September Beef Management Tips

By Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech. Beef managment tips for September.

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

Spring Calving Herds

• Inventory feed supplies, test hay for nutrient content and plan winter feeding strategies
• Give pre-weaning vaccinations to calves
• Make final preparations for calf crop marketing 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 forages, if possible

Fall Calving Herds

• Body condition score cows; plan nutrition and grazing program on BCS
• Inventory feed supplies, test hay for nutrient content and plan winter feeding strategies
• Make sure all calving supplies are on-hand
• 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 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 less than 5 should receive special nutritional attention
• Keep high quality, high Selenium, high magnesium minerals available
• Plan estrous synchronization program; line-up AI technician and supplies

September 2008

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