Beef Management Tips
Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech, Livestock Update, September 2007.
15 September 2007
1 minute read
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Beef Management Tips |
September Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds- Test hay for nutrient content and make decisions on supplements now!
- Give pre-weaning vaccinations to calves for VQA program
- Pregnancy check cows
- Body condition score cows at weaning and separate thin cows
- Put open, old and very thin cows on cull list
- Make arrangements for backgrounding calves
- Continue feeding high Se trace mineral salt
- Continue to stockpile grass, if possible
- Body condition score cows; plan nutrition grazing program on BCS
- Inventory feed supplies for winter, make decisions on alternative feed supplies now!
- Make sure all calving supplies are on-hand and clean
- Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date
- Start 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 to large pastures 3 days after calving
- Ear tag all calves at birth; castrate male calves in commercial herds
- Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves
- Feed cows extra energy after calving especially to two-year-olds. Cows calving at BCS < 5 should receive special nutritional attention
- Keep high quality, high Selenium, high magnesium minerals available
- Purchase estrous synchronization supplies; line-up AI tech or AI supplies
