Health Tips

• Work cattle early in the morning to reduce heat stress, limit time cattle spend in con ned areas, and provide adequate shade.
• Provide fresh, cool water for cattle con ned for extended periods.
• Remove insecticidal y tags as they become ineffective.
• Watch for pinkeye problems.

Forage & Nutrition Notes

• Monitor body condition scores, and adjust nutritional program as needed.
• Continue using the best pasture available for lactating cows.
• Fertilize pastures and hay fields using soil test information.
• Monitor commodity prices, and purchase supplemental winter feed as appropriate.
• Rotationally graze bermudagrass and bahiagrass pastures for improved forage utilization.

Winter Calving Herd

• Maintain good breeding records.
• Observe cows and heifers for return to heat.
• Remove bulls by mid-June to end calving season by late March.
• Schedule pregnancy checks 45 to 60 days after the end of the breeding season.

Spring Calving Herd

• Tag, castrate, dehorn, and implant calves by 4 months of age. Do not implant replacement heifers.
• Vaccinate calves over 3 months old with a clostridial vaccine (blackleg). Check with your veterinarian about other vaccines recommended for your area.

Fall Calving Herd

• Wean calves depending on pasture conditions and marketing plans. After weaning, cull cows based on pregnancy status, soundness, health, and performance.
• Select replacement heifers and permanently identify them.
• Plan a heifer development program to reach target breeding weights.