Lack of precipitation due to drought conditions has a negative effect on cattle production in regards to lower quantities of forage leading to a decrease in stocking rates. However, actual impacts on livestock performance, including calf growth potential and the subsequent economic impacts, during these time are less understood. In a study from 2011-2014, 869 calves on two University of Wyoming ranches were assessed for weaning weights and gains per day for an adjusted 210 day period. Precipitation during these years varied from 5.9" to 16.4" and 4.2" to 11.1" at the two ranches. Between the wettest and driest years the difference in weaning weights was up to 99 pounds and in gains per day was up to .47 pounds. At these two ranch locations, it can be predicted that for each inch reduction in precipitation, weaning weights will subsequently be 7 to 14 pounds lower, gains per day will be 0.03 to 0.07 pound lower, and price per head values will be $12 to $27 lower.
Oral presentation and poster titles, abstracts, and authors from the Society for Range Management (SRM) Annual Meetings and Tradeshows, from 2013 forward.