Beef Management Tips

Livestock Update, April 2008

Dr. John B. Hall, Extension Beef Specialist, VA Tech

April Beef Management Calendar

Spring Calving Herds

• Finish calving
• Check cows 3 to 4 times per day, heifers more often – assist early if needed
• Keep calving area clean and well drained, move healthy pairs out to large pastures 3 days after calving
• Ear tag all calves at birth; castrate and implant male calves in commercial herds
• Give selenium and vitamin A & D injections to newborn calves
• Feed cows extra energy after calving; some protein may be needed also
• Implant calves at turnout if not implanted at birth
• Keep high quality, high magnesium, high selenium minerals available
• All bulls need a breeding soundness exam 30 days before start of breeding season

• Creep graze calves while on cows
• Give pre-weaning respiratory vaccinations – IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, pasteurella
• Collect 205 day weights on calves; weigh and body condition score cows
• Wean commercial calves based on marketing plan for calves – many valued added feeder cattle programs require calves to be weaned 45 days
• Re-implant commercial calves – do not implant replacement heifers
• Pregnancy check cows 60 days after bulls were removed
• Continue feeding high magnesium minerals to prevent grass tetany

Pastures and Forages

• Fertilize pastures and hay fields according to test
• Begin managed intensive grazing
• Check hay making equipment

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