Beef Management Tips

Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech, Livestock Update, September 2007.

Beef Management Tips

2008 November October September August No tips for July June No tips for May April March February January 2007 December November October September August July

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

Fall Calving Herds

• 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

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