Generally, cattle performance on urea-type supplements can be lower than expected when energy or forage is in short supply. Hay cut under moisture stress, especially grain type hays, may contain high levels of nitrate. Test a representative sample for nitrate before feeding such hays. Prussic acid or cyanide poisoning can also be a problem on drought-stunted plants such as sorghum, sorghum hybrids and sudan grass. If forage for hay is allowed to sun cure thoroughly for three to five days, bleaching out any bright green color, prussic acid problems should be lessened.
Cattle grazing short pasture are more likely to consume poisonous plants.
The practice is still good for high protein supplements but is not to be used for grain type supplements. Lack of adequate water will aggravate the impaction problem. Hay harvested from vacant city lots, roadsides etc., may contain nails, wire or foreign objects which can pierce the rumen wall resulting in death of the animal. Drought develops progressively and not overnight. Management of the ranch during a drought depends on the balance between stocking density and the availability of feed and water.