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Beef Management Tips
Livestock Update, March 2006
John B. Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech
March Beef Management Calendar
Spring Calving Herds
Fall Calving Herds
Prevention Key to Reducing Scours
The typically wet springs of the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions create ideal conditions for calf scours. Reducing exposure to scour pathogens is the key to preventing and reducing scours. Cows should calve in clean pastures and cow-calf pairs should be moved to new well drained pastures 3 days after calving. Move round bale feeders frequently to prevent concentration of pathogens. Avoid ponds and streams as water sources if possible. Isolate scouring calves and their dams from the rest of the herd.