Beef Management Tips

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Beef Management Tips

Livestock Update, April 2001

John Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech

April Beef Management Calendar

Spring Calving Herds

Finish 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 out to large pastures 3 days after calving
Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate and implant male calves in commercial herds
Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves
Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also
Implant calves at turnout if not implanted at birth
Keep high quality, high magnesium high selenium minerals available
Get breeding soundness exams done on bulls
Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test
Begin managed intensive grazing
Attend VA Beef Expo in Lexington

Fall calving herds

Creep graze calves while on cows
Give vaccinations for Virginia Quality Assured program (VQA)
Wean calves based on marketing plan for calves - must be weaned 45 days for VQA
Implant calves at turnout
Pregnancy check cows 60 days after bulls were removed
Continue feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test
Begin managed intensive grazing
Attend VA Beef Expo in Lexington

Is Implanting Heifers a Good Idea?

When trying to decide if you should implant your heifers, the most important question is "Will she be a replacement or a feeder heifer?" If you can identify the heifer as a potential replacement then I generally recommend that you NEVER implant her. However, if there is a possibility she may not be a replacement heifer that 1 implant AFTER 60 DAYS of age appears not to be detrimental. Reproductive failure in heifers implanted before they are 2 months old is high. In addition, two implants given to replacement heifers appear to be harmful. Certainly, heifers that are destine to be feeder heifers should be implanted and they can be implanted at birth. Ralgro, Synovex-C and Component-C are all good choices for implants for feeder heifers.

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