Tips for managing prolonged dry conditions

By acting early and planning for dry conditions, you can safeguard your livestock, protect grassland and manage feed resources more effectively.

Hot weather can affect animal performance, health and welfare. Here are some easy ways to reduce heat stress.

Use paddocks with natural shade from trees or hedges. Livestock will often seek out shaded areas in hot weather.

Water demand can rise by 10–20% in hot weather.

Provide a constant supply of fresh, clean water and keep troughs out of direct sunlight to keep water cool.

Move, gather or transport livestock early in the morning or late in the evening when temperatures are lower.

Minimise unnecessary stress, including:

• Limiting the time animals spend in holding or collecting areas
• Avoiding overcrowding
• Reducing walking distances, especially for dairy cows going to and from the parlour
• Providing access to housing if cattle are more comfortable indoors

Simple management changes can help animals cope with the heat:

• Sprinkle cows after milking to wet their coats and help them cool down
• Offer buffer feed later in the day so peak rumen fermentation occurs during the cooler evening period

A fly control plan can help reduce stress and lower the risk of disease.

Hot weather affects people as well as livestock.

Make sure everyone stays hydrated, takes regular breaks in the shade and wears suitable protective clothing.

Grass growth often slows significantly during prolonged dry weather, making it important to protect what’s available.

Maintaining grass cover helps support regrowth when rain returns.

Aim to keep post-grazing residuals above 1,500 kg DM/ha, which is around 4 cm.

If necessary, use a sacrifice field to reduce pressure on the rest of the grazing platform.

When grass growth slows, rotation lengths might need to increase to 24–28 days.

Avoid grazing high-cover paddocks if they’re at risk of declining in quality.

Avoid applying nitrogen if no rain is expected. Grass won’t utilise it effectively in dry soils.

Extra forage might be needed sooner than expected during a prolonged dry period.

Bales can be fed immediately when required. Clamp silage ideally needs eight weeks to stabilise but can be fed after four weeks if necessary.

Fill feed gaps economically and monitor winter forage use closely.

Consider the cost per unit of energy and protein when assessing bought-in options.

Remove low-performing or empty animals to reduce pressure on grazing and feed.

Regularly assess the body condition of dairy cows, beef cattle and ewes to spot issues early.

Autumn calvers may benefit from being dried off earlier than planned to reduce nutritional demand.

Secure straw supplies early and explore alternative bedding options if needed.

Water intake can vary significantly between classes of livestock:

• Milking cow: 120–140 litres
• Ewe at peak lactation: More than 7 litres
• Lactating suckler cow: 40–70 litres

Ensure adequate trough capacity and correct pipe sizing for fast refills. All animals should be able to access water freely.

Consider adding temporary troughs in paddocks or near the parlour if this won’t interfere with animal flow.

Regularly check water sources for algae or contamination, which can reduce water intake.