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Beef Management Tips: September Beef Management Calendar
Livestock Update, September 1999
John Hall, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech
Spring calving herds
- Give pre-weaning injections to calves not already weaned (VQA )
- Wean calves this month if pasture is short
- 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; cull especially hard is feed is short
- Make arrangements for backgrounding calves
- Continue feeding high Se trace salt; switch to high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany if rains come
- Inventory feed supplies and secure feed for winter
Fall calving herds
- Body condition score cows; plan nutrition/grazing program based on BCS
- Make sure all calving supplies are on hand and clean
- Move pregnant heifers and early calving cows to calving area about 2 weeks before due date
- Start calving
- 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
- Ear tag and dehorn all calves at birth; castrate male calves in commercial herds
- Give selenium and vitamin A and D injections to newborn calves
- Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also 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
- Purchase estrous synchronization supplies; line up AI technician or AI supplies
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