K-State Research and Extension

Management Considerations

By Jason M. Warner, Ph.D., Extension Cow-Calf Specialist

Cow Herd Management

For spring-calving cow herds:

• If not already done, make plans for weaning calves.
  • Test your forages and have feedstuffs on hand prior to weaning.
  • Check and clean waterers and prepare weaning/receiving pens.
• Evaluate cow BCS at weaning.
  • Record scores with the BCS Record Book (https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/Item.aspx?catId=562&pubId=19320) from KSRE!
  • Use BCS to strategically supplement cows during fall, if needed.
  • Female requirements are lowest at weaning so weight and BCS can be added more easily in early fall rather than waiting until closer to calving.
• Schedule pregnancy checking and fall health work if not already done.
  • How were pregnancy rates relative to last year?
  • Do we need to re-think our fall/winter nutrition program?
• Evaluate the cost of gain relative to the value of gain when making feeding and marketing decisions for cull cows.

For fall-calving cow herds:

• If not already done, review your calving health protocols as needed.
• Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
• Plan to adjust your nutrition program to match needs of lactating cows.
• Use the estrus synchronization planner (https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/estrussynch.html) to help plan fall synchronization protocols.

Plan your mineral supplementation for this coming fall and winter.

• Record date and amount offered and calculate herd consumption.
• If consumption is 2X the target intake, then cost will be too!
• Risk of grass tetany is greatest for lactating cows. Consider magnesium levels in mineral supplements for cows grazing cool-season forages and winter annuals this fall.

Schedule breeding soundness exams for bulls used for fall and winter service.

• Monitor BCS, particularly on young bulls.
• If bulls are BCS ≤ 5.0, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into winter.

Calf Management

Consider the economic value by implanting nursing fall-born calves and weaned spring-born calves.

If not already done, schedule your breeding protocols for fall replacement heifers in advance of the breeding season.

• If synchronizing with MGA, make sure intake is consistent at 0.5 mg of melengestrol acetate per hd per day for 14 days, and remove for 19 days prior to administering prostaglandin.

General Management

Take inventory of and begin sampling harvested forages for fall feed needs.

• Be aware of possible presence of molds and other anti-nutritional compounds in hay harvested at higher than typical moisture levels.
• Test for nitrates and prussic acid when appropriate.
• Use the forage inventory calculator (https://www.agmanager.info/hay-inventory-calculator) to balance forage inventories with fall/winter grazing acres.
• If grazing crop residues following harvest, keep the following in mind:
• The bottom 1/3 of the stalk is where nitrates accumulate.
• Be aware of prussic acid in new regrowth of sorghum plants, and the time around frost is the greatest risk.
• High amounts of down grain will require a change in management.

Use the Management Minder tool on KSUBeef.org (https://www.asi.k-state.edu/extension/beef/tools.html) to plan key management activities for your cow herd for the rest of the year.

With high feeder calf prices, consider price risk management tools.

Begin preparing for cold weather (i.e. tank heaters, windbreaks, bedding).

Management Considerations for October 2024

By Jason M. Warner, Ph.D., Extension Cow-Calf Specialist

Cow Herd Management

For spring-calving cow herds:

• If not already done, make plans for weaning calves.
  • Test your forages and have feedstuffs on hand prior to weaning.
  • Check and clean waterers and prepare weaning/receiving pens.
• Evaluate cow BCS at weaning.
  • Record scores with the BCS Record Book from KSRE.
  • Use BCS to strategically supplement cows during fall, if needed.
  • Female requirements are lowest at weaning so weight and BCS can be added more easily in early fall rather than waiting until closer to calving.
• Schedule pregnancy checking and fall health work if not already done.
  • How were pregnancy rates relative to last year?
  • Do we need to re-think our fall/winter nutrition program?
• Evaluate the cost of gain relative to the value of gain when making feeding and marketing decisions for cull cows.

For fall-calving cow herds:

• If not already done, review your calving health protocols as needed.
• Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
• Plan to adjust your nutrition program to match needs of lactating cows.
• Use the estrus synchronization planner to help plan fall synchronization protocol https://www.iowabeefcenter.org/estrussynch.html

Plan your mineral supplementation for this coming fall and winter.

