Health Tips

Continue high magnesium mineral supplement feeding for cows on lush winter pastures to prevent grass tetany.

Forage & Nutrition Notes

Monitor body condition scores, and adjust nutritional program as needed.
Graze winter annual pastures, maintaining a 4-inch stubble height.
Collect soil samples on summer pastures and hay elds to plan spring fertilization and liming program.
Check with your Extension agent about controlling weeds in cool-season pastures for the summer grazing season.

Conduct breeding soundness exams and make sure bulls are in good condition.
Provide shelter for newborn calves during severe weather.
Tag, castrate, dehorn, and implant calves as soon as practically possible. Do not implant replacement heifers.
Begin breeding replacement heifers to calve about 1 month before cows. Heifers bred by early March should calve by mid-December.
For artificial insemination programs, have ample semen and supplies on hand. Heifers bred by early March should calve by mid-December.
Make sure your bull is ready for breeding season by having a breeding soundness exam done 60 days before the breeding season.

Monitor bred heifers closely for calving.
Maintain good calving records and effective ID system.
After calving, plan to move cow-calf pairs to clean pasture to minimize health risk.
Tag, castrate, dehorn, and implant calves as soon as practically possible. Do not implant replacement heifers.

Continue using the best hay and feed for lactating cows.
Vaccinate calves over 3 months old with clostridial vaccines (blackleg). Check with your veterinarian about other problems in your area.