Beef Management Tips
Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech, Livestock Update, December 2007
14 December 2007
1 minute read
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Beef Management Tips |
December Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds- Market backgrounded calves
- Feed replacement heifers to gain 1.5 – 1.75 lbs per day or use the Target Weight method to calculate rate of gain
- Monitor body condition of cows
- Test hay for nutrient content and supplement accordingly –Don’t Guess
- Increase energy during cold periods
- Check heaters in waterers regularly
- Attend bull and replacement heifer sales
- Market cull cows this month or January
- Send in soil samples if not done earlier this year.
- Enjoy the Holidays!
- Begin breeding season on cows; complete AI on heifers
- Monitor body condition on cows and especially first calf heifers
- Keep 2 and 3 year-old cows separate from main herd
- Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also if good stockpiled forage is not available.
- Cows calving at BCS < 5 should receive special nutritional attention.
- Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available
- Monitor condition and health of all bulls; remove and replace injured or thin bulls
- Check heaters in waterers regularly
- Send in soil samples if not done earlier this year.
- Enjoy the Holidays!