• Record date and amount offered and calculate herd consumption.
• If consumption is 2X the target intake, then cost will be too!
• Risk of grass tetany is greatest for lactating cows. Consider magnesium levels in mineral supplements for cows grazing cool-season forages and winter annuals this fall.

Schedule breeding soundness exams for bulls used for fall service.

• Monitor BCS, particularly on young bulls.
• If bulls are BCS ≤ 5.0 after summer breeding, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into fall.

Calf Management

Schedule any pre-weaning vaccination or processing activities if not already done.

Consider the economic value by implanting nursing fall-born calves and weaned spring-born calves.

If not already done, schedule your breeding protocols for fall replacement heifers in advance of the breeding season.

• If synchronizing with MGA, make sure intake is consistent at 0.5 mg of melengestrol acetate per hd per day for 14 days, and remove for 19 days prior to administering prostaglandin.

General Management

Take inventory of and begin sampling harvested forages for fall feed needs.

• Be aware of possible presence of molds and other anti-nutritional compounds in hay harvested at higher than typical moisture levels.
• Test for nitrates and prussic acid when appropriate.
• Use the forage inventory calculator (https://www.agmanager.info/hay-inventory-calculator).
• Balance forage inventories with fall/winter grazing acres.

If grazing crop residues following harvest, keep the following in mind:

• The bottom 1/3 of the stalk is where nitrates accumulate.
• Be aware of prussic acid in new regrowth of sorghum plants, and the time around frost is the greatest risk. High amounts of down grain will require a change in management.

Use the Management Minder tool on KSUBeef.org to plan key management activities for your cowherd for the rest of the year.

With high feeder calf prices, consider price risk management tools for fall-calves.

Management Considerations for August 2024

By Jason M. Warner, Ph.D., Extension Cow-Calf Specialist

For spring-calving cow herds: Monitor BCS through late summer, particularly on young females. Use the BCS Record Book from KSRE to record scores! 2–4-year-old females and thin females will respond most to early-weaning. If you plan to early-wean: Develop your plan for feeding and marketing calves. Prepare weaning/receiving pens and waterers in advance. If feeding early-weaned calves, test your forages and have your ration plan and ingredients in place 2-3 weeks prior to weaning. Schedule early pregnancy checking activities if not already done. For managing cull cows, evaluate the cost of gain relative to the value of gain for marketing decisions. For late-summer and early-fall calving cowherds: Evaluate cows for BCS and adjust your plan to ensure mature cows are ≥ 5.0 and 2–4-year-old females are ≥ 6.0 at calving. The final 60 days prior to calving represents the last opportunity to add BCS economically. Review your calving health protocols as needed. Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed. Closely manage free-choice salt and mineral programs through late summer. Record date and amount of salt and mineral offered and calculate herd consumption on a pasture or group basis. Adjust how you are offering product to cattle if needed to achieve target intake. If consumption is 2X the target intake, then cost will be too! Continue to monitor bulls and their activity throughout the breeding season. Monitor BCS, particularly on young bulls. If bulls are BCS ≤ 5.0 after breeding, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into fall. Schedule breeding soundness exams for bulls used for fall service.

If creep feeding calves, closely monitor intake and calf condition/fleshiness. Monitor calves for summer respiratory illness. Schedule any pre-weaning vaccination or processing activities.

Evaluate grass growth and adjust your grazing plan as needed. Employ multiple strategies, chemistries for late-season fly/insect control. Begin taking inventory of harvested forages for fall feed needs. Use the forage inventory calculator (https://www.agmanager.info/hay-inventory-calculator). If planning to harvest corn silage, prepare your pile/bunker site and equipment. If using a custom harvester, communicate with them well in advance. Closely monitor whole plant moisture levels. Have silage tarps in place and ready to cover once harvest is complete. Use the Management Minder tool on KSUBeef.org to plan key management activities for your cowherd for the rest of the year. With high feeder calf prices, consider price risk management tools. Visit with your local FSA and extension office if you plan to utilize CRP acres for emergency forage use or for information on other assistance programs.