Beef Management Tips - October 2001

Livestock Update, September 2001

John Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech

September Beef Management Calendar

• 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; cull especially hard is feed is short
• Switch to high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
• Inventory feed supplies and secure feed for winter

Fall calving herds

• 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

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