding right now," he said.
In the Rolling Plains, district extension director Galen Chandler said temperatures are above normal and soil moisture is in very short supply.
"Rainfall is badly needed to improve wheat and range pastures," he said.
Chandler said early wheat is making slow progress and late-planted wheat is still emerging under the very dry conditions.
"A general soaking rain is necessary if wheat is to make much progress from here on out," he said.
He added that some cattle are being turned out on some wheat pastures that have adequate growth.
"However, the availability of good wheat pastures is limited," Chandler explained.
He said culling and supplemental feeding continue and stock tanks are short on water. Ranchers should prepare for above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation.
The following specific livestock, crop and weather conditions were reported by district extension directors:
PANHANDLE: soil moisture is very short. Temperatures above normal. Wheat rated poor to good. Dryland wheat drought-stressed. Few Russian wheat aphids have been reported. Cotton harvest nearing completion. Cattle doing well; being supplementally fed.
SOUTH PLAINS: soil moisture is short. Hard freeze came this week. Pastures and ranges in fair to good condition. Good to excellent cotton yields reported. Sorghum, soybean and sunflower harvest nearing completion. Wheat needs moisture.
ROLLING PLAINS: soil moisture is very short. Early wheat making slow progress; soaking rain needed. Cattle being turned out on some wheat pastures. Range, pasture conditions continue to decline. Culling and supplemental feeding continue. Peanuts harvested.
NORTH TEXAS: soil moisture is very short to short. Lack of rainfall has kept many producers from planting winter pastures. Pastures are in poor condition with supplemental feeding in full swing. Lack of pond water becoming critical. Pine trees are being harvested.
EAST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Winter pastures need moisture for germination and growth. Cole crops responding well to mild weather. Cattle conditions are good; prices are steady. Pecan crop is fair; over half of the crop has been harvested.
FAR WEST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Cotton harvest nearly complete; excellent harvest conditions. Wheat is dying out; needs moisture. Lack of rain is a major concern for ranchers; they continue to sell livestock. Pastures conditions deteriorating.
WEST CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is very short to short. Cotton producers are winding down harvest. Oat stands emerged; more moisture is needed. Wheat planting is in full swing; dryland acres need moisture. Pecan harvest under way; production is fair to good.
CENTRAL TEXAS: soil moisture is very short. Pastures with volunteer ryegrass need rain. Cattle in good condition; supplemental feeding continues. Quality and yields in pecans are diverse. SOUTHEAST TEXAS: soil moisture is very short to short. Severe drought conditions in some areas. Producers are making hay and feeding cattle. Preparing soils for spring planting. Peanut and pecan harvest continues.
SOUTHWEST TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Forage availability below average. Livestock stocking rate low. Deer being harvested; condition good. Peanut harvest complete; high yields. Irrigated winter vegetable crops doing well; few disease problems.
COASTAL BEND: soil moisture is short. No measurable rain reported. Temperature cool. All major crops in fallow stage. Hay cutting has slowed. Pastures almost grazed out. Cattle being supplementally fed. Some livestock liquidation has begun.
SOUTH TEXAS: soil moisture is short. Corn crop progressing well. Sugarcane harvest continues. Pastures in good condition; rainfall would be beneficial. Livestock in poor to fair condition. Cabbage, onions progressing well. Most fields being plowed.