Two words driving cattle production amid forecast for massive rain: higher ground
The National Weather Service has forecast up to 10 inches of rainfall in parts of Arkansas through Sunday, enacting a flood watch for much of the state through April 6.
By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
April 2, 2025
Fast facts:
- Cattle producers need to worry about post-flood concerns
- Cattle hooves in mud can damage pastures
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(Newsrooms: with file art; with sidebar 04-02-0205-ark-rain-planting)
LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas’ cattle producers have two words in mind: higher ground.
The National Weather Service has forecast up to 10 inches of rainfall in parts of Arkansas through Sunday, enacting a flood watch for much of the state through April 6.
“With this rain coming we’re warning producers about some of the impact it can have,” said Maggie Justice, assistant professor extension beef cattle specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “I am trying to get them to think about where their cattle are if they need to get moved to higher ground from around creeks or ponds even just on low spots.”
Beyond the safety issue of flood waters, there’s a longer-term concern.
“They need also be thinking about the mud and the impact mud can have on everything from the pasture health to the animals’ health,” Justice said. “With this much rain, it’s important to move them to higher ground if needed on the off chance that you can’t get to those cattle when the storm is over.”
Justice said that muddy conditions can lead to several health issues for cattle including lameness and foot infections and increased stress because the cattle can’t get to clean dry areas to rest or feed.
She recommends providing dry, sheltered areas or implementing temporary pens where cattle can rest away from the mud.
Farm infrastructure is another concern, as flood water can wash away feed, equipment and fences. Justice said ranchers should check and reinforce fences, ensure feed storage is elevated to prevent floodwater contamination and try to ensure clean water until the flooding subsides.
When the water does subside, “Make sure to check pastures following the storm for debris and damage,” Justice said, to reduce the chance of cattle being afflicted by “hardware disease,” where sharp objects can cause perforation in the cattle’s digestive system.
Pasture damage
Monday’s Crop Progress report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture noted that 32 percent of the state’s hay was in good to excellent condition with 47 percent in fair condition. Pastures were 25 percent good to excellent and with 52 percent in fair condition. Livestock condition was 43 percent good to excellent and 46 percent in fair condition.
The deluge come on the heels of a fairly dry spring, a time when warm-season grasses are just beginning to green up but haven’t hit their stride because nighttime temperatures haven’t been above 60 degrees on a regular basis.
“Pugging damage, which is hoof action on wet soil, may be bad if we get this rain,” said Jonathan Kubesch, assistant professor and extension forage specialist for the Division of Agriculture.
To minimize damage, the cattle have to be moved.
“There are two philosophies: We can move the animals to a sacrifice lot — let them muck up one spot really bad or do something that's a little bit more typical in wetter climates than ours — is to just speed up the rotation,” Kubesch said. “So, if they are moving cattle field to field, you just speed that up so you're spreading out that damage.
“It can be kind of tricky for some of our people to move around their feeding areas. You don't want to get stuck in the mud and you don't want to be driving through whatever we're going to get,” he said. “So, I'm imagining a lot of people might be thinking about where they're going to be either feeding or where they're going want to try and get the animals to higher ground or where it's going to be convenient to go keep an eye on things.”
Kubesch said that “from the plant’s perspective it's going to be nice to get some water again. Our cool-season grasses are actively growing right now we've had some real nice days and I'm seeing some of our Bermuda and bahia perking up around the state over the past week or so but they're not hitting their stride.”
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact: Mary Hightower,
mhightower@uada.edu