COW HERD MANAGEMENT
- If cows are in marginal BCS (4.0 – 5.0) going into breeding, possibly consider:
- Supplementing 2-3 weeks prior to and through 1st cycle.
- Using monensin (200 mg/hd/day) in feed supplements.
- Temporary calf removal or a CIDR to initiate estrus in anestrus females.
- Early weaning if BCS doesn’t improve during the season.
- Pregnancy check and cull fall calving cows, if not already done.
- With higher costs, it’s important to closely manage salt and mineral programs.
- Record date and amount of salt and mineral offered and calculate herd consumption.
- If consumption is 2X the target intake, then cost will be too!
- Properly store bags and pallets to avoid damage and product loss.
- Continue to provide high magnesium mineral formulas to cows grazing high risk forages: wheat, rye, triticale, oats, bromegrass, and other cool-season forages.
- Risk of grass tetany is greatest for lactating cows and older cows.
- The estrus synchronization planner (https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/estrussynch.html) is a helpful tool for scheduling synchronization protocols.
- Order your AI supplies well prior to starting your protocols.
- Closely monitor bulls at the start of the breeding season for injury and to make sure they are aggressively covering cows.
CALF MANAGEMENT
- Calculate the value of gain relative to cost of gain for:
- Implanting nursing calves and grass cattle.
- Creep feeding nursing calves
- Finalize health protocols for spring-born calves and cattle going to summer grass.
- Consider supplementing or feeding replacement heifers for a period when initially turning to grass if they don’t have post-weaning grazing experience and/or forage supply is limited.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT
- Reconsider stocking rates and turn-out dates for drought stressed pastures.
- Begin implementing early-season weed/invasive species control.
- Use the Management Minder tool on KSUBeef.org to plan key management activities for your cow herd for the rest of the year.
- Employ multiple strategies and chemistries for controlling flies and insects.
- With high feeder calf prices this spring, consider price risk management tools.
- See recent article in March 2024 Beef Tips by Dr. Jennifer Ifft (Managing Feeder Cattle Price Risk – Beef Tips ) – https://enewsletters.k-state.edu/beeftips/
- Make and evaluate important production calculations:
- Calving distribution (% 1st cycle, % 2nd cycle, % 3rd cycle)
- Calving interval
- % calf crop (# calves weaned/# cows exposed for breeding) for calves born in fall 2023.