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Beef Management Tips
Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech, Livestock Update, October 2007.|
Beef Management Tips |
October Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds- Give pre-weaning injections to calves not already weaned (VQA )
- Wean calves this month or early next month
- Market calves at VQA sales, graded sales, telo-auction or as off-farm truckloads
- Make arrangements for backgrounding calves
- Feed replacement heifers to gain 1.5 – 1.75 lbs per day or use the Target Weight method to calculate rate of gain
- Pregnancy check cows
- Body condition score cows at weaning and separate thin cows
- Cull open, old and very thin cows; check feet and legs, udders and eyes
- Switch to high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
- Inventory feed supplies and secure feed for winter
- Continue calving
- Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date
- Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often – assist early if needed
- Keep calving area clean and move healthy pairs out to large pastures 3 days after calving
- Body condition score cows at calving; plan nutrition/grazing program based on BCS
- Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate male calves in commercial herds
- Give selenium plus vitamin E and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves
- Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also if good pasture is not available. Cows calving at BCS < 5 should receive special nutritional attention.
- Keep high quality, high magnesium high selenium minerals available
- Reproductive tract score and measure pelvic areas on yearling replacement heifers; RTS should be 3 or better and pelvic areas should be >150 sq. cm
- Purchase estrous synchronization supplies; line up AI technician or AI supplies
