Each month, cow-calf producers are faced with management tasks related to seasonal and production goals. Kansas State University Extension cow-calf specialist Jason Warner summarizes the top 10 management practices producers should check off their to-do lists in February.
1. Condition score cows to guide your nutrition program:
- Targeted body condition score (BCS) at calving: 5 for mature cows, 6 for young cows.
- Adjust feed amounts as needed before calving for spring-calvers.
2. Continue grazing crop residues as they are available:
- Quality and quantity of residue decline with time.
- Be prepared to move cattle or supplement as needed.
3. Be ready to react to severe winter weather effects:
- Cow energy needs increase during periods of cold stress.
- Thin (BCS of 4 or less) cows and cows without wind protection are at greatest risk.
4. Don’t forget about herd bulls:
- If bulls have a BCS of 5 or less, consider supplementing to regain BCS going into winter.
- Testicular frostbite can happen; provide plenty of bedding.
5. For those getting ready to start calving:
- Have calving equipment cleaned and available to use as needed.
- Consider teat and udder scoring females at calving, even if they’re commercial.
6. Review your genetic selection goals for your herd:
- When picking bulls, do your homework well prior to the sale.
- Focus on the traits that are economically relevant for you.
7. Replacement heifers are worth a lot this year:
- Know your target weight at breeding, and adjust accordingly.
- Schedule reproductive tract exams prior to breeding.
8. As you think about this female market this year:
- Consider the time needed to pay off replacement females at a given calf price.
- Consider all the ways in which you can add females back into the herd.
9. For those with fall-calving cow herds:
- Make plans for weaning and marketing fall-born calves.
- Manage females to avoid significant BCS losses as calves nurse through winter.
10. It’s always a good time to think about herd data and record keeping:
- Review what information you’ve been recording and consider what you should be recording this year.
- Do you need to make changes in how you record your data?
