Reduced forage supplies across Western Canada might force those who are short of hay to get rid of their cows rather than pay dearly to feed them.
“The scuttlebutt is to a large extent, the farmers are saying they are not looking to buy replacement hay. They will reduce cow herds,” said Lonny Steward of the British Columbia ministry of agriculture crop insurance division.
Southern irrigated regions produced normal crops but drought in the B.C. Peace has reduced hay yields, which are 20 to 80 percent of normal.
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“If the future prospects for profit on cattle are good, then they would certainly look much more closely at buying replacement hay. But when you are taking a loss on each calf, then the notion of buying hay to produce a calf crop doesn’t look like a good venture,” he said.
Under current feed prices, overwintering a pregnant cow would cost $1.30 to $1.50 a day. Add in freight costs that are two to three times higher than five years ago and bringing in hay is less feasible than shipping the cattle.
The Peace region also experienced drought in 2006 when hay exceeded $100 per tonne. Steward does not expect many people to pay that during a period of high fuel and grain costs.
The same mind-set prevails on the Prairies.
“It (forage) is a lot more expensive than it was 10 years ago or even five years ago,” said Alberta forage specialist Barry Yaremcio.
Fertilizer costs also affect forage prices and growers want to recoup their input costs.
“The days of $10 a bale straw are gone,” he said.
Feed alternatives like lightweight barley or sprouted durum may provide some savings.
Swath grazing provides a cost saving of 40 to 50 cents a day and bale grazing is 25 to 30 cents cheaper per day than bringing feed to cows.
Hay quantity and quality vary across the Prairies.
The western side of the Alberta Peace region is in dire drought, forcing the annual calf run to start three weeks early to provide some relief to a stressed cow herd, said Yaremcio.
West of Edmonton to Drayton Valley-Thorsby, less than 75 millimetres of rain fell all summer. From Hanna to Provost, dryness and extreme July heat burned forage supplies. Cows may get turned onto those fields rather than attempting a second cut.
June and July rain from Calgary south grew a lot of hay but resulted in bleaching and discolouration.
Some hay turned black because it was turned so many times.
Rained-on hay could lose 10 to 15 percent of its soluble carbohydrates and soluble protein.
“This is the year to test your hay,” Yaremcio said.
Saskatchewan has areas where yields are half to three quarters of normal because it was so cool and dry in the spring when the grass started growing, said Andre Bonneau of the agriculture ministry.
“In some cases, the second cuts are nicer than the first cuts,” he said.
Hay sales quotes are rumoured to be highin some locations. The cost of diesel pushed freight to $5.50 to $7 per loaded mile but it is all dependent on what people are willing to pay.
Manitoba has variable conditions from extremely dry in the southwest to saturated fields in the Interlake region where no hay is likely to be cut, said John Popp of the agriculture department.
Feed put up for dairy cattle did not meet the grade so farmers south and east of Winnipeg may offer that for sale.
“Everything north of No. 1 highway, like McAuley, have had a fairly good quality of hay,” said Popp.
“Some guys will source some straw and energy feeds will be fed to cows.”
Because of the wet season there are high levels of fusarium-infected wheat and sprouted grains that can be added to the ration without side effects.
Prices are variable, from 2½ cents to 5 ½ cents a pound. Freight is around $3.50 per loaded mile, but the province is offering assistance.
“Most of those bales will move for $10, $15 per bale so economically speaking it doesn’t make sense to feed a beef cow five cent hay,” he said.
Under the Manitoba Forage Assistance Program, effective Aug. 1 to March 31, 2009, a subsidy of 20 cents per tonne per loaded mile is available for shipments of baled straw and 15 cents per tonne per mile for hay, on movements within a minimum of 40 kilometres up to a maximum of 480 km.
Concentrated feedstuffs and grain are eligible for assistance of nine cents per tonne per mile to a maximum of 240 km. To be eligible, all feed must be used for animals that were owned or leased as of Aug 1, 2008.
