Beef Management Tips, September 2002

Livestock Update, September 2002

John B. Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech

September Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds

• Consider weaning calves to reduce feed requirements of cows
• Inventory feed supplies for winter, make decisions on alternative feed supplies now!
• Give pre-weaning injections to calves (VQA)
• Pregnancy check cows
• Body condition score cows at weaning and separate thin cows
• Put open, old and very thin cows on cull list; put cull cows in a separate pasture to feed for sale in December
• 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 and dehorn 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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