October Beef Management Calendar

Livestock Update, October 2008

Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech

Spring Calving Herds

• Work calves prior to weaning, administer pre-weaning vaccinations
• Wean calves this month or early next month
• Market calves to your best advantage
• 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
• Switch to high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany
• Finalize winter feeding strategies and 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; protein supplementation may be needed 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
• Plan estrous synchronization program; line-up AI technician and supplies

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