Beef Production Calendar

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Move "close" cows to calving area about 10 days before expected calving.
• Observe every 3-4 hours after calving starts.
• Follow calving season management practices as for heifers previous month. Implement Sandhills Calving System if calf scours are a problem.
  • Mark cows having calving difficulty or other problems for early culling.
  • Body condition score all females as they calve.

FEEDING

• Switch heifers to lactation ration by 10-15 days after calving.
• Plan pasture management & feeding program:
  1. Temporary pastures, rotation, etc.
  2. Early weaning, drylot, etc.

HEALTH

• Observe calves for scours & respiratory problems.
• Vaccinate cows within 3-4 weeks of calving with enterotoxemia C & D toxoid booster and scours vaccine.
• Observe cows for prolapse & retained placenta.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Continued calving management procedures.
• Make final selection of replacement heifers.
• Market cull replacement heifers.
• Watch closely for grass tetany.
• Evaluate profit potential for creep feeding & use of hormone implant.

FEEDING

• Feed magnesium oxide in mineral mix if in grass tetany prone area.
• Switch cows to lactation ration by 10-15 days after calving.
• Hold off pasture until adequate growth for adequate nutrition.
• Plan for winter feed supply.

HEALTH

• Check bulls for breeding soundness and fertility.
• Vaccinate replacement heifers for vibriosis, leptospoirosis, IBR, BVD (optional: MLV-consult veterinarian, killed vaccine - safe when given anytime). Consult your veterinarian.
• Vaccinate all pregnant cows not yet calved with scours vaccine.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Continue calving
• Breed yearling heifers beginning 20 days before cows.
• Plan fly control program.
• Watch for grass tetany.
• Brand if in brand area.
• Implant steer calves.

FEEDING

• Hold off grass until adequate - may need to feed and supplement cows until grass is adequate.
• Continue feeding magnesium oxide.
• Provide salt, free choice - locate away from water.
• Be sure water supply is adequate.

HEALTH

• Vaccine open cows for vibriosis, leptospirosis, IBR, BVD (optional: MLV- consult veterinarian, killed vaccine -safe when given anytime) if not vaccinated as replacement heifers. Consult your veterinarian.
• Vaccinate calves for blackleg & malignant edema.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Body condition score all females.
• Start fly control program.
• Breed cows beginning 10^th-15^th.
• Remove bulls from heifers after 45-50 days.
• Plan weaning program.
• Sell or decide management of all dry cows.

FEEDING

• Be sure water supply, salt mineral/vitamin mix are adequate.
• Rotate young bulls & feed some grain while not with cows.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Control flies.

FEEDING

• Be sure water supply, salt mineral/vitamin are adequate.

HEALTH

• Treat pinkeye early.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Control flies.
• Plan calf weaning management.
• 15^th to 31^st remove bulls from cow herd.

FEEDING

• Be sure water supply is adequate.
• Be sure salt, mineral/vitamin are adequate.

HEALTH

• Treat pinkeye.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Pregnancy check heifers - market according to plan.
• Wean calves off cows marked for culling.
• Market cull cows.

FEEDING

• Turn early weaned calves to good pasture or feed early weaning ration in dry lot.
• Make sure salt, mineral/vitamin are adequate.

HEALTH

• Vaccinate calves for IBR, leptospirosis.
• Vaccinate heifer calves for brucellosis (4-12 months of age). Consult veterinarian.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Wean calves.
• Identify low producing cows.
• Wean calves.
• Pregnancy check cows.
• Body condition score all females.
• Market or develop feeding/marketing plan for open cows and low producers.

FEEDING

• Feed weaned calves for desired gain based on management and marketing plan.
• Turn cows to crop residue or winter range.
• Provide adequate salt mineral/vitamin mix free-choice.

HEALTH

• Check for cancer eye & other health problems.
• Vaccinate calves with 7-way clostridium.
• Vaccinate for IBR, leptospirosis, BVD, (optional) somnugen, (optional) BRSV. Consult your veterinarian.
• Treat for grubs.

FEEDING

• Rotate cows grazing range or corn residue.
• Provide salt, mineral/vitamin mix.

HEALTH

• Pour for lice if not grub treated.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Body condition score all females.
• Separate first- & second-calf heifers from cows (older, thin cows may be included with heifers).
• Test feeds for quality (protein, energy (TDN), and moisture) that will be used in the winter feeding program.

FEEDING

• Feed alfalfa hay or protein supplement for cows grazing range.
• Start heifers on balanced ration designed for last 1/3 of pregnancy.
• Rotate cows to new corn residue field when 50% of husk and leaves are removed.
• Feed complete ration if residue is covered with ice and snow.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Plan to attend a cow/calf management, feeding & marketing program.
• Provide ample water (ice-free in winter).
• Prepare calving quarters - clean sodded area.
• Body condition score entire herd; target cows to calve in BCS 5 and first-calf-heifers in BCS 6.
• Plan Breeding Soundness for bulls.
• Consider Sandhills calving system if scours have been a problem.

FEEDING

• Start cows on ration developed for last 1/3 of gestation.
• Feed bulls same ration as cows but feed to appetite - if too thin, feed some grain.
• Provide adequate salt, mineral/vitamin mix, free choice, until turned to pasture.
• Make sure Vitamin A is adequate.

HEALTH

• Replenish equipment and supplies needed for calving season.
• Vaccinate pregnant yearling heifers: with enterotoxemia C & D toxoid if enterotoxemia has been a problem and with scours vaccine if virus diarrhea has been a problem. Consult your veterinarian.

February

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

• Purchase additional bulls.
• Move bred heifers to calving area 10 days before calving expected (about the 20^th).
• Observe heifers every 3-4 hours after calving starts - assist delivery.
• Eartag calves & keep appropriate records.
• Move pairs to clean pastures as soon as possible after calving.
• Dehorn (& castrate) calves shortly after birth.

FEEDING

• Provide a high quality ration.
• Provide salt mineral/vitamin mix.
• Help calf nurse, if needed.

HEALTH

• Revaccinate pregnant heifers not yet calved: enterotoxemia C & D toxoid; scours vaccine.
• Dip navel of newborn calves in iodine solution.
• Treat calves with scour vaccine Reo orally at birth if viral scours a problem.
• Drench calves dehydrated by scours with prescribed solution.