Beef Management Tips

Livestock Update, January 2006

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

January Beef Management Calendar

Spring Calving Herds

• Begin to gather calving supplies
• Keep late pregnant cows gaining 1.0 lbs per day
• Pregnant heifers and 3 yr olds should gain 2.0-2.5 lbs per day
• Keep high quality minerals available
• Review calving assistance procedures
• Stockpile a few gallons of colostrum
• Attend performance tested bull sales and/or order semen for AI
• Soil test pastures not tested in last 3 yrs
• Order clover seed for frost seeding later this winter
• Mark your calendars for VCA meeting, February 23rd-25th in Blacksburg

Fall Calving Herds

• Begin/continue breeding
• Check cow and bull condition
• Supplement energy to young bulls during breeding season
• Send in forage test if not done earlier this year
• Continue to check calves closely for health problems
• Re-implant September and early October born calves that were implanted at birth
• Soil test pastures not tested in last 3 yrs
• Order clover seed for frost seeding later this winter
• Mark your calendars for VCA meeting, February 23rd-25th in Blacksburg

The cold December Virginia and the MidAtlantic states increased the energy needs by cows. Cowherds in many locations in the area are entering the winter in worse nutritional shape than normal. Variability in fall precipitation and low quality 1st cutting hay resulted in thinner cows heading into December. In Blacksburg, December has averaged almost 10 degrees colder than normal, and much of the state has been the same. Cows are using 5 to 10% more energy than normal during the past month. Producers should check body condition scores and make changes to the winter nutrition program if needed.

In most cases, cows with full access to good quality hay will eat more hay per day to compensate for the cold weather. However, cows eating poor quality hay or hay that is limit fed by rolling it out may not get enough nutrition. In most cases, three to four lbs of corn gluten feed, soyhulls, or dry brewer's grains will be a sufficient supplement to hay to compensate for the cold weather. Access to stockpiled fescue (if it is not iced over) will also supplement enough nutrition.

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