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Virginia Cooperative Extension - Knowledge for the CommonWealth

A Cow's Wish for 2006

Livestock Update, January 2006

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

Here's a wish list I developed a few years ago (with revisions), but it's a good idea to review it. Here's wishing you a successful 2006.

In 2006 please give me:

  1. Good working facilities - so I don't get hurt
  2. Improved pasture management for better grazing
  3. A premise ID and records to enhance my calf's and my own marketability
  4. A good free choice loose mineral with high copper and selenium
  5. Regular body condition checks to decide when to supplement
  6. A bull that meets VQA requirements, maybe even an AI bull
  7. Attention during calving - sometimes I need help or my calf is weak
  8. A 60 to 90 day breeding season, I don't like that bull that much
  9. A complete vaccination program that includes lepto
  10. Process my calf at birth so he gets a good start and is identified
  11. Dewormer for my calves, but none for me. I'm resistant to worms!
  12. Control of those darn flies
  13. A vaccination and weaning program for my calf so he won't get sick
  14. Veterinarians that know what they're doing and can give you an estimated calving date.
  15. A marketing program for my calf so he sells well and you can afford to keep me another year.
  16. Finally, if this is the year I don't measure up - market me quickly and effectively. Not as a cripple or thin cow.



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