| SPRING
CALVING HERD |
FALL
CALVING HERD |
| Preweaning
working: |
Calving
season begins: |
- Consult your veterinarian on the
merits of a preweaning working of the herd which may include:
|
- Cows should be moved to a clean,
accessible pasture for calving.
|
- vaccinating calves for:
IBR-PI3-BVD-BRSV
clostridial diseases (blackleg)
Brucellosis for heifer calves, if not done previously
|
- Move cows with calves to best
quality fall pasture after calving. If you apply nitrogen
to a fescue pasture this month, accumulated fescue should be
available to these cow-calf pairs in November-December when
their nutrition needs are great.
|
- Pregnancy examination of the cows.
|
- Identify calf with eartag and/or
tattoo while calves are young and easy to handle and record dam
ID and birth date. Commercial male calves should also be
castrated and implanted according to product
recommendations.
Castration and dehorning are less stressful when performed on
young animals. Registered calves should be weighed during
the first 24 hours.
|
- Blood test of cows for herd
certification.
|
- Schedule A.I. technicians if
applicable.
|
- Treatment of cows for grubs and
lice.
|
FORAGES:
|
- Deworm if retaining calves more
than 30 days.
|
- Continue taking soil samples for
perennial crops and apply fertilizer as needed.
|
- Creep feeding may give extra gain
and prepare calves for eating dry feed at weaning.
|
- Plant perennial grasses at optimal
rate, date, and depth.
|
- Marketing: Make an
economic analysis of all marketing options for calves including
selling at auction barn, video, and private treaty.
Another option is retained ownership, either by backgrounding or
sending the calf to the feedlot.
|
- Harvest alfalfa by mid-
September.
|
|
CONSIDERATIONS
FOR ALL CATTLE:
|
- Continue harvest of corn silage.
|