For March-calving Beef Cow Herd
The beef production calendar is a management tool to help producers in scheduling practices pertaining to the cow herd over a twelve-month period. The calendar is based on a March calving beef cow herd.
These are management practices for producers to consider by month as March calving cows progress through the 12-month production cycle.
Jump To: March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | January | February
March
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Move cows to calving pasture about 10 days before expected calving date.
- Change first-calf-females to their lactation ration 10 to 15 days before calving starts.
- Observe first-calf females every 3-4 hours after calving starts.
- Observe mature cows 3 to 4 times daily after calving starts.
- Follow calving season management practices strategies.
- Implement Sandhills Calving System if calf scours are a problem.
- Record cows having calving difficulty or other problems.
- Record calves lost at calving. Determine as best you can why they died..
- Body condition score all females as they calve.
- Teat and udder score all females within 24 hours after calving (Article: Udder and Teat Scoring Beef Cows).
- Record cow ID, calf birth date, sex of calf, calving difficulty score, and place an identification number in the calf.
- Purchase replacement bulls.
FEEDING
- Feed first-calf females separate from mature cows before and after calving.
- Feed lactation ration to females that have calved.
- Plan pasture management strategies & pasture rotations.
- Feed bulls to get them in condition for the breeding season (Article: Considerations for Maintaining Condition in Breeding Bulls during Winter).
- Continue feeding replacement heifers so they are cycling before the start of the breeding season.
HEALTH
- Consult with your veterinarian on calving health and management procedures.
- Understand normal stages of calving and when to call for help (Article: Calving Problems: When to Intervene).
- Observe and treat calves for scours & respiratory problems.
- Observe cows for prolapse & retained placenta and have protocol to manage and treat.
- Provide a calving area that has slope and wind protection to reduce mud and exposure to soil pathogens.
- Breeding Soundness evaluation on all bulls is completed.
April
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Continued calving management procedures.
- Selection of replacement heifers should be completed selection of replacement heifers.
- Develop marketing plan for cull replacement heifers.
- If grass tetany is a concern, begin feeding high Mag mineral at least 30 days before spring turn-out to cool-season pastures.
- Evaluate profit potential for creep feeding & calfhood hormone implants.
- Co-mingle bulls in a large pasture so they can establish dominance before the start of the breeding season.
- Continue to feed bulls to be in a BCS of 6 before the breeding season.
- If using artificial insemination, get supplies and semen ordered (Article: Estrus Synchronization Considerations in Beef Herds).
FEEDING
- Continue feeding high quality feeds to lactating female (Article: Cow Nutrition Considerations at Calving and Early Lactation - 2022).
- Begin feeding a magnesium oxide mineral mix if in grass tetany prone area.
- Continue to feed bulls so they are in Body Condition Score of 6 by May 1.
- Hold off pasture until adequate growth for adequate nutrition.
- Continue feeding replacement heifers so they are cycling before the start of the breeding season.
HEALTH
- Breeding Soundness Evaluations should have been completed on all bulls breeding soundness and fertility.
- Pre-breeding vaccinations for replacement heifers. Consult your veterinarian.
- Consult your veterinarian on vaccinations for cows and calves prior to moving females and calves to pasture.
- All replacement heifers should have received their bangs (brucellosis) vaccination (Article: Saying goodbye to metal bangs tags and hello to EID tags).
May
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Calving should be complete.
- Cool-season pastures should be ready to graze.
- Continue feeding High Mag mineral. Watch for grass tetany.
- Breed yearling heifers beginning 20 days before cows.
- Plan fly control program.
- Brand if in brand area.
- Implant male calves. Follow label directions.
- If using artificial insemination, implement protocols.
- Turn in bulls the 23rd of May for March 1 calving cows.
- Cows that did not calve or lost their calf, have management/marketing plan.
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
- Consult your veterinarian for vaccination program for cows and calves before going to pasture.
June
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Start fly control program.
- Check bulls, cows, and calves in the breeding pastures.
- Record cows that are being bred while checking them.
- Remove bulls from heifers after 45-50 days.
- Check water sources.
- Check fences.
FEEDING
- Check water sources.
- Check minerals supplements in pastures, salt mineral/vitamin mix.
- Continue pasture rotation plan.
- Monitor pasture conditions and quantity.
HEALTH
- Check and treat for pinkeye.
- Check and treat for foot rot.
July
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Make sure flies are under control.
- Check bulls, cows, and calves in the breeding pastures.
- Record cows that are being bred.
- Remove bulls on July 29th. This date is for a 65-day breeding season.
- Move bulls to a pasture with plenty of room to avoid fighting and injury.
- Check bulls for injuries and health.
FEEDING
- Check water supply.
- Feed salt mineral/vitamin.
- Check pastures for quantity.
- Continue pasture rotation.
- If pasture supply is not adequate, consider early weaning (Article: Early Weaning Beef Calves Sometimes Makes Cents) or dry lotting (Article: Drylotting Beef Cows - A Drought Management Strategy) the cow herd.
HEALTH
- Check and treat pinkeye.
- Check and treat for foot rot.
August
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Control flies.
- Plan calf weaning management.
- Check fences.
- Check pastures and assess quantity.
FEEDING
- Check water supply.
- Check and feed salt and mineral/vitamin.
- Continue with grazing plan.
- Is the quantity of grass in pastures enough to continue to graze?
- If pasture supply is not adequate, consider early weaning (Article: Early Weaning Beef Calves Sometimes Makes Cents) or dry lotting (Article: Drylotting Beef Cows - A Drought Management Strategy) the cow herd.
HEALTH
- Check and treat pinkeye.
- Check and treat foot rot.
- Check bull health and for injuries.
September
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Pregnancy check heifers and cows the last week of September (especially if in drought conditions). Female will be at least 60 day pregnant.
- Have a marketing plan for cull females.
- Market cull cows.
- Is the quantity of grass in pastures enough to continue grazing?
FEEDING
- If calves are early weaned calves have a feeding plan.
- Make sure salt, mineral/vitamin are adequate.
- If pasture supply is not adequate, consider early weaning (Article: Early Weaning Beef Calves Sometimes Makes Cents) or dry lotting (Article: Drylotting Beef Cows - A Drought Management Strategy) the cow herd.
HEALTH
- Consult your veterinarian for calf and cow vaccination program.
- Check and treat pinkeye.
- Check and treat foot rot.
October
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Pregnancy check cows if weaning occurs this month.
- Body condition score all females.
- Identify low producing cows.
- Market or develop feeding/marketing plan for open cows and low producers.
- Select replacement heifer (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
FEEDING
- Feed weaned calves for desired gain based on management and marketing plan.
- Feed replacement heifers for desired rate of gain (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
- Turn cows to crop residue or winter range.
- Provide adequate salt mineral/vitamin mix free-choice.
HEALTH
- Check for cancer eye & other health problems.
- Consult your veterinarian on herd health program for cows and calves.
- Pregnancy check all females.
- Vaccinate heifer calves for brucellosis (4-12 months of age; Article: Saying goodbye to metal bangs tags and hello to EID tags). Consult veterinarian.
November
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Pregnancy check cows if weaning occurs this month.
- Body condition score all females if weaning occurs this month.
- Identify low producing cows at weaning using records.
- Market or develop feeding/marketing plan for open cows and low producers.
- Select replacement heifer (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
Feeding
- Feed weaned calves for desired gain based on management and marketing plan.
- Feed replacement heifers for desired rate of gain (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
- Turn cows to crop residue or winter range.
- Provide adequate salt mineral/vitamin mix free-choice.
- Inventory and purchase feeds (Article: Determining how much forage a beef cow needs per day).
HEALTH
- Check for cancer eye & other health problems.
- Consult your veterinarian on herd health program for cows and calves.
- Pregnancy check all females if weaning occurs this month.
- Vaccinate heifer calves, if not yet vaccinated, for brucellosis (4-12 months of age; Article: Saying goodbye to metal bangs tags and hello to EID tags). Consult veterinarian.
December
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Body condition score all females.
- Separate first- & second-calf females from mature cows.
- Sample and 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.
- 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.
- Feed replacement heifer for desired rate of gain (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
January
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Plan to attend a cow/calf management, feeding & marketing program.
- Provide ample water (ice-free in winter).
- Prepare calving quarters - clean calving barn.
- Body condition score entire herd; target cows to calve in BCS 5 and first-calvers in BCS 6.
- Plan Breeding Soundness for bulls.
- Consider Sandhills calving system if scours have been a problem (Article: Basic Principles Used in the "Sandhills Calving System" and How They Apply to Other Production Environments).
- Evaluate spring and summer pasture.
- Plan summer grazing program (Article: Using the Grazing Records Spreadsheet for Documentation and Planning).
- Calculate measures of production efficiencies in the cow herd (Article: Cow Herd Report Card I: Pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed; Article: Cow Herd Report Card II. Post-partum interval & calving rates; Article: Cow Herd Report Card III: Calving distribution & pounds of calf weaned per acre).
FEEDING
- Start cows are in last 1/3 of gestation.
- Begin supplementing bulls to target them to be in BCS of 6 by the start of the breeding season (Article: Winter Bull Management and What to Do if Your Bulls Get Frostbite on the Testes?).
- This is the last opportunity to change body condition on cows before calving.
- Move cows to a new corn stalk field.
- Provide adequate salt, mineral/vitamin mix, free choice, until turned to pasture.
- Make sure Vitamin A is adequate.
- Feed replacement heifer for targeted rate of gain (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
HEALTH
- Replenish equipment and supplies needed for calving season.
- Consult your veterinarian on pre-calving vaccinations.
February
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Purchase additional bulls.
- Move bred heifers to calving area 10 days before calving expected (about the 20th).
- Observe heifers every 3-4 hours after calving starts - assist delivery.
- Eartag calves & keep records at calving.
- Move pairs to clean pastures as soon as possible after calving
- Prepare for calving (Article: Don’t Panic! Preparing for Calving Season is Simple and Easy*).
- Castration and dehorning (Article: Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance: Starting Newborn Calves Off Right).
FEEDING
- Provide high-quality lactation ration (Article: Feeding First-Calf Heifers After Calving; Article: Cow Nutrition Considerations at Calving and Early Lactation).
- Provide salt mineral/vitamin mix.
- Continue to feed replacement heifers for the targeted rate of gain (Article: Selecting and Developing Replacement Heifers).
- Help calf nurse, if needed.
HEALTH
- Revaccinate pregnant heifers scours vaccine.
- Consult your veterinarian regarding vaccines needed at this time.
- Dip navel of newborn calves in iodine solution.
- Managing new-born calf at calving (Articles: Keys to a prosperous start for newborn calves; Scours – What are they?).