Beef Management Tips

Livestock Update, March 2007

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

March Beef Management Calendar

Spring Calving Herds

• Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date
• Continue 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 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
• Keep high quality, high magnesium high selenium minerals available
• Purchase estrous synchronization supplies; line up AI technician or AI supplies
• Order fertilizer; start getting equipment ready
• Last chance to frost seed clovers this spring (Early in month)

Fall Calving Herds

• Pull bulls to maintain a 60-75 day calving season
• Remove bulls to bull pasture and check condition
• Begin creep feeding or creep grazing calves if desired
• Plan marketing strategy for calves
• Begin feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
• Make first selection of replacement heifers
• Order fertilizer; start getting equipment ready
• Last chance to frost seed clovers this spring (Early in month)

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.

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