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Beef Management Tips
Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech, Livestock Update, April 2008.|
Beef Management Tips |
April Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds- Finish calving
- Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often - assist early if needed
- Keep calving area clean and well drained, move healthy pairs out to large pastures 3 days after calving
- Ear tag all calves at birth; castrate and implant male calves in commercial herds
- Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves
- Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also
- Implant calves at turnout if not implanted at birth
- Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available
- All bulls need a breeding soundness exam 30 days before start of breeding season
- Creep graze calves while on cows
- Give pre-weaning respiratory vaccinations - IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, pasteurella
- Collect 205 day weights on calves; weigh and body condition score cows
- Wean commercial calves based on marketing plan for calves - many valued added feeder cattle programs require calves to be weaned 45 days
- Re-implant commercial calves - do not implant replacement heifers
- Pregnancy check cows 60 days after bulls were removed
- Continue feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
- Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test
- Begin managed intensive grazing
- Check hay making equipment
April 2008
