A 1,000-pound cow requires 20 to 25 pounds of dry forage per day. Typically in the Trans-Pecos, forage dry matter must come from the pasture, since it is usually uneconomical to feed hay. Higher density energy supplements may help make up for short grass, but remember that the cereal grains must be fed every day to keep acidosis problems in check, and also to reduce the inhibitory effects that grain may have on the animal's ability to digest pasture forage. Again, when forage is extremely short, supplementation of large quantities of energy in any form for extended periods of time is usually uneconomical. Animals will perform so long as their supplement compensates for what nutrients are limiting in their diet.
Protein is usually the first limiting nutrient in dormant forage.
Protein supplementation can actually stimulate forage intake. The form of supplement, be it block, cube, lick, meal, etc. is unimportant as long as consumption of limiting nutrients is adequate. If animal supplemental requirements are particularly high, some self-fed supplements may not allow for this to occur. Molasses can be used to stretch short grass, but just like grain supplements, molasses will require that a high quality protein supplement accompany it. NPN is NOT a drought supplement.